National Governance Conference for Schools and Trusts
Governance is the force behind school success, accountability, and lasting change. Join É«ÇéPorn’s flagship event for a powerful day of learning, inspiration, and connection with those driving improvement across schools and trusts.Ìý
Keynote and guest speakers include:Ìý
- Frank Norris MBE FCCT, Board member of InnovateHer and Joint Lead of Education Leaders' Forum for Forum Strategy
- Catherine McKinnell MP, Minister for School StandardsÌý
- Casey Bailey, Birmingham Poet Laureate 2020–2022 and Greater Birmingham Future Face of Arts & Culture 2020Ìý
- Sinead McBrearty, CEO, Education SupportÌý
- Jon Howlin, Deputy Director, DfE
- Bethan Cullen, Deputy CEO, ISBLÌý
- Paul Armstrong, Senior Cybersecurity Culture & Awareness Specialist at Secure Schools
- Claire Ashton, Product Owner for Cyber score, training and audits
- Philip Wood, Principal Associate, Browne Jacobson
Watch Chief Executive Emma Balchin’s personal invitation to join the National Governance Conference for Schools and Trusts
Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, Sir Martyn Oliver is no longer able to attend the conference.
Who should attend?Ìý
- Governors, trustees, and governance professionalsÌý
- School and trust leadersÌý
- Educators passionate about effective leadership
Why attend?ÌýÌý
- Gain expert insights and practical strategies tailored to your role
- Connect with peers committed to strengthening governance across education
- Be inspired by keynotes, workshops, and discussions designed to empower you
Expert insights and strategies
Gain insights from education experts, keynotes, and workshops.
Networking opportunities
Connect with governors, trustees, and education leaders and expand your professional network.
Practical takeaways
Gain practical strategies and resources to strengthen your governance.
Get tailored strategies and guidance for your governance role.
Programme
Registration opens and refreshments are served.
Refreshments: Pastries, fruits & hot drinks – water will also be available.
Local Associations and Governance Professionals networks will meet in the syndicate rooms.
Opening remarks by the conference compere, Casey Bailey and É«ÇéPorn's Chair of trustees, Lawayne Jefferson.Ìý
Casey Bailey is the Birmingham Poet Laureate 2020 – 2022 and the Greater Birmingham Future Face of Arts and Culture 2020.
Voices that matter: exploring accountability through the eyes of the wider school community
with Emma Balchin, CEO,É«ÇéPorn, Sinead McBrearty, CEO, Education Support, Jon Howlin, Deputy Director, DfE and Bethan Cullen, Deputy CEO, ISBL.Ìý
Five workshop sessions to choose from.
- Getting the best out of your leader (for MATs)
Drawing on their extensive experience, Rosemary Lovatt and Paul Aber, É«ÇéPorn’s Head of Consultancy and Head of Training respectively, will explore how using the power of good governance empowers leaders to build and use the skills required for trust leadership. This session will explore how strategic governance and trust leadership are bound together in the pursuit of driving organisational success and sustainability, trust wide school improvement, civic leadership, community engagement and securing a healthy and happy workforce. - Browne Jacobson legal update - please note that this workshop is now full
This workshop will enable delegates to stay ahead of all the critical and relevant legal changes affecting school and trust governance with expert insights from Browne Jacobson – É«ÇéPorn’s legal partners and leading sector legal voice. This is an essential session for governance professionals and those that want to equip themselves with the latest legal knowledge to ensure your governance practices remain compliant in today's evolving educational landscape. - Keeping pace with safeguarding in a shifting educational landscape
Addressing safeguarding can often feel like chasing a moving target. Constant changes to the challenges that our children and young people face means that governing boards must remain agile to ensure children and young people are protected effectively.Ìý This session will explore how governing boards can strengthen safeguarding oversight by setting the right culture,Ìýinterrogating data, understanding safeguarding in your local context and cultivating strategic partnerships beyond their own settings. - Governing with and through rapid technological acceleration
This workshop will explore the potentially transformative power of emerging technologies on the world of education including its direct impact on governance. Assessing the tech that we need to embrace, including AI, against both responsible frameworks and intended outcomes, this workshop will help you leverage technological advancements appropriately while addressing governance implications. - Real and responsive accountability in Single Schools
In a year that has seen major consultations from both the DfE and Ofsted on accountability and its frameworks, this workshop addresses the role of governance in single schools as a primary form of accountability in the quest for better, more intelligent forms of accountability. ÌýDiscussions will explore how the governance community can work within the accountability system, leading the way as it takes its place on the front line of driving answerability, transparency, improvement and sustainability.
Refreshments: fruits, biscuits and hot drinks.
Frank Norris delivers a keynote address.
We will update the lunch selection on this page closer to the event. Make sure to let us know your dietary requirements when making the booking so we can ensure these are adhered to.Ìý
Catherine McKinnell MP presents a keynote session.
