Agenda
This session will provide insights from the Department for Education on the 2022 Schools White Paper, including plans to ensure every child can benefit from quality teaching through a multi-academy trust structure by 2030.
Updates will be shared on plans for implementation of wider initiatives outlined in the White Paper and how the trust system will support these, including how trusts and local authorities can best work together to ensure the interests of every child are met, how primary and literacy capabilities can be enhanced with school-to-school support, and expectations for how trust leaders and governing bodies can continue successful efforts in overcoming learning loss due to the pandemic.
This session will offer advice and guidance on how executive leaders and governance professionals across all trusts can build more effective relationships with their Regional Schools Commissioners and utilise the support and expertise of the renewed Advisory Boards.
Learn more about the role of the National Schools Commissioner and regional counterparts in working with schools to tackle underperformance, and how support will be offered to implement plans outlined in the Schools White Paper, including to ensure every child can benefit from a quality MAT structure by 2030.
This session will include time for questions.
This session will explore the role of various governance professionals that feed into the accountability structure of a MAT, including Chairs, Clerks, Trustees and LGBs, and examine what makes for effective partnership-working for governance.
Gain ideas for professional development opportunities that can help you as a Governor improve your ability to hold trust leaders accountable, considering the key skills required by different professionals, as well as approaches for ensuring roles are clearly defined across the governance structure of your trust.
This session will include time for questions.
This session will offer insights from CST research on the core responsibilities of a MAT CEO and share ideas for how this research and set of guidance can be used to improve performance and support MAT growth.
Key discussion points will include:
- The accounting and financial planning elements of a CEO role, and how to balance such responsibilities with other finance professionals in the trust
- How the guidance links to and builds upon the Headteacher Standards, and clarifying the difference in expectations for a single school trust leader compared to the leader of a MAT
- Using the guidance to plan and inform strategies for merging with other MATs or incorporating new schools into your trust
This session will include time for questions.
This session will outline the findings of research conducted by Stephen to understand the siloes in education leadership and identify ways to bridge gaps and encourage better peer-to-peer collaboration and learning.
Gain ideas for how to build relationships with leadership counterparts in local trusts and local authorities, and consider how the research can improve joined-up thinking within your MAT for better outcomes.
The research is due for publication in Spring 2022.
This session will include time for questions.
This session will provide an opportunity to discuss with fellow attendees your key learnings and takeaways from the Conference thus far, and what ideas you have for planning and implementation to take back to your trust.
Share with peers the challenges you face in your governance or leadership role, and work together to discuss approaches to overcoming these, through this academic year and beyond.
Following a brief introduction, panellists will explore the key discussion points below. Delegates will be invited to raise questions and comments throughout for the panel to respond to.
- Exploring what it means to create a shared culture, including values and ethos, across a trust, and how to embed this in new schools joining a trust, or as part of a MAT merger
- Discussing methods of effective communication to ensure shared goals and a commitment to outcomes, including between schools, between leadership and staff, and with pupils and parents
- Examining how to design and implement trust-wide initiatives, recognising where adaptations might be needed for different contexts, as well as finding opportunities to pool resources and expertise
Following a brief introduction, panellists will explore the key discussion points below. Delegates will be invited to raise questions and comments throughout for the panel to respond to.
- Exploring barriers to attracting a diverse set of candidates to applying for executive leadership and governance roles within MATs
- Considering how mentorship can be embedded across a trust to develop key leadership skills and ambition among a wider network of future education leaders
- Practical ideas for how trust leaders and governors can work together to make the trust community and executive leadership roles more attractive, and also demonstrate commitment internally and externally to diversity and inclusion
- Highlighting why increased diversity leads to better outcomes for pupils, and the trust community as a whole
Following a brief introduction, panellists will explore the key discussion points below. Delegates will be invited to raise questions and comments throughout for the panel to respond to.
- Discussing the current landscape for academy trusts in light of expected expansion following the Schools White Paper and a focus on demonstrable learning loss recovery, and what this means for improving governance and accountability
- Exploring best practice approaches to governance in other sectors, including charities and private companies, to consider key elements than can be more effectively implemented within MAT governance
- Examining the different governance professionals and the roles they play in accountability and oversight, and how to ensure more clarity of responsibilities and expectations in your MAT
*Programme subject to change