Browse the main conference and workshop programme for our CST Safeguarding Conference 2026.
Programme details are subject to change.
Opening remarks from Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive, CST.
Chief Executive, CST
Leora Cruddas is the founding Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts – the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England. She has advised successive governments and sits on several Department for Education advisory bodies. She was recently the vice chair of the Head Teacher Standards Review Group, a member of the external advisory group for the Schools White Paper, SEND National Implementation Board and the Regulatory and Commissioning Review.
Prior to founding CST, she was Director of Policy and Public Relations for the Association of School and College Leaders. Leora has six years of experience as a director of education in two London local authorities. She is a visiting professor at UCL Institute of Education. Leora was made a CBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
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).
Nine in 10 children in the UK play video games and the popularity of Esports continues to grow in the run up to the first Olympic Esports Games in 2027. Tom’s keynote will help us to understand the scale of Esports in the UK, and how and why young people are engaging with them. It will examine the preconceptions and misconceptions that can create a disconnect between adults and young people in this area, identify the key safeguarding risks of Esports and consider the practical steps that trusts and schools can take to help keep young people safe.
Vice President, British Esports Federation
Tom is the Vice President (and DSL) of the British Esports Federation and is recognised as a global leader in education and standards in esports, having led the development of both competitive and academic esports programmes in the UK and around the world.
Learning from traditional sport, he is currently leading the drive to create global standards for safeguarding in esports, along with a recognised framework for esports coaching and wider professional development. He has recently been invited to join the International Olympic Committee’s Clean Esports Group, in particular, the safeguarding sub-group, ahead of the Olympic Esports Games in 2027. He is also Vice Chair of the Education, Culture, Youth Commission of the Global Esports Federation.
Tom has a background in secondary education having taught across state, independent and alternative provision schools for nearly 20 years. This experience includes senior leadership roles covering both academic and pastoral responsibilities.
Children with SEND experience unique opportunities and risks in digital spaces. Whilst technology can enhance communication, learning and social interaction, children with SEND can face heightened online risks, including cyberbullying, grooming, and exposure to harmful content. Existing safeguarding strategies often fail to address their specific needs, focusing on risk avoidance rather than empowerment. This keynote will draw upon an evidence-based analysis of the complex intersection of SEND, digital technology and online safety to offer practical recommendations, including how schools can lead on multi-stakeholder approaches to create a safer and more accessible digital world.
Professor of IT, Ethics and Digital Rights, Bournemouth University
Andy Phippen currently serves as Professor of Digital Rights at Bournemouth University and holds a Visiting Professorship at the University of Suffolk. With a career spanning nearly two decades, his work explores how information and communication technologies affect society, focusing on critical issues such as internet safety, data protection, sexting, peer abuse, and the impact of digital environments on well‑being.
Andy has an extensive publication record, having authored 17 books along with numerous journal articles and book chapters. He actively contributes to policy making—providing written and oral evidence to parliamentary inquiries—and is a frequent media commentator on youth and internet safety. He also serves on the International Panel on Child Protection and Social Media and supports prominent UK online safety efforts through partnerships with the UK Safer Internet Centre, Internet Matters, and roles within the British Computer Society and SWGfL.
Senior Lecturer in Human Resource Management, University of Northampton
Dr Hayley Henderson is a researcher and educator with a career spanning nearly two decades in higher education. She has held multiple key academic roles and has played a pivotal role in delivering UK HE programmes in partnership with institutions in countries such as China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the UAE.
An active researcher and published author, Dr Hayley Henderson’s scholarly work spans digital literacy, digital wellbeing and online safety in education. Her publications reflect her interest in the intersections between technology, wellbeing and community engagement. Her multidisciplinary background—grounded in computing, business, and education—equips her to lead with insight, empathy, and innovation.
Dr Hayley Henderson is passionate about helping people find balance in our hyper-connected world, guiding them to use technology intentionally rather than letting it take over.
A guided discussion to share knowledge and practice facilitated by Dai Durbridge, Partner and Safeguarding Expert, Browne Jacobson.
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.
Delegates can choose from a range of workshops led by trust leaders and sector experts which will explore whole-trust approaches to preventing violence against women and girls, and strategies for safeguarding autistic children without speech. Details of a third workshop on the topic of safeguarding data will be added to this series shortly.
The Children’s Commissioner’s Office has engaged with a million children over the last five years, and in its recent school census, thousands of teachers. It's clear that whilst good teaching remains the most powerful driver of change, for a significant number of children, especially those with SEND, in poverty, care or experiencing poor mental health, this needs to backed by strong partnerships, well-resourced services and properly trained staff if they are to achieve and thrive. This keynote draws upon the CCO's extensive research to bring children’s voices into our thinking. It will ask what it takes to have a system that's inclusive by design and consider the role that trust safeguarding leaders can play in keeping children's needs at the front and centre of their schools' partnerships and practice.