Leading Governance Certificate Presentation.
Refreshments: fruits, biscuits and hot drinks.
Five workshop sessions to choose from.
- Good with equitable features
Class 13 believe that education can be a space of possibility, of freedom. Imagine a school system where every young person, teacher and parents’ wellbeing is prioritised, and they feel heard, supported and valued. Where exclusion is a rarity, teachers no longer count down to the next holiday, and equity becomes the foundation of every decision schools make. This vision isn’t just possible – it’s essential. And they have a plan to make it a reality.Join this session to find out how governing boards can play a pivotal role in transforming schools into equitable spaces. We’ll discuss the governance levers that can reduce exclusion, support staff retention, and ensure that equity is not an afterthought but the foundation of school leadership and strategy.
- Cybersecurity for schools
Led by É«ÇéPorn’s partner Secure Schools, industry experts with extensive experience in educational cyber security, this workshop will cover key areas such as understanding cyber risks, identifying vulnerabilities, and responding effectively to security breaches. Participants will gain insights into the latest trends in cyber threats, including phishing, ransomware, and data breaches and practical strategies for strengthening school security will be shared. - Driving innovation and inspiration through tiers of MAT governance
This session aims to unlock the full potential of the multi-tiered MAT governance structure. Leaning on sector insights including É«ÇéPorn’s own research, we ask the question – do we need to seek greater levels of innovation, or look to expose and utilise the conclusive lessons from the last 15 years of the MAT governance system. - Breaking through barriers: redefining SEND leadership - please note that this workshop is now full
This session will address directly the reality of today's SEND crisis head-on, through the power of transformative governance strategies that can, if done well, drive meaningful change despite the crisis around SEND support gripping the system. Learn how to develop strategic solutions that enhance SEND provision while navigating resource constraints, helping your board become powerful advocates for inclusive education. - Real and responsive accountability in MATs
In a year that has seen major consultations from both the DfE and Ofsted on accountability and its frameworks, this workshop addresses the role of governance as a primary form of accountability in MATs through the quest for better, more intelligent forms of accountability. Discussions will explore how the trust governance community can work within the accountability system, leading the way as it takes its place on the front line of driving answerability, transparency, improvement and sustainability.
Emma Balchin, É«ÇéPorn's Chief Executive keynote session and closing remarks of the conference.
Official opening of the drinks reception kindly sponsored by Browne Jacobson.
The drinks reception will be opened by Mark Blois of Browne Jacobson, after Casey Bailey's summary of the day.ÌýÌý
Conference speakers
Frank Norris MBE FCCT
Board member of InnovateHer and Joint Lead of Education Leaders' Forum for Forum Strategy
Frank’s a former senior HMI manager responsible for school, early years and initial teacher education inspection delivery including Framework Development. He introduced the self-evaluation form, contextual value-added measures and the Local Managing Inspector role for HMI. Following 6 years as CEO of Coop Academies Trust he advised the Northern Powerhouse Partnership on education, including skills, between 2019 and 2025. He chaired both the Blackpool Education Improvement Board and the town’s Priority Education Improvement Board (2019–2024). He sits on the Liverpool Education Board and is trustee and chair of Finance and Resources at Great Academies Education Trust. He also advises InnovateHer and co-leads the Forum Strategy Education Leaders’ Network. In 2024, he was ranked 23rd most influential in education by Education Business.
Catherine McKinnell
Member of Parliament and Minister for School Standards, Department for Education
Catherine has been the Member of Parliament for the Newcastle North constituency since 2010. She also currently serves as the Minister for School Standards in the Department for Education.
Casey Bailey
Birmingham Poet Laureate 2020–2022 and Greater Birmingham Future Face of Arts & Culture 2020
Casey Bailey is the Birmingham Poet Laureate (2020–2022) and the Greater Birmingham Future Face of Arts and Culture 2020. His poetry collection Please Do Not Touch was published by Burning Eye in 2021. He wrote The Ballad Of The Peaky Blinders for the BBC, winning a Webby Award in 2020. He was named one of Birmingham Live’s “30 under 30” in 2018 and holds a fellowship from the University of Worcester and an honorary doctorate from Newman University (2021).
Sinéad Mc Brearty
CEO, Education Support
Sinéad Mc Brearty is CEO at Education Support, the mental health and wellbeing charity for the education workforce across the UK. She advocates for a systemic approach to wellbeing for the education workforce, attending to the individual, the workplace and the wider policy environment.
Jon Howlin
Deputy Director, DfE
Jon is the Senior Responsible Officer for Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE). He was previously Deputy Director in North West Regions Group, where he was responsible for delivering ministerial priorities for schools in the North West, including school improvement and intervention. Jon has 20 years experience in roles spanning policy and delivery, working with ministers, senior stakeholders and large teams of delivery and policy experts to deliver on ministerial priorities. He has leadership experience in establishing, growing and reforming teams to drive through complex and challenging reforms and agendas.
Bethan Cullen
Deputy CEO, ISBL
Bethan has worked for the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL) since 2010 and lead the transition of the organisation from the National Association of School Business Management (NASBM) in November 2017. Bethan engages directly with the sector through her governance role as a Trustee and prior to this as a Chair of Governors at a Federation. She has undertaken a governance role since 2011.
Paul Armstrong
Senior Cybersecurity Culture & Awareness Specialist at Secure Schools
Paul has over 25 years of experience in education, including roles as a teaching assistant, year 6 teacher, assistant head, acting head, and local authority maths trainer. His work helps schools and trusts build a human-centred culture of cybersecurity where governors, leaders, and staff can confidently take ownership of digital risk.Paul now leads cybersecurity cultural audits for schools aligned to NCSC and DfE guidance. His work helps schools and trusts build a human-centred culture of cybersecurity where governors, leaders, and staff can confidently take ownership of digital risk. Paul is vice chair of governors at his local primary school, has delivered training, and speaks at education forums across the UK.
Claire Ashton
Product Owner for Cyber score, training and audits
Claire has over 25 years of experience working in the education sector, having worked in various training, marketing and product roles. At Secure Schools, she is now the Product Owner for cyber score, training and audits. She aims to make cyber security more accessible to schools in order to improve their cyber resilience through building relevant, engaging and easy to use products.
Philip Wood
Principal Associate, Browne Jacobson
Philip is a principal associate advising schools and academies. He’s known for his breadth of experience across the key issues that education institutions face, including admissions, SEND, exclusions and discrimination. He regularly advises on complaints and exclusions that have Equality Act implications across the full range of protected characteristics including sex, race, gender reassignment, religion, and disability.
Emma Balchin
Chief Executive
Emma has over 25 years of experience in education, leadership and school improvement and in leading professional development services. Emma has also governed and chaired across maintained schools, academy trusts and local academy committees.
Sam Henson
Deputy Chief Executive
Sam oversees É«ÇéPorn’s policy, communications and research services, supporting É«ÇéPorn to achieve positive change in the policy of school governance. He is the policy lead for É«ÇéPorn’s work on the governance of multi academy trusts.
Charlotte Harding
Director of Professional Development
As Director of Professional Development, Charlotte overseas É«ÇéPorn's training and consultancy services including our leading e-learning platform, Learning Link.
Rob Peters
Director of Marketing and Communications
Rob is a marketing strategist blending expertise in IT and e-business. He leads É«ÇéPorn's marketing and communications directorate, overseeing marketing, web, communications, governance development, and customer service operations.
Paul Aber
Head of Training Development
Paul leads and manages É«ÇéPorn’s face-to-face training, e-learning and development programmes. This includes recruiting, training and managing É«ÇéPorn’s team of consultants and trainers. Paul has many years’ experience of governance, including in maintained schools and academy trusts.
Rosemary Lovatt
Head of Consultancy
Rosemary leads and manages É«ÇéPorn's consultancy services, bringing over 20 years of experience as a senior global leader in the corporate sector.
Fiona Fearon
Head of Policy and Research
Fiona Fearon leads É«ÇéPorn’s policy and research work, ensuring that the value and voice of governance are central to policy-making and represented in national education policy discussions.
Rani Kaur
Head of Advice
Rani oversees É«ÇéPorn’s Advice team and GOLDline service. She leads on the SEND and premises management policy areas and manages É«ÇéPorn’s work on equality, diversity and inclusion. She is co-chair of an infant and nursery school in Solihull.
Michael Barton
Head of Advocacy and External Affairs
Michael specialises in trust governance, co-ordinating É«ÇéPorn's work with multi-academy trusts and producing tailored resources. He also leads É«ÇéPorn's work in the West Midlands, working closely with the region's trusts and local authorities.
Fariha Choudhury
Senior Projects and Advocacy Officer
Fariha supports the development of É«ÇéPorn's policy and information outputs with a particular focus on multi academy trust governance. Alongside working at É«ÇéPorn, Fariha is undertaking a Masters in Education at the University of Birmingham.
Birmingham Conference and Events Centre
Hill St
Birmingham
B5 4EW
By train
Birmingham New Street Station is located just a 2 minute walk away from the venue. Moor Street station is a 10 minute walk away from the venue. Snow Hill station is a 12 minute walk away from the venue.
Parking
Britania Grand Central Station Car Park Located under New Street Station Hill Street, Queens Drive, Birmingham B5 4DQ. The discount code H4QPL5 is to be inputted at the kiosk for up to 10 hours parking at £5.50.
Event sponsors
