Giles Taylor – Confederation of School Trust Conferences

Hall 6

1 Series four

Flourishing environments: Analysing DfE’s school estate management standards

The DfE’s new standards embody a shift in the government’s approach to improving the condition, safety, suitability, and sustainability of school estates across England. This session will provide an expert analysis of the new guidance and the implications for school trusts. We’ll hear how trusts align standards with broader policy goals and funding expectations to create a successful and resilient estates strategy. Most importantly, we’ll translate policy into practice. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of what the new standards require, practical tools for assessing current compliance, and strategic advice on aligning estate management with educational outcomes, financial planning, and sustainability goals.

Hall 7a

1 Series four

Evolving internal scrutiny to the next generation

Is your internal scrutiny programme compliance-driven, problem-focused, or disconnected from your strategic priorities? This interactive session will explore how to transform internal scrutiny into a forward-looking, risk-informed tool that supports continuous improvement. Join our speakers for a discussion around how to align scrutiny with future risks and opportunities, foster a culture of psychological safety, and overcome common barriers through shared real-life experiences.

Hall 7b

1 Series four

Implementing innovation: Leading AI and edtech strategy for positive futures

AI and edtech are reshaping education, and strategic leadership is critical to ensure innovation delivers real impact. This session explores how school and trust leaders can drive positive futures through ethical, scalable use of digital technologies. We’ll examine key decisions around investment, assessment, curriculum, and workforce readiness in an AI-driven world. Drawing on Pearson’s national and global insights, the session offers practical guidance to align innovation with trust-wide goals to support excellence, equity, and integrity.

Hall 8a

1 Series four

ITT revisited: Reshaping teacher training for the SEND classroom

The unprecedented number of pupils with SEND is prompting some trust leaders to re-evaluate their approach to Initial Teacher Training (ITT). In this session, we'll hear how The Gallery Trust, comprising of seven schools offering specialist and alternative provision, has developed a tailored ITT programme and its impact so far. Designed in-house and rooted in specialist expertise, the programme embeds SEND training throughout, with the aim of better preparing future specialist teachers and strengthening mainstream provision. You'll gain practical ideas and strategies to help adapt ITT towards a more inclusive and responsive education system.

Hall 8b

1 Series four

Exploring the framework for joyful education

How can we create a joyful school experience grounded in belonging, purpose, and connection? This session explores a mentoring model involving pupils in year 10 who, through shared values and identity work, support their younger peers in year 8. We’ll examine how this approach empowers disengaged students to become school ambassadors, encouraging leadership and empathy through relational practice. Reflections from mentors, mentees, and school leaders will offer honest insights into the potential and challenges of this work, and the impacts it has had. Together, we’ll consider how these practices can shape more inclusive, purposeful school communities.

Hall 9

1 Series four

GAG pooling: Driving fairness, resilience, and strategic impact

With rising costs and tightening budgets, some trusts are exploring GAG pooling as a way to build financial resilience and ensure equity across their academies. In this session, trust leaders will share their respective approaches – from equalising pension rates and centralising services, to using pooled reserves to support vulnerable schools and invest in shared priorities. We’ll discuss practical insights into how it works for them, the benefits it has the potential to unlock, and how to manage the cultural and leadership challenges along the way. Whether you are considering GAG pooling or looking to refine your existing approach, this session will help you think strategically and act confidently.

Hall 10b

1 Series four

Trust narratives: How to harness storytelling to support your strategy

How we tell our story as a trust is as important as the story itself. Compelling narratives can shape identity, build trust and align your community around a shared vision for success. This session will explore how harnessing the power of storytelling can support strategic objectives - from stakeholder engagement and growth to cultural cohesion and reputation management. Tiff and Nick will illustrate how a clear and consistent narrative is key to flourishing as a trust. You’ll have the opportunity to consider the how and why behind the stories you want to be telling, to achieve growth (in every sense as an organisation), strengthen reputations, and enhance stakeholder relationships.

Hall 11a

1 Series four

Listening to parents: Strengthening school communities through collaboration

This session explores how schools are engaging with parents to forge effective partnership in children's education. Speakers from Eko Trust and Big Education Trust will share their approaches to building inclusive, community-rooted relationships with families. Nicola Noble will reflect on Surrey Square Primary School’s Old Kent Road Family Zone project and its impact on local engagement, and Rebekah Iiyambo will highlight in-depth work with parents and carers to foster a deep sense of belonging through an inclusive and active listening approach. You’ll leave with grounded insights and practical ideas to consider and adapt in your own school communities.

Hall 1

1 Series three

Beyond ‘belonging’: How can trusts nurture agency and aspiration in their pupils?

This session considers the growing body of evidence behind ‘belonging’ – which is widely acknowledged as the foundation for wellbeing and success in schools. It will also extend the conversation to embrace ‘becoming’, where every child not only feels like they belong, but also feels empowered and full of potential. The panel will discuss how trusts can nurture this agency and aspiration in their pupils, and how leaders can bring this evolving vision to life, for a more ambitious future for state education in England.

