26 March 2026 at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
This year’s conference will explore how trust leaders exercise intent and coherence within their organisations while contributing to sector-wide improvement through shared language, collaboration, and evidence-informed practice.
Drawing on CST’s 2025 call for evidence and insights from impactful trusts and international research, the programme will deepen thinking about not just what improvement looks like, but how it is stewarded deliberately and at scale.
Delegates will engage with leading ideas and peer-to-peer discussions, build connections across the sector, and gain practical strategies ready to implement within their trusts.
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 School improvement 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.
Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, Department for Education
Chair of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, Department for Education
Professor Becky Francis CBE is presently leading the Government’s independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, seconded from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) where she has been CEO since January 2020. Before this, Becky was Director of the UCL Institute of Education (IOE), which is ranked #1 in the world for education in the international QS rankings. Her prior roles include Professor of Education and Social Justice at King’s College London and Standing Advisor to the Parliamentary Education Select Committee.
Throughout her career, Becky has sought to maximise the impact of academic research by working closely with teachers and policymakers. She has spearheaded high-profile research programmes assessing the impact of major reforms in the English school system on educational inequalities and is sought out internationally as an advisor to Governments on education policy.
Becky was the inaugural Charles Yidan Global Fellow at Harvard University. Her academic expertise and extensive publications centre on social identities and inequalities in educational contexts. She is best known for her body of research on social identities and educational attainment, including gender, race and social class.
Director of Teaching School, Chiltern Learning Trust
Director of Teaching School, Chiltern Learning Trust
Sufian Sadiq is the Director of Teaching School at Chiltern Learning Trust, with responsibility for overseeing two regional hub areas in the Southeast of England. Chiltern Teaching School are one of the largest providers of CPD to the sector nationally. He is a passionate activist within the educational landscape around race, equity and inclusion. He is a Fellow and Board Member of the Chartered College of Teaching, as well as a Fellow for the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors. He plays an active role in numerous charitable organisations as a trustee and holds key governance roles within educational organisations.
CST members only: Full conference access including keynotes, workshops, lunch, and resources
Book your place£420 inc VAT at 20%
Non-CST member place for conference including keynotes, workshops, and lunch
Book your place£492 inc VAT at 20%
Our conference takes place at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham.
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.
Eastside Rooms
2 Woodcock Street
Birmingham
B7 4BL
The conference takes place on 26 March 2026.
The full programme will published nearer to the event date, but delegate registration is expected to begin at around 08:00 with main programme running approximately 09:30 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