4 June 2026 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre
Advance tickets are now available for this popular event, which brings together school trust leaders from across the country.
The event will focus on the strategic issues that matter most to this important aspect of education, with speakers drawn from trust practitioners, policy experts, and the wider sector.
Full details of the programme and speakers will be released nearer the date but you can secure your place now.
Hear from some of today's leading educational thinkers
Give you and your leadership team time to re-think how your trust works
Connect with colleagues from school trusts across the country
Engage with innovative providers to the school trust sector
This conference is an extension of the CST Governance and trustees professional community - a unique space for school trust staff to network, share, and learn, all year round. Community membership is an integral part of CST membership.
CEO, Bourne Education Trust
CEO, Bourne Education Trust
Alex has led Bourne Education Trust since its inception in 2012 having previously been headteacher of two secondary schools. The trust consists of 26 schools across primary, secondary and special phases in Hampshire, Surrey and the London Boroughs of Richmond and Sutton. Alex also chairs Surrey’s Inclusion Roundtable that is leading the county’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy. In September 2023 he launched AI in Education (a not for profit organisation that provides specialist guidance to schools and colleges on how to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape purposefully and safely), in partnership with Epsom College.
Executive Director of Education, The Church of England Education Office
Executive Director of Education, The Church of England Education Office
Educational Leadership Consultant and Professional Mediator with 3A Consulting
Educational Leadership Consultant and Professional Mediator with 3A Consulting
Chris Seaton has 38 years of leadership experience in the charity sector, including 24 years working in school governance and leadership roles. Chris brings a passion for social transformation delivered through organisations that have a strong values base, are expertly led and put a premium on healthy positive relationships.
Chris is a founding consultant with 3A Consulting, a small network of former school trust leaders working nationally to support schools and school trusts at a system level. In this role, Chris has recently worked on two merger projects, one as an interim CEO and the other as a project manager. He has also conducted a local authority-wide research project to support the authority’s developing plan for academisation. Chris also works as a facilitator and as a leadership coach with NPQ lead providers and with a medium sized school trust in the south-east.
Previously, Chris was a founding member, trustee and the CEO of Schoolsworks Academy Trust in West Sussex. Under his leadership, the trust enjoyed 11 consecutive Ofsted ‘Good’ judgements, grew from one to eight primary sector schools, was successful in a free school application and saw a sponsor project turnaround from Inadequate to Good during Covid years. He led the change management to a centralised trust team and Schoolsworks enjoys excellent staff morale and retention.
Chris is a qualified solicitor and in addition to his professional roles, he is a member of a primary phase school trust in Surrey and a non-executive trustee of a primary phase school trust in Southampton.
For details about commercial tickets, please contact conference@cstuk.org.uk
CST members only: Full conference access including keynotes, workshops, lunch, and resources
Book your place£402 inc VAT at 20%
Non-CST member place for conference including keynotes, workshops, and lunch
Book your place£474 inc VAT at 20%
Our conference takes place at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, a short walk from Birmingham New Street train station.
We recommend using public transport wherever possible to attend. The venue is within Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone and there may be additional fees for driving to the venue.
Birmingham Conference and Events Centre
Hill Street
Birmingham
B5 4EW
The conference takes place on 4 June 2026.
Delegate registration will begin at 08:15 with main programme running from 09:05 to 16:00.
Delegate places include full access to conference main sessions, workshops, and exhibition, plus refreshments, and lunch during the day.
Overnight accommodation is not included and delegates are responsible for their own travel arrangements.
The event programme is provisional and subject to change. Booking terms and conditions apply.
Imagery is from past events and may not reflect future programmes.
Confederation of School Trusts · Registered in England & Wales, company no: 05303883 · Charity no: 1107640.
CST Professional Development Ltd · Registered in England & Wales, company no: 10354936 · VAT Registration Number 270 0880 18
Registered offices both at 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, England, W1W 5PF