Hall 6

1 Series three

Co-creating healthy futures: A cross-sector approach to child health inequality

Join Windsor Academy Trust and leaders from education and health as they unveil a new national framework, co-created with partners across both sectors, designed to bridge the gap between schools and healthcare. You'll hear real-world examples of successful initiatives, learn about the challenges and lessons learned in their implementation, and discover the tangible impact these collaborations have had on young people. This session will be interactive and offer practical insights and a clear understanding of how to foster impactful partnerships in your own setting. You’ll leave knowing how to leverage this framework and apply its principles to co-create healthier futures for children in your communities.

Hall 7a

1 Series three

Boardroom excellence in procurement: Ethics, strategy, and oversight

This workshop, designed for both trustees and senior leaders, will strengthen your oversight of procurement in line with DfE guidance. We'll explore the board’s critical role in making sure procurement decisions are transparent, fair, and aligned with the trust’s educational mission and public accountability. Join the panel in an exploration of ethical sourcing, supplier due diligence, risk management, and value for money. By the end of the session, you will be better equipped to ask the right questions, interpret procurement reports, and provide confident, ethical leadership in this vital area of school trust operations.

Hall 7b

1 Series three

Using AI to improve operational efficiency: Tools, principles and how to get started

This interactive session is for trust leaders who want to explore how AI and automation can reduce repetitive tasks, free up staff time, and dramatically improve operational efficiency across their schools. Through insights from the expert panel and structured group discussions, this session will support you in identifying where AI can make the biggest impact across your operations, overcome common blockers, and understand what you need in place to make AI effective. You’ll leave with practical templates and a clear sense of how to get started.

Hall 9

1 Series three

Strategic resourcing: Real experiences using ICFP for staffing decisions

Designed for trust leaders who are either not yet using Integrated Curriculum and Financial Planning (ICFP) or who want to strengthen their approach, this session will explore the use of ICFP across trusts of different sizes to support strategic decision-making, workforce planning, and long-term sustainability. Drawing on real examples, Julie and Michelle will highlight practical implementation approaches and how they have handled the challenges involved, including the cultural shifts needed to embed the system beyond finance teams. They will speak to their application of ICFP across primary and secondary, its use for early recruitment planning, and for staff redeployment to align with curriculum needs and pupil numbers.

Hall 10a

1 Series three

How can we create the conditions for young people’s minds to flourish?

In an era marked by increasing misinformation, polarisation and uncertainty, how can we equip our teachers and students to flourish? This workshop will explore how we can teach learners to respond with curiosity, care and critical insight to the digital content and algorithms shaping their world views, emotions and sense of self. Drawing on findings from Lyfta’s nationwide roundtable series, we will explore the emerging challenges and opportunities for trust-wide culture and curriculum development. Trust leaders will share practical, future-focused examples of approaches that are making a difference. Expect thoughtful discussion, inspiring stories and actionable strategies for meaningful, trust-wide impact.

Hall 11a

1 Series three

From voice to impact: Embedding staff feedback into trust culture

In this session, we'll hear real-life practical examples of how Infinity Academies Trust and Ted Wragg Trust have led meaningful change by listening deeply to their staff. We'll learn about their use of listening tools to turn feedback into co-created initiatives - from overhauling appraisal systems, and shaping people development programmes, to codifying values into everyday behaviours. You'll gain insight into their approaches and challenges in creating environments where people feel heard, valued, and supported, strengthening trust-wide culture.

Hall 11b

1 Series three

Exploring the future of assessment: Perspectives from Ofqual

Sir Ian Bauckham will share Ofqual’s perspectives on the future of assessment.

Hall 1

1 Series two

Building an inclusive school system

In this session, Tom will explore the policy landscape on inclusion and the opportunity we have to create a more equitable and inclusive school system, including through reforming our approach to special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). He will share insight from his work as chair of the DfE’s Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion over the last 12 months and then in conversation with Leora Cruddas, reflect upon the importance of both national policy (top-down) and sector leadership (bottom up) through this programme of reform.

Hall 6

1 Series two

CPD at scale: Exploring the pillars of effective trust-wide teacher development

What does impactful CPD look like across a trust? This session explores key sector challenges and how leaders can look to build consistent, high-quality teacher development across varied contexts. Sufian Sadiq of Chiltern Learning Trust shares candid reflections on the realities within his trust and speaks to the roadmap shaped under his leadership. You’ll gain practical insights into building the foundations for trust-wide CPD that raises teaching standards and drives meaningful, sustainable improvement.

Hall 7b

1 Series two

Scaling with sustainability: Effective energy management for growing trusts

As school trusts grow, managing resources efficiently becomes crucial to ensuring both operational success and financial responsibility. This workshop will explore strategies for effective energy management, tailored to the unique needs of expanding trusts. The panellists will discuss the learnings from their trust’s growth journey, from six schools to over 30. The conversation will cover practical solutions, and contractual risks and freedoms towards achieving long-term savings while supporting environmental and financial goals. You'll leave with actionable insights to balance growth with sustainability, to secure a more efficient and eco-friendly future for your schools.

