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.

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.

09:15

1 Main programme

Welcome remarks

Welcome remarks from CST's Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE and Tamsin Frances, Executive Director, People, Infrastructure & Innovations, Ted Wragg Trust and Chair of CST's People and culture professional community.

15:35

1 Main programme

Final reflections and close

Final reflections with the conference formally closing at 15:45.

1 Workshop series one

Cultivating a culture of belonging and connectedness

This panel will explore ways to create the conditions for belonging and connectedness to enable all pupils to flourish in schools – and the research evidence behind them. Anna Upton from Embark Multi-Academy Trust (comprising nursery, primary, and secondary schools) will share the trust’s approach to creating a collective commitment across its schools, fostering a universal offer as a foundation for every child’s success. Simon Knight of Frank Wise Special School will discuss the principles underpinning an inclusive culture within the context of a community special school, and how that relates to the lived experience. Stuart Kime of EBE will share research evidence for the conditions that cultivate a sense of belonging for learners, teachers and leaders alike.