speaker-photo

Leora Cruddas CBE

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.
09:20

1 Main programme

Opening performance

Opening performance from Moor Green Primary Academy, REAch2 Multi-Academy Trust.

11:20

1 Main programme

Keynote: Maintaining constructive industrial relations

Join Leora and a panel of sector voices to explore patterns and trends in industrial action, and maintaining constructive relationships. Full panel to be confirmed.

09:25

1 Main programme

Opening remarks

Opening remarks from Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive, CST.

10:20

1 Main programme

Keynote: Building an inclusive school system

Tom, Leora, and Claire will share their reflections on the Government’s Schools White Paper, plans for SEND reform, and the implications for trusts.

09:50

1 16 October

Keynote: Preparing for trust level inspection

Sir Martyn will outline Ofsted's preparations for trust level inspection and how the mechanisms and support for this new accountability measure will progress over the year ahead. The session will include a question-and-answer session hosted by Leora Cruddas, with questions submitted by delegates via the conference app.

10:20

1 16 October

In conversation: Remaking the relationships between us

Leora Cruddas is joined by social entrepreneur and author Hilary Cottam to explore how we can strengthen relationships, rebuild trust, and create the conditions for communities to flourish. Drawing on Hilary’s influential work, including Radical Help and The Work We Need, the discussion will consider how we as school trust leaders can deliver support at a more human, local scale to unlock new possibilities for young people and for the places that we serve.

10:15

1 15 October

Keynote

A keynote address from Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive, CST.

13:05

1 13 July

The partnership dividend

Drawing on CST and The Reach Foundation’s joint paper, The Partnership Dividend, this session will set out a vision for the trust sector that is rooted in a cultivation of a partnership mindset, for the educational benefit of the children we serve. This approach involves an integrator’ mindset. It is not intended to create further burdens on schools or expect schools to take on the remit of other services. Rather, it invites system leaders operating at a level of scale while drawing on local knowledge, experience and relationships to create real and tangible change.

16:10

1 13 July

Leading with presence and purpose

In this session, Maggie, Sally, and Leora will explore how effective leadership begins with how we relate to ourselves. Grounded in awareness, kindness, curiosity, care, and ethics, this approach positions self-understanding as the foundation for leading others with authenticity and humanity. Particularly relevant to education, the session will examine how these principles shape compassionate, values-driven leadership in schools. Participants will reflect on their own practice and consider how nurturing inner awareness can strengthen relationships, decision-making, and organisational culture.

16:45

1 13 July

Reflective questions

A chance to review the discussions so far with colleagues.

12:10

1 14 July

Final reflections

Leora will reflect on the discussions over the two days and outline an approach to taking the work forward.

09:15

1 Main programme

Opening and welcome remarks

Opening remarks from Leora Cruddas, Chief Executive, CST and Sherise Daly, EYFS Leader, Unity Schools Partnership, and Chair of CST's Early years professional community.

10:40

1 Main programme

Talking funding

Leora Cruddas puts your questions to our funding speakers.

09:25

1 Main programme

Welcome remarks

10:00

Friday 8 November

Keynote: Building

Keynote speech from CST's Chief Executive, Leora Cruddas CBE.