Hall 8a

1 Series two

The attendance puzzle: Patterns, problems, and policy implications

Despite modest improvements in pupil attendance across England, absence rates remain stubbornly above pre-pandemic levels. Drawing on the latest insights from FFT’s Education Datalab and Attendance Tracker, we’ll unpack the complex landscape of school attendance in 2024/25 to support trust leaders to navigate the challenge with a clear and confident data-informed approach. We’ll explore emerging patterns across primary and secondary phases and examine the implications through a leadership lens. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the drivers behind the trends, the policy levers available to address persistent absence, and how to use attendance data to inform targeted interventions and resource allocation.

Hall 8b

1 Series two

Designing mainstream settings in which children with SEND can flourish

This session will guide you to think strategically about the building blocks for mainstream settings in which children with SEND can flourish, such as workforce design, staff training, enhanced provision, curriculum, and parental engagement. We’ll learn about the practical strategies suitable for leaders at every stage of the SEND journey, combined with time for reflection with colleagues. You will leave inspired to review, improve or fine-tune your whole-trust approach to supporting children with SEND.

Hall 9

1 Series two

Developing commercially for value and long-term sustainability

What does a commercially minded approach to financial strategy look like in a not-for-profit, education-led environment? In this session, trust speakers will share how they have built sustainable income streams through value-led traded services, procurement innovation, and purposeful partnerships. They’ll explore what has delivered impact, what they have chosen not to pursue, and why and how they navigate the balance between enterprise and risk. You'll leave with grounded insights and practical ideas to consider and adapt within your own trust contexts.

Hall 10a

1 Series two

Flourishing adults: How to create and measure a healthy workplace culture

In this session you’ll learn about how The Education Alliance is using staff insight to improve wellbeing and drive tangible outcomes. Drawing on this approach, we will hear from Mandy Coalter on how executive leaders and trust boards can measure engagement and understand the experiences of all employees – from classroom to board. You’ll gain practical strategies to build a thriving, supportive culture where people – and pupils – can flourish.

Hall 11a

1 Series two

The power of pupil voice: Scaffolding for effective two-way communication

How can schools develop pupil listening practices for genuine, transformative change? This session explores how two trusts have developed powerful, practical approaches to pupil voice. From structured dialogue tools to redefining what it means to be “heard,” we'll hear about the strategies Life Education Trust and Windsor Academy Trust have implemented that empower pupils to communicate, collaborate, and contribute to school culture. Using real case study examples, the session will unpack the successes and challenges of embedding pupil voice into leadership, teaching, and daily school life—offering models for attendees to consider for their own settings.

Hall 8a

1 Series one

Exploring the data behind teacher impact to drive school improvement

What drives teacher impact on pupil outcomes? Do consistently high-performing teachers use distinct classroom practices, follow specific training pathways, or experience a stronger sense of belonging? This session explores what the evidence tells us about these questions. Drawing on emerging analysis from the National Institute of Teaching’s founding trusts, we’ll examine how teacher impact evolves over time and what patterns are beginning to emerge. Attendees will gain early insights from rich, trust-level data and consider what this means for practice, development, and policy in schools.

Hall 8b

1 Series one

Flourishing through innovation: AI lesson planning to support every learner

This session shares early insights from a major research project led by Woodland Academy Trust which explores how AI tools are being used to support lesson planning across five primary schools. Pursued as part of a broader digital transformation strategy, the project has also contributed to external accreditation and recognition, including national award nominations. These frameworks have helped drive the project forward by establishing a shared vision, identifying measurable outcomes, and galvanising staff engagement across diverse settings. The session reflects on how this approach to innovation is helping to support every learner, particularly those with additional needs, while also enhancing professional agency and wellbeing for teachers.

Hall 10a

1 Series one

Leading a culture of cybersecurity in your trust

Organisations need to be safe and secure in order to flourish and, in a year of high-profile cyber-attacks, the need to protect school and trust data has never been more critical. In this session we’ll learn about today's cybersecurity landscape and hear from a trust leader on real-world experience of managing a significant trust cyber-attack, offering candid insights and key lessons learned. You’ll leave with practical strategies to strengthen your cyber defences and protocols on tight budgets. Achieving bank-level security with school-level resources may feel like mission impossible, but it’s far from it. Where: Hall 10a

Hall 10b

1 Series one

Going smartphone free: Ormiston Academies Trust's journey

In this session, we will explore Ormiston Academies Trust smartphone free approach. Drawing on both research and real-world implementation across a large trust (45 schools including specialist, AP, primary and secondary), we will examine the rationale and evidence underpinning phone-free policies, and their impact on a wide range of school and pupil outcomes. We’ll learn about the key challenges encountered, and speakers will reflect honestly on what they wish they had known from the outset. Whether you’re considering a similar policy or refining one already in place, this session offers practical insights and lessons learned from leading change at scale.

Hall 11b

1 Series one

Shared services 4.0: Mapping your trust’s maturity journey to leading practice

This workshop will explore three phases of trust maturity at a system level, and how signs are emerging of a fourth model involving AI, automation, and purposeful partnership, leading to strategic, scalable, high-performing ways of working (from striving to thriving). Join this session to assess your trust’s operational maturity, identify barriers, explore leading practices, and take practical steps to building a flourishing, future-proofed operational model.