Arrive early to print and collect your delegate badge, and enjoy fresh coffee and pastries. Take this time to settle in, meet fellow attendees, talk to the sponsors and prepare for a full day of discussions on the opportunities and challenges shaping education

Angi Gibson, President, National Association of Headteachers (Invited)

• What schools and trusts need to know about curriculum, wellbeing requirements, and changes to admissions and oversight
• Exploring how the Bill embeds children’s mental health, pastoral care, and safety into the mainstream education framework.
• Understanding the evolving role of local authorities: responsibilities and collaboration with schools and trusts
• Assessing how the legislation will affect school improvement, inclusion planning, and local relationships

Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State, Department for Education (Invited)

• Insights from recent data and teacher workforce trends
• Strategies for attracting new teachers and support staff into the profession
• Building pathways for diverse talent and early career development
• Innovative strategies for improving retention rates and attracting new staff including flexi-time, development opportunities, and recognition program

Reuben Moore MBE, Executive Director, National Institute of Teaching

Taking part in the Q&A sessions gives you the chance to speak directly with experts, clarify any uncertainties, and get practical advice. You can explore real-world examples, discuss challenges you face, and leave with actionable insights to apply in your school or trust.

Take a moment to stretch your legs, grab a coffee, and recharge for the sessions ahead. This is also a great opportunity to visit our exhibition area, meet our event partners, and connect with fellow delegates. Whether you’re looking to explore new solutions or simply have a chat with peers, make the most of this networking break.

• Outlining key curriculum requirements including RSHE guidance and balancing breadth and depth of subject knowledge
• Balancing national assessment requirements with local flexibility and innovation
• Aligning curriculum intent, implementation, and impact across multi-phase and multi-school settings
• Building staff confidence and leadership capacity to sustain coherent curriculum and assessment design

Chris Paterson, Co-CEO, Education Endowment Foundation (invited)

• Outlining the areas for opportunity and potential challenges with implementing AI tools and digital learning programs
• Embedding ongoing professional development, digital literacy, and staff confidence as the foundation for successful implementation
• Adopting a pedagogically driven approach to ensure technology and AI serve genuine educational goals
• Conducting effective needs assessments to identify where digital tools can add real value to learning
• Integrating technology purposefully to enhance curriculum engagement and assessment

This Gold Partner session is available to sponsor. For more information, please get in touch.

Taking part in the Q&A sessions gives you the chance to speak directly with experts, clarify any uncertainties, and get practical advice. You can explore real-world examples, discuss challenges you face, and leave with actionable insights to apply in your school or trust.

Seminar 1: Leadership challenges in 2026: Managing change, culture, and stakeholder expectations in schools and trusts

• Exploring shared leadership challenges across schools, academies, and trusts in a time of sector-wide transformation
• Comparing approaches to managing organisational culture, staff wellbeing, and strategic change in different settings
• Discussing actionable strategies for effective delegation, communication, and engagement with diverse stakeholders

Shane Ierston, CEO, Great Schools Trust (invited)

Seminar 2: Bridging the Divide: How Education Can Reconnect Disengaged Young Men

• Exploring the causes of educational disengagement among boys and young men
• Understanding the social, emotional, and economic factors influencing attendance and behaviour
• Strengthening community and employer partnerships to create re-engagement pathways
• Learning from evidence-based programmes successfully reducing exclusion and NEET outcomes

Andy Cook, Chief Executive, The Centre for Social Justice (invited)

Seminar 3: Student Mental Health: Creating Emotionally Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments

• Understanding the trends in student mental health and the impact of social media
• Integrating mental health support within whole-school culture and curriculum with a focus on how students can manage their own mental health and support each other
• Developing robust early identification systems and clear referral pathways
• Building staff confidence and capacity to recognise and respond to mental health concerns

Jaime Smith MBE, Director of Schools, Anna Freud (invited)

Enjoy a buffet lunch while exploring the exhibition area and networking with fellow delegates. Take this opportunity to meet our sponsors, discover cutting-edge education tools, services, and solutions, and engage directly with experts supporting school. Build valuable connections and gain insights in a relaxed, collaborative setting.

Seminar 4: Improving school attendance

• Outlining current national trends in attendance and persistent absence since COVID-19
• Building a whole-school culture of attendance through consistency, relationships, and communication
• Strengthening collaboration between schools, local authorities, and families to tackle barriers
• Using data effectively to identify at-risk groups and monitor the impact of interventions

Colin Cattanach, MAT Executive Leader, Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership (invited)

Seminar 5: Future-proofing School Estates: Energy efficiency, maintenance and compliance

• Understanding the latest DfE guidance and funding opportunities for sustainable estate management
• Implementing energy efficiency strategies to reduce carbon footprint and operational costs
• Developing effective maintenance, condition, and compliance plans across multiple sites
• Embedding sustainability and resilience into long-term estate planning

James Miller, National Director of Infrastructure and Sustainability, Ormiston Academies Trust and Chair, The Trust Network (invited)

Seminar 6: Managing Challenging Behaviour Effectively

• Building a strong school culture and community
• Developing staff confidence and professional judgement in responding to challenging situations
• Balancing accountability with inclusion to support pupils while maintaining high standards
• Using evidence-based strategies to reduce exclusions and create emotionally safe learning environments

Jayne Lowe, Attendance and Behaviour Ambassador, Department for Education (CONFIRMED)

• Guidance on Ofsted’s new inspection framework and key priorities
• Equipping leaders with practical tools and strategies to prepare effectively and demonstrate impact during inspection
• Preparing for potential MAT -level reviews and emerging policy developments
• Gathering and presenting evidence: curriculum, outcomes, leadership
• Supporting staff and governors before, during, and after inspections
• Understanding recent changes or pilots in inspection methodology.

Tracy Fielding HMI, Deputy Director for Schools and Early Education, Ofsted 

This Gold Partner session is available to sponsor. For more information, please get in touch.

• Understanding the impact of the 2025 Spending Review and upcoming funding reforms on schools and trusts
• Exploring approaches to long-term financial planning and scenario modelling under continued cost pressures
• Strengthening financial governance by implementing strategies to ensure transparency and strategic alignment with organisational goals
• Best practice examples of financial allocation within schools and academies with restricted budgets

Bethan Cullen, Deputy CEO, Institute of School Business Leadership (invited)

Taking part in the Q&A sessions gives you the chance to speak directly with experts, clarify any uncertainties, and get practical advice. You can explore real-world examples, discuss challenges you face, and leave with actionable insights to apply in your school or trust.

Take a final opportunity to network with peers over refreshments. Reflect on the day’s discussions, exchange insights, and connect with sponsors and exhibitors before the conference concludes. Continue building valuable relationships.

• Understanding the key proposals set out in the Schools White Paper and its implications for SEND provision
• Identifying key challenges and opportunities within the evolving SEND landscape
• Exploring the proposed national standards for SEND provision and potential changes to the EHCP process
• Analysing the long-term funding strategy and what it will mean for schools and local authorities
• Strategies for managing co-production with parents and carers

Gary Aubin, Member of Government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review panel and SEND Consultant (CONFIRMED)

Tanya Rowley, Director of Quality Education, Shaw Education Institute (invited)

Tom Rees, CEO, Ormiston Academies Trust (invited)

Taking part in the Q&A sessions gives you the chance to speak directly with experts, clarify any uncertainties, and get practical advice. You can explore real-world examples, discuss challenges you face, and leave with actionable insights to apply in your school or trust.