Destination Education

Welcome back to Destination Education, I’m your host Ruth Benny, Founder of Top Schools. Today, we are heading north to the beautiful countryside of Perthshire, Scotland. Our guest is Mark Lauder, Headmaster of Strathallan School. Mark brings over 30 years of experience in boarding education—16 of those as a Head—and a deeply personal perspective on how a truly holistic education can transform a c...

Welcome back to Destination Education, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a very special episode. Instead of our usual format featuring heads of schools or educators, I’m sitting down with Jeffrey Andrews, a passionate social worker and advocate based in Hong Kong. As a third-generation Hong Konger of Indian descent, Jeffrey shares his personal, eye-opening journey through the local schoo...

Welcome back to Destination Education, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a special guest who is bridging the linguistic gap for adult learners in Hong Kong. Simon, better known as Simon Sir, is a private English tutor and content creator who has built a massive following by helping Cantonese speakers master English through unconventional methods. After being educated in the US public sch...

Welcome back to Destination Education! I’m your host, Ruth Benny, and today we are joined by a true titan of the UK independent sector. Melvyn Roffe is the Executive Principal of Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools, having previously led George Watson’s College in Edinburgh and served as the Chair of the HMC (The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference). Melvyn brings a "squiggly" perspective to le...

Welcome to Destination Education! I’m your host, Ruth Benny, and today we are exploring the heart of international education in the high-stakes, high-pressure environment of Hong Kong. However, our guest today represents a school that intentionally steps away from the "exam factory" mentality to focus on building something more fundamental: confidence. We are joined by Dr. Aaron Baumgartner, the E...

Welcome back to Destination Education! I’m your host, Ruth Benny, and today we are joined by a guest who brings a fascinating "full circle" perspective to the world of international schooling. Jonathan Marchant, Head of Senior School at Epsom College Malaysia, joins us fresh off the plane to discuss the evolving landscape of boarding, the power of history in developing legal minds, and why the "de...

Welcome back to Destination Education UK! I'm your host, Ruth Benny, and today we have a real heavyweight guest from the world of British education. Barnaby Lenon, CBE, is the former Headmaster of Harrow School, where he spent 12 years elevating its academic and global prestige. He has chaired the Independent Schools Council (ISC), founded the London Academy of Excellence, and is currently the Dea...

Ruth Benny, host of the Destination Education UK podcast, speaks with Michael John Smith, Head of Limehouse School, about his wide-ranging career in education, the modern challenges of parenting teenagers, and the unique environment of his boarding school in Cumbria, North England. Michael John Smith, who transitioned from a PE teacher to a behavioral psychologist and served internationally as an...

In this insightful episode of Destination Education UK, host Ruth Benny speaks with Charles Bailey, Headmaster of Worksop College, about his journey, the changing landscape of independent education, and his new vision for the school. Charles Bailey, an Oxford-educated teacher who spent over a decade at Harrow School, discusses the pivotal role his own single-sex, boarding-school experience had on...

In this episode, Ruth Benny sits down with Teresa Song, founder of Nova Scholars, to explore how parents and students can think more strategically about higher education, university admissions, and long-term decision-making in an increasingly competitive world. Teresa is the founder of Nova Scholars, a strategic education consultancy specialising in university admissions and long-term academic pla...

Welcome to Destination Education UK, in this insightful conversation, Ruth Benny speaks with Lindi Smith, Head of Admissions and Administration at LVS Ascot, discusses the current trends and challenges in school admissions, particularly in the UK. She highlights the impact of global events, the importance of maintaining a diverse student body, and the financial considerations families face when ch...

Welcome back to the Destination Education Podcast, in this conversation, Ruth Benny is joined by Director of Sport at Wells Cathedral, Tom Webley. Tom shares his journey from aspiring professional cricketer to director of sport at Wells Cathedral School. He discusses the balance between academics and sports, the importance of instilling a love for sports in children, and the benefits of diverse sp...

In this reflective episode of Destination Education UK, Ruth Benny summarizes key themes from conversations with educators and thinkers over the past six months. The discussion emphasizes the importance of future readiness, character education, the unique benefits of boarding schools, diverse pathways for students, the impact of academic pressure, financial considerations in education, the differe...

In this episode of Destination Education UK with Ruth Benny, we sit down with Marina Gardiner Legge, Head of Oxford High School GDST, shares her insights on girls' education, the importance of resilience and rebellion in students, and the evolving landscape of schooling. She emphasizes the need for parents to be actively involved in their children's education, the significance of school visits, an...

In this episode of Destination Education UK with Ruth Benny, we sit down with Jonathan Besley, Headmaster of the newly rebranded Brighton College Prep Handcross—formerly Handcross Park. Jonathan joins us fresh from a whirlwind six-day visit to Hong Kong, where he’s been meeting parents, interviewing students, and dodging both rainstorms and typhoons. We explore everything from the decision to rebr...

Welcome to Destination Education UK, in this insightful conversation, Ruth Benny speaks with David Cresswell, Headmaster of Barnard Castle School (Barney), about his international upbringing, his journey from student to educator, and what makes modern British boarding schools so relevant — and human — today. From his diplomatic childhood to Oxford, teaching, coaching, and leading, David shares how...

In this episode of Destination Education UK, host Ruth Benny chats with Dr Michael Gray, Head of Hereford Cathedral School, about what makes a truly modern education. From his own journey through the UK system to leading one of the country’s historic schools, Dr Gray shares honest reflections on co-ed vs single-sex learning, the challenges facing independent schools, and how to prepare students fo...

Welcome back to Destination Education UK, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a real treat for you. Our guest Juliet Rolls is the founder of Cambridge Academic Tuition, she has been providing high-quality academic support and guidance to students from diverse backgrounds and abilities for over 20 years. Juliet holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from the University of Camb...

Welcome back to Destination Education UK, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a real treat for you. Our guest is Rosie McColl, former Head at Brighton Girls GDST School and current Head at Harrow International School Hong Kong! Join in as they dig into some really meaningful topics, like why girls’ education matters so much and how single-sex schools can be a game-changer for empowering yo...

Welcome back to Destination Education UK, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a real treat for you. Our guests are from esteemed Wells Cathedral School in the UK, an acclaimed music school that provides a balanced and holistic education. In this episode, we explore what really matters beyond academics. Martin Ashton, Deputy Head Pastoral, and Alex Laing, Director of Music at Wells Cathedra...

Welcome back to Destination Education UK, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a real treat for you. Our guest is Keith Metcalfe, Head at Malvern College in the UK, a leading co-educational school nestled in the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire. Keith and I chat about everything from the differences between boys’ schools and co-ed schools, to how COVID has changed education, to the value of...

Welcome back to Destination Education UK, I'm your host Ruth Benny, and today we have a real treat for you. Our guest is Simon Smith, a deputy head academic at Tudor Hall, a distinguished all girls boarding school in Oxfordshire. In this episode, Simon shares how girls learn differently to boys, but also recognising that independent schools will be finding it harder to survive, and single-sex scho...

Join us on today’s episode as we tackle the UK education system's ins and outs—from state vs. independent schools and leadership challenges to parent-teacher dynamics and digital age impacts. We hit hot topics like diversity, international students, and the financial side of schooling. Plus, we debate single-sex vs. co-ed systems and the future of independent schools in a changing world. Our guest...

Join us on this episode of "Destination Education" as I sit down with Andrew De Silva, the headmaster of Oratory Prep School. Discover his valuable insights into the distinctions between state and independent education, and explore his leadership philosophy that underscores the significance of parental involvement and faith in pastoral care. Andrew delves into the unique aspects of his school, hig...

In our next Destination Education episode, i’m joined by Barbara Lestak, Academic Director and Schools Partnerships Lead at UniAdmissions. We delve into the complexities of UK university admissions, particularly focusing on the UCAS process, the importance of personal statements, and the unique challenges faced by international students. Barbara is an expert in the field, and provides insights on...