We offer headteacher scholarships, forums for primary headteachers, secondary headteachers, and aspiring headteachers, as well as an annual headteachers conference for those who have held scholarships that year and other invited headteachers. We also produce papers written by headteachers for headteachers on either an idea that might help a school or a problem and how they dealt with it.
UK Headteacher Scholarships
These scholarships are provided to help headteachers based in the UK, who have been in their role for more than two years, have time to read, to think, and to undertake a piece of research which will be of help to their schools and hopefully to other schools as well. The scholarships are for up to twenty days and are normally taken in the form of day release from the headteacher’s duties which can be taken either together, or in several blocks, or individual days depending on the needs of the head and the school.
“My scholarship has given me a wonderful opportunity to study at a time of complex change and challenge. It inspired a new direction for the school. Thank you for the opportunity.”
Annika Eadie, Headteacher, William Davis Primary School, Shoreditch
The Farmington Headteachers Institute will pay for cover costs for the scholarship days, university fees if applicable, and for a supervisor, whose sole responsibility is to provide guidance, encouragement and support for the headteacher. There are three conditions attached to the scholarship: the recipient needs to write a report on the project, attend a small one-day international headteachers conference at Jesus College, Cambridge, to present their work, and give a public presentation. A Farmington Day is also held at the beginning of the scholarship year, which is an opportunity for the scholars for that year to meet together and discuss their projects.
The scholarships will also cover the cost of essential local travel and up to £215 per day for cover costs, which allows other employees of the school to take on aspects of the headteacher’s role whilst they are undertaking their Farmington days.
Applications for 2027-8 are now open and the application form is available to download here. Applications must be received by the Farmington Headteachers Institute by 25th January 2027.
For further information, or to return your completed form, email headteachers@farmington.ac.uk.
Sharing experiences with headteacher colleagues from different contexts, as well as the invited guests from a range of fascinating backgrounds was, for me, both enlightening and thought-provoking and, most importantly, had a positive effect on my day-to-day work. Indeed, in the years since my involvement in the Farmington Heads Forum, I often find myself reflecting on, and referring to, our wide-ranging conversations.
Bennet Carr, King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon
Headteachers Forums
Every year the Farmington Institute organises several Headteachers Forums for primary headteachers, secondary headteachers and aspiring headteachers. These Headteachers Forums were established in response to a request from headteachers to meet with other heads to discuss issues of common conc
Each forum has eight to twelve headteachers and they meet six times in the year, with the heads taking it in turns to lead the forum on a topic of their choice, which they think will be interesting to the other heads. The format for the meeting is that the members of the group assemble at 5.45pm for tea and coffee. This is then followed by a discussion from 6pm – 7.15pm followed by dinner together, where they can continue the discussion or talk about another topic. The forums always aim to finish by 9pm.
I have found the Headteachers Forum an inspiration and a motivation. Sadly, such high level of educational conversation is rare in the business of school life. My meetings with colleagues in the Trust tend to be information sharing or being given instructions. Having the room for deeper thinking or sharing a vision, as I have experienced at the Forum meetings, are on a different level. It is refreshing to meet with colleagues from such a diverse range of educational settings and to be treated with such generosity
Martin Clephane, St Mary’s Primary School, Sunderland
Alongside the headteachers we sometimes invite a variety of other people to attend one of the meetings to help facilitate the discussion; these participants could include an MP, a senior member of the Armed Forces, a member of the House of Lords, a representative of an educational charity, or someone from a higher education institute.
We try to meet in interesting places such as the House of Lords, the Tower of London, or an Oxford, Cambridge or Durham College, depending on where the forum is located. We provide a small amount of money for the Headteachers to spend on their schools, and we provide them with a book allowance to encourage reading.
The Farmington Headteachers Institute meets all the costs of the forums, including travel and the cost of the meals. Membership of the forum is usually by invitation but expressions of interest from headteachers who would like to join the forum are always welcome.
“I can recall several moments when colleagues felt confident to share insecurities and personal challenges and were met with sympathy and kindness from the group. True fellowship indeed, and I came away from every meeting the better for having attended.”
Damian Ettiger, Cokethorpe School
headteachers papers
The Farmington Headteachers Institute publishes papers every year, written by headteachers for headteachers on an idea that might help a school or a problem and how they dealt with it.
Headteachers are usually invited to write papers by the Institute, but expressions of interest from heads who might be interested in writing a paper are welcome.
Current titles:
Chris Tooley, Intentional Leadership: Building Capacity to Navigate the Ocean of Uncertainty
Martin Priestley, Schools for Character – an Introduction to Character Education
Dr Chris Evans, Using Strengths-Based Management Processes to Improve Statutory Performance Management Processes in Schools
Rob Brown, Caught, Sought and Taught: Establishing Values Across a Multi-Academy Trust
Geoffrey Stanford and John Smith, Creating Positive Impact Through Partnership Between Independent and State Schools
Patrick Derham, The Widening Access Challenge
Damian Ettinger, Finding Time
Tim Hands, Pastoral Care in Independent Schools: an explanation, a retrospect and a plea
Simon Henderson, The Importance of Culture in Understanding Pupil Well-Being
Rupert Moreton, If We are Serious about Enabling Children from the Most Vulnerable Backgrounds to Succeed Educationally, Support Needs to Start as Early as Possible as part of a Wider Ecosystem
Helen Pike, A Classroom of One’s Own? The challenges of recruiting excellent teachers
Clare Wagner, Radically Traditional: a new approach to teaching religious studies in secondary schools
If you would like a copy of any of these titles, please email us: headteachers@farmington.ac.uk
headteachers conference
Every summer a fully funded, 24-hour Headteachers Conference is held at Jesus College, Cambridge. The conference is open to headteachers who are coming to the end of their scholarship year and is an opportunity for them to present the results of their research.
farmington headteachers institute contact details
Director: Sir Ralph Waller
Administrator: Kay Webb
Deputy Administrator: Kate Gompertz
Telephone: 07519 738497
Email: headteachers@farmington.ac.uk
Address: The Farmington Headteachers Institute, Jesus College, Jesus Lane, Cambridge, CB5 8BL
