Browse the main conference and workshop programme for our CST Safeguarding Conference 2027.
Programme details are subject to change.
Opening remarks from Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive, CST.
Deputy Chief Executive, CST
Steve Rollett is Deputy Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England. Before joining CST, he was Curriculum and Inspection Specialist for the Association of School and College Leaders. Steve has sat on a range of advisory bodies, including Ofsted’s curriculum advisory group. Most recently he has supported Oak National Academy and the Department for Education’s remote learning advisory group. Originally trained as a history teacher, Steve was a vice principal of one of England’s most improved secondary schools before moving into a career in education policy.
Welcome remarks from Dr Jon Needham, National Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, Oasis Community Learning and Chair of CST's Safeguarding professional community.
National Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, Oasis Community Learning
Jon originally trained as a nurse specializing in adolescents with life limiting illness before moving to become an advisor to a large strategic health authority and a commissioner in a primary care trust. He worked briefly as a specialist advisor on two World Health Organization projects before becoming the lead for early help and multi-agency working in a large local authority.
He became an education safeguarding advisor 16 years ago managing the support offer to 530 schools and for the past six years has worked as the National Director of Safeguarding & Mental Health for the Oasis Trust.
He qualified as a PhD in Education Safeguarding at Liverpool Hope University and has recently published a book on managing sexting in education. He acts as a mentor to five young men starting out in industry ensuring that they develop to their full potential. In his spare time, he is a voluntary youth worker. When (if) he ever relaxes he is a keen fan of Korean dramas (though must use subtitles).
How to help children flourish in the age of AI Equipping young people to flourish in an AI-enabled world means building upon the growing connection between curriculum and safeguarding. This keynote will explore how we can respond authentically and effectively to the risks and opportunities of AI for young people through building critical thinking skills, social and emotional literacy and safe behaviours alongside a good core understanding of what new technologies are (and are not). In addition to understanding how this can be achieved in the new RSHE curriculum, it will also consider how safeguarding strategies and understanding of the digital environment can be developed across other subject areas.
Chief Executive, PSHE Association
Jonathan Baggaley is Chief Executive of the PSHE Association, the national membership body and charity for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, the school subject dedicated to preparing children and young people for life, and work. He has worked at a national level in education for years, bringing expertise in educating young people about risks, harms and opportunities of online technologies. Jonathan led the Association’s successful efforts to improve PSHE education’s status on the curriculum, resulting in mandatory relationships, sex and health education in schools.
Jonathan is also founder and editor of Fully Human – the PSHE Association’s research and development arm - which aims to better understand the impact of technology on children’s lives. Previously, Jonathan was Head of Education at the Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre leading an education programme used with millions of children and young people every year.
In order to ensure our safeguarding systems can be made coherent, they must first be made inclusive enough to see every child’s needs. This panel will explore the less visible issues that lead to young people needing greater support, including caring responsibilities, parental imprisonment, and the complex dynamics of kinship care. Leaders from trusts and the charity sector will share their inclusion strategies and experiences of helping these children to be not only more visible but more successful.
CEO, MYTIME Young Carers
Krista Cartlidge is CEO of MYTIME Young Carers, a specialist organisation supporting young carers and their families, and a part-time PhD researcher at Bournemouth University exploring how young carers and schools can communicate more effectively.
A former teacher with over 20 years working alongside children and families facing inequality, Krista has built MYTIME into a nationally recognised force for change. Under her leadership, MYTIME developed the Young Carer Champion Academy, a CPD-accredited training programme equipping schools to identify and support young carers under the new Ofsted inspection framework, and published Punished for Caring, a landmark report on young carer exclusions launched in Parliament.
Krista is currently leading the Champion Young Carers Campaign alongside Vikki Slade MP, calling for a trained Young Carer Champion in every school in England.
She was inducted into the Charity Hall of Fame as a Changemaker in the Social Justice category in recognition of her work.
SEMH Hub Leader, Wheatley Park School (RLT)
Director of Inclusion, Sherbourne Area Schools Trust
Alice Brown is the Director of Inclusion at Sherborne Area Schools' Trust (SAST), a multi-academy trust of 18 schools in North Dorset and South Somerset, spanning the two-19 age range. She has worked in education for over thirty years, during which she has been a consistent advocate for equity and exhibited deep commitment to securing better outcomes for vulnerable learners.
The author of an upcoming CST paper, Louis Donald, will address the risk that sits in the gap between reassurance and reality. This session will explore how trust leaders can achieve a clearer understanding of whether existing approaches are truly working and delivering the intended outcomes, or only appearing to do so.
Principal Safeguarding Partner, EduShield & CST Consultant
Louis is founder and principal safeguarding partner of EduShield and a former executive education (safeguarding) director at a nationwide school trust. He is recognised nationally for expertise in safeguarding, inspection readiness, crisis management, and school improvement across trusts. Louis has advised the Department for Education on safeguarding policy, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is the first education professional to qualify as a Gold Multi-Agency Strategic Commander. He chairs the Queen Street Group Safeguarding Directors Forum, sits on the NASSA board, and serves on the British Army’s Independent Advisory Group. Trusted for his calm, strategic leadership, Louis supports leaders navigating complex safeguarding challenges.
A new opportunity at conference for delegates to tap into the collective expertise of trust colleagues. Selected contributors will introduce a live issue or emerging area of practice, before opening it up for discussion, ideas and practical solutions from fellow members.
Partner and Safeguarding Expert, Browne Jacobson
Dai is a recognised safeguarding expert and regularly supports trusts with complex safeguarding issues including handling disclosures of abuse, managing allegations against staff and involvement in Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews. He also supports trusts with safeguarding governance reviews.
Dai is an experienced trainer and national coach and mentor for trust designated safeguarding leads (DSLs). He provides "invaluable” guidance and a "reassuring, safe place” where individuals can improve their knowledge and learn from best practice. As well as speaking at national safeguarding conferences and delivering his tailored courses to trust DSLs, Dai also delivers CST's masterclass on safeguarding and the safeguarding module of the CST Essential Trustee Programme.
National Director of Safeguarding and Wellbeing, Oasis Community Learning
Jon originally trained as a nurse specializing in adolescents with life limiting illness before moving to become an advisor to a large strategic health authority and a commissioner in a primary care trust. He worked briefly as a specialist advisor on two World Health Organization projects before becoming the lead for early help and multi-agency working in a large local authority.
He became an education safeguarding advisor 16 years ago managing the support offer to 530 schools and for the past six years has worked as the National Director of Safeguarding & Mental Health for the Oasis Trust.
He qualified as a PhD in Education Safeguarding at Liverpool Hope University and has recently published a book on managing sexting in education. He acts as a mentor to five young men starting out in industry ensuring that they develop to their full potential. In his spare time, he is a voluntary youth worker. When (if) he ever relaxes he is a keen fan of Korean dramas (though must use subtitles).
