‘Only Connect’ as a phrase is said to have been taken from EM Forster’s Howards End, in which he writes: Live in fragments no longer. Only connect, and the beast and the monk, robbed of the isolation that is life to either, will die.

That’s a great theme for our Engage team too as our whole focus is on applying our school management system so that no-one needs to live in fragments, whether working in academic delivery or in essential administrative roles. Our mantra is to offer a single source of truth. Barry Anns and Ben Johnston are looking forward to catching up with delegates at The Society of Heads Annual Conference to learn what their requirements are for fully connected schools and to show how Engage joins up the dots with its enter once, use many times approach to the vital information that runs every aspect of school life.

There are several great presentations lined up at the conference including Professor Andrew Goddard, President of the Royal College of Physicians, who will speak on the similarities between the health and education sectors in the challenges they face and potential solutions they could share. Laura Bates, writer and founder of the Everyday Sexism Project will be talking about the importance of making connections in order to tackle gender inequality. The SoH Annual Conference will finish with a keynote from writer and broadcaster, Gyles Brandreth who will be talking about the nature of leadership in the 21st Century and exploring the challenge of creating communities where ‘success’ and well-being can go hand in hand.

We look forward to meeting up with all delegates in Chester on 2-4 March.