Tom Rees

CEO, Ormiston Academies Trust, and Chair, DfE‘s Expert Advisory Group for Inclusion

Tom is Chief Executive of Ormiston Academies Trust, one of England’s oldest and largest school trusts, serving 35,000 children across 42 schools. Tom was previously executive director at Ambition Institute, where he led professional development programmes for over 50,000 teachers nationally.

Tom was a headteacher for ten years and education director of a medium-sized multi-academy trust. He has served on various reference groups including the Headteacher Standards review group, was a member of the Regional School Commissioner’s headteacher board and has held several trusteeships.

Tom is also Chair for the Department for Education's Advisory Group for Inclusion.

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.

10:20

1 Main programme

Keynote: Building an inclusive school system

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