Executive Director, The Children’s Commissioner’s Office
Juliette Cammaerts joined the Children’s Commissioner’s office in 2021, on Dame Rachel de Souza’s appointment to the role. She serves as Executive Director, overseeing the office’s landmark work completing the two largest-ever surveys of children ‘The Big Ask’ and ‘The Big Ambition’. Most recently, Juliette led on The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census, which used the Commissioner’s statutory powers on schools for the first time to collect new, comprehensive data on how schools are supporting children to attend, engage, attain and excel.
Prior to this, Juliette worked at the Department for Education, where she managed ministerial teams over a seven-year period. She led on all matters relating to children and families, championing children’s rights through the introducing of new policy measures - and advised the DfE throughout the unprecedented coronavirus crisis.
Before joining the civil service, Juliette studied French and Arabic at UCL and SOAS.
Most children spend vastly more time in schools than they do in contact with any other social agency, yet education does not always feel that its impact and expertise is fully recognised in safeguarding partnerships. The case for a shift towards equality, respect and strategic inclusion for education in these partnerships is overwhelming. This keynote explores how trust safeguarding leaders can achieve this to improve outcomes for children.
Safeguarding & Leadership Consultant
Jon is the National Safeguarding Partnership Facilitator for Education, working with the Department of Education to support colleagues at all levels within local safeguarding partnerships to effectively engage education in safeguarding, as stated within Working Together to Safeguard Children. He was, until July 2023, a primary headteacher and a designated safeguarding lead for 17 years and extremely passionate about safeguarding children. Jon is privileged to be in this new role and looks forward to hearing your views and ideas on how we can ensure education is further engaged in safeguarding partnerships and safeguarding decision making.
This panel brings together a range of different expert perspectives to explore how education leaders can make change for the better in safeguarding partnerships and answer your questions.
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.
Safeguarding & Leadership Consultant
Jon is the National Safeguarding Partnership Facilitator for Education, working with the Department of Education to support colleagues at all levels within local safeguarding partnerships to effectively engage education in safeguarding, as stated within Working Together to Safeguard Children. He was, until July 2023, a primary headteacher and a designated safeguarding lead for 17 years and extremely passionate about safeguarding children. Jon is privileged to be in this new role and looks forward to hearing your views and ideas on how we can ensure education is further engaged in safeguarding partnerships and safeguarding decision making.
Executive Director, The Children’s Commissioner’s Office
Juliette Cammaerts joined the Children’s Commissioner’s office in 2021, on Dame Rachel de Souza’s appointment to the role. She serves as Executive Director, overseeing the office’s landmark work completing the two largest-ever surveys of children ‘The Big Ask’ and ‘The Big Ambition’. Most recently, Juliette led on The Children’s Plan: The Children’s Commissioner’s School Census, which used the Commissioner’s statutory powers on schools for the first time to collect new, comprehensive data on how schools are supporting children to attend, engage, attain and excel.
Prior to this, Juliette worked at the Department for Education, where she managed ministerial teams over a seven-year period. She led on all matters relating to children and families, championing children’s rights through the introducing of new policy measures - and advised the DfE throughout the unprecedented coronavirus crisis.
Before joining the civil service, Juliette studied French and Arabic at UCL and SOAS.
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).
Preventing violence against women and girls requires a culture change within our school communities to address the root causes of men’s violence against women - harmful attitudes, behaviours and expressions of masculinity. In this workshop, we hear how one trust has established an initial three-year strategy to tackle this issue at all levels across its schools including culture, curriculum, systems and behaviours. We'll look at what this means for staff at the trust, especially male leaders and role models, and explore how being the first school trust to achieve White Ribbon accreditation has helped shape and support this work. You will gain insights into how and why the trust is taking this approach, hear about the impact of this work to-date and gain practical ideas to take back to your colleagues.
Trust Safeguarding and Inclusion Lead, Kings Group Academies
Laura Phillips began her teaching career in Surrey in 2006 and has since held a range of senior leadership roles, including SENCO, DSL and deputy headteacher. She is now Trust Lead for Safeguarding, Attendance and Inclusion at King’s Group Academies, overseeing the development and delivery of safeguarding and SEND strategy across the trust.
Laura is passionate about equity in education and improving opportunities for all children. She leads the trust’s work on tackling violence against women and girls and plays a key role in developing inclusive practices that have real impact on young people’s lives. Alongside this, she supports leadership development by facilitating SENCO and NPQSL courses, helping staff grow in confidence and expertise. She also works collaboratively with colleagues in other trusts, sharing best practice and strengthening safeguarding and inclusion at a wider level.
Chief Executive Officer, White Ribbon
Lynne has spent over 17 years as a charity CEO, leading organisations across the third sector with a focus on social justice, health, and advocacy. Her work has supported young people, survivors of sexual violence, older adults, and people with learning disabilities, reflecting a deep commitment to equity and inclusion.
This workshop will explore how building relationships with autistic children, particularly those who do not use speech to communicate, is central to effective safeguarding. We’ll examine alternative approaches to capturing the voice of the child, and how these can inform safeguarding decisions and practice. The session will also highlight the importance of working collaboratively with families to develop a holistic understanding of each child’s needs, to create safe, inclusive, and responsive environments.
Assistant SENCo & Head of Research, Thames Valley School
Christina Johnston is Head of Liberty Research School and a doctoral candidate at the University of East London. With a background in psychology and special education, she has also worked as therapy team lead within Thames Valley School with a focus on improving outcomes for autistic young people. Her research and practice centre on co-producing evidence-based approaches with pupils, families and professionals, ensuring that interventions enhance education, wellbeing and safeguarding.
Director of Safeguarding, Liberty Academy Trust
Nicola Law is an experienced safeguarding leader with a strong background in education. She began her career as a family support worker and designated safeguarding lead, later becoming a specialist leader in education supporting schools across multiple partnerships and trusts. Nicola has held senior safeguarding roles in large academy trusts, including regional safeguarding lead and deputy director of safeguarding, overseeing safeguarding strategy across a diverse range of schools. She now serves as Director of Safeguarding at Liberty Academy Trust, an autism specialist trust, leading safeguarding, behaviour, attendance and therapeutic strategy across the trust.
How do we strike the right balance between meeting some of our most vulnerable children's needs around attendance and keeping them safe? This workshop will explore the policy, pinch points and practice of effective safeguarding for severely absent pupils in school trusts. We will consider strategies that trust safeguarding leaders can adopt around data, information-sharing and collaboration with partners and take a practical look at what works for severely absent pupils, including the levers that trusts can use support DSLs in this increasingly urgent and complex area.
Education Advisor to the DfE, Bright Green Learning Ltd
Jayne Lowe is an Attendance and Behaviour Adviser to the DfE. She has previously been a pupil referral headteacher and managed attendance and inclusion services within a local authority. She has successfully developed and implemented strategy and leading practice with schools and local authorities across the country. Jayne is External Expert to the Youth Custody Service and has been instrumental in the set up of the only secure school in the country. As the founder and managing director of Bright Green Learning she has provided school improvement support to over 100 schools, with a particular focus on leadership development, attendance, safeguarding and behaviour.
Safeguarding Content Lead, The Key
Katherine Fowler is the Safeguarding Content Lead at The Key, where she is responsible for the content that sits on The Key Safeguarding. She joined the organisation in 2020 as a content editor and has since progressed to her current leadership role, drawing on her extensive experience to create essential resources for schools. Prior to her time at The Key, Katherine worked as a research manager at NFER, where she developed a strong foundation in data analysis and educational research. Her background provides her with a unique perspective, allowing her to deliver practical and evidence-based resources to help schools meet their safeguarding duties effectively.
How do trust safeguarding leaders help their schools to create inclusive safeguarding practice, and how do we know that its working? In this workshop, you will be invited to reflect on what inclusive safeguarding practice involves, share what works in your trust and consider how to assess the impact of your approach. Speaker details to be confirmed.
This workshop will draw upon the Children’s Commissioner’s August 2025 report, ’Sex is kind of broken now: Children and pornography’ to identify what trust safeguarding teams can do to support girl’s mental health – particularly around body image, self-esteem and in establishing and holding boundaries. It will share approaches to challenging the pernicious influence of online pornography on young people’s perception of sex and relationships and share findings from Fiona’s work on the promotion of respectful, consensual and non-violent behaviours.
Trust Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead, GLF Academy Trust
Fiona Jarman is the Safeguarding and Mental Health Lead for GLF Schools - a trust which serves over 19,000 children and young people aged two to 19 in a diverse array of settings. She has worked in education for over 30 years in multiple roles within schools in London and Surrey, joining the school support team for GLF in 2013, originally as an SLE for behaviour.
She now leads professional development and supervision for DSLs, SMHLs and thrive practitioners in GLF and has had the great privilege of seeing the direct impact these colleagues have had, making a difference to so many children and young people particularly those who have lived through adverse childhood experiences. As a former young carer herself, Fiona is keen to ensure that the voices of disadvantaged, quiet or neurodivergent children and young people are heard so they are empowered to make real change.
Head of Product and Innovation, Thrive Approach
Viv’s passion for Thrive started as headteacher and executive headteacher of primary schools across Barnsley, first becoming a licensed practitioner, then a Thrive trainer. She introduced the approach into schools and saw first-hand the impact it has on behaviour, attendance, and attainment as well as mental health and wellbeing.
Viv has taught across all age ranges and often in schools in challenging circumstances. Having specialised in early years and SEN, Viv was thrilled to take on leadership roles as SENCO, assistant head, deputy head and eventually into headship. Viv was asked to become a school improvement partner and to lead a school special measures, this included embedding Thrive as a core approach and tool to improve every area of practice. She was part of the team that established a co-operative trust and a multi academy trust.
In 2015, Viv was thrilled to join the team, originally as regional development manager for the north before moving to become head of innovation and Thrive’s principal trainer, and now head of product and innovation.
Currently, Viv is a director of a multi academy trust and a foster carer leading a Mockingbird constellation. Viv is endlessly passionate about supporting other professionals to embed Thrive practice.
