Academy Governance Summit: Dynamic governance in policy and practice

Conference Opens, Welcome & Keynote. Followed by Setting strategy in a rapidly evolving world.

Keynote: The policy environment for academy trusts

Baroness Barran, focused on key policy changes including how academies can move to stronger, larger trusts.

The Baroness Barran of Bathwick MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System

Setting strategy in a rapidly evolving world

For trusts to thrive in our evolving external environment, it is important that they have a clear strategy. This session explored the key elements of setting and reviewing an effective strategy.

Moderator:
Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive, Confederation of School Trusts (CST)

Speaker:
Stuart Gardner, CEO, Thinking Schools Academy Trust

Option A: Fostering an inclusive internal culture

This breakout session profiled trusts that are pioneering equality, diversity and inclusion within their governance structures and wider organisational culture.

Moderator:
Claire Timmins, HR Director, Ipsos MORI

Speakers:
Rod Findlay, Business Services Director, British Cycling
Sam Sadeghