FAQs

To make a booking online, delegates should click ‘register’ on the relevant course page.  Delegates should then provide all relevant school and personal information in the required fields. This information includes school contact information for future correspondence (e-mail address and phone number), together with a personal contact number for the purposes of HMCPD being able to contact delegates at short notice in the event of an emergency (e.g. extreme weather conditions). Delegates should also indicate if they have any special dietary requirements.

Confirmation of booking will be sent to delegates by e-mail and an invoice will be raised for the course and sent to the school finance department.

You may also book for a course/conference by contacting the HMCPD office by telephone on 01858 462477 or by e-mail on [email protected].

Delegates should ensure that they have read and understood the Terms and Conditions of Booking before submitting a booking and that they have the authority from the appropriate person in the school to accept these conditions.

Payment of the course/conference fees must be made in advance of the event. Payment can be made by BACS direct transfer.

An invoice will be issued in all cases and will be sent to the school finance office. This will specify the HMCPD course or conference reference number, the date of the event, the date of the booking, the name of delegate and an HMC invoice number. This invoice number should be quoted when payment is made.

Please note that we are unable to accept credit card payments.

All delegate fees quoted are exclusive of VAT, which is not applicable.

Once you have completed your booking online you will receive automated confirmation of your booking via email. If you do not receive confirmation soon after submitting your registration, please check your spam/junk email folders. In the event that you do not receive confirmation, please contact the HMCPD office at [email protected].

You will receive joining instructions by email approximately 7-10 days in advance of the course and other paperwork will be provided on the day, if applicable.

Course materials will be distributed on the day of the event as handouts, if appropriate. After the event, HMCPD will circulate to delegates presentations from speakers electronically, where we have permission to do so.

On occasion, there may be pre-course materials or tasks to undertake such as questionnaires or specific reading prior to the course.

HMCPD will process the personal data of programme and event delegates in order to administer and deliver courses and events. This will include sharing names, job titles and schools as part of a ‘delegate list’ with other delegates and those delivering sessions. This data is stored securely in our online booking system hosted by www.arlo.co, and in Microsoft Sharepoint.

To help you and other delegates gain maximum benefit from HMC events, we ask that you put your mobile phone on silent during sessions, and where possible arrive in time for registration and leave at the end of the final session to minimize disruption for other delegates. We do not have a dress code so, unless the programme specifies otherwise, please dress as you feel comfortable.

Many of HMC’s professional development events involve a significant element of ‘sharing best practice’ and discussion, and with that in mind we operate a strict policy of confidentiality and ask that delegates do not discuss any case studies or share anecdotes from other delegates outside the course.

Online courses and conferences – delegate protocols

For courses and conferences delivered online;

• Delegates should stay uninterrupted – if possible, choose a location to join the course where you won’t be disturbed
• Close all other programmes and software and turn off your phone
• Do not use any recording devices
• Please mute your microphone when the presenter is talking (please be aware of keyboard tapping and other external noises!)
• Please use the group Chat function appropriately and on matters related to the course
• Please be mindful of confidentiality; Course Directors will discuss the rules of engagement with you at the beginning of the course
• Delegates should not “share” their place with another individual/allow other individuals to join the course/conference online

Please let us know as soon as you are aware that you will no longer be able to attend a course/conference. Our cancellation policy can be found in our terms and conditions here. Our cancellation terms are:

• Cancellations received less than 4 weeks  before the course date will not qualify for a refund.
• Cancellations received between 4 and 8 weeks  prior to the course date will receive a refund of 50% of the course fee.
• Cancellations received more than 8 weeks  prior to the course date will receive a refund of 75% of the course fee.

Yes! Please contact the HMCPD office at [email protected] to arrange this at the soonest available opportunity.

Delegate fees are not transferable from one course to another, and any refund of fees will follow the cancellation terms that can be found here.

HMC welcomes registrations from delegates in membership of all independent school associations. However, should a waiting list be in operation, priority will be given to delegates from HMC schools.

HMCPD courses, programmes and conferences are designed primarily with the needs of staff working in HMC schools in mind, i.e. delegates from independent senior schools. Delegates working in Prep or Junior schools are welcome to join our courses, but please be aware that some of the content may not be relevant to your context.

HMC publishes its annual programme of professional development courses, conferences and programmes in May each year. Details and online booking forms are published on our website around May half-term and are posted to schools at the same time.

It is not possible to book places until the new annual programme has been published each year. If you wish to be notified when the new programme goes live, please sign up to receive HMCPD’s email newsletters.

Each PLQ and ISQAM cluster includes two training days – one in the autumn and one in the spring. It is intended that participants attend Day 1 and Day 2 training events as part of the same cluster. If participants wish to move between clusters during the year (for example if the Day 2 event date is inconvenient), HMCPD may be able to offer a place at an alternative cluster. Please contact HMCPD at [email protected] to discuss this.

HMCPD day courses include all refreshments, lunch (not applicable if the course is delivered online) and course materials. Residential events include course materials, refreshments and meals throughout, and accommodation in the conference hotel or a hotel nearby.

Delegates who require accommodation the night prior to a course/conference should make their own arrangements.

HMCPD gathers evaluation feedback to support the continuing improvement of its programmes and events. This is usually undertaken through anonymous online surveys, although delegates may sometimes be given the option to provide their name if they wish (for example during a pilot, where a delegate may wish to be contacted to provide further detail). Surveys are designed to be quick and easy to complete, and your feedback is very much valued and appreciated.

If you prefer, you may instead provide feedback at any time by emailing [email protected] or by calling 01858 462477.

Should your expectations of any HMC event not be met, then please contact Melanie Horsburgh, Director of Member Services at [email protected].

HMC Professional Development
12 The Point
Rockingham Road
Market Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7QU

Tel: 01858 462 477

Email: [email protected]