CST Governance and Trustees Conference 2025

5 June 2025 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre

Join us to explore this year's theme Next-gen governance

In Next-gen governance, we made the case for a new version of trust governance that goes beyond compliance and brings to life our bespoke Academy Trust Governance Code, creating sustainable and effective governance fit for the next stage of the trust sector.

Now we have the opportunity to work collectively to define our version of next-gen governance. Some themes we will explore at our conference:

  • Changing our mindset to stewardship – What does this mean and how does it change decision making?
  • Prevention, not fire-fighting – Can we use a relational approach to prevent resource-intensive adversarial processes in governance (e.g. complaints)?
  • Using technology and AI – Can we use these to reduce workload, improve communication and increase connectivity and engagement? What are the opportunities and what risks? How can trustees incorporate AI into their trust’s strategic planning?
  • New ways to think about ‘board effectiveness’ – Can we go beyond traditional skills audits and find new ways to ensure diversity of thought and perspective?
  • Attracting the next generations – How do we widen the pool of volunteers in our sector? Does it require us to address some or all of the points above?

This year’s conference also recognises the expertise held by members of our Governance and trustees professional community and seeks to create more opportunities across the day for participants to engage with each other in open panel discussions and two separate strands of workshops – one for trustees and one for governance professionals.

Be inspired

Be inspired

Hear from some of today's leading educational thinkers

Time to think

Time to think

Give you and your leadership team time to re-think how your trust works

Meet and share

Meet and share

Connect with colleagues from school trusts across the country

Work smarter

Work smarter

Engage with innovative providers to the school trust sector

What previous delegates said

Join the CST Governance and trustees professional community

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.

Highlighted speakers

Olivia Hinds

Governor, King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls

Andy Wolfe

Executive Director of Education, The Church of England Education Office

Ticket options Book your delegate place

For details about commercial tickets, please contact conference@cstuk.org.uk.

CST Member

CST Member

£335

CST members only: Full conference access including keynotes, workshops, lunch, and resources

Book your place

£402 inc VAT at 20%

CST Member
Non-member

Non-member

£395

Non-CST member place for conference including keynotes, workshops, and lunch

Book your place

£474 inc VAT at 20%

Non-member

COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS in association with

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE CST Governance and Trustees Conference 2025

The event programme is provisional and subject to change. Booking terms and conditions apply.
Imagery is from past events and may not reflect the 2025 programme.

Confederation of School Trusts · Registered in England & Wales, company no: 05303883 · Charity no: 1107640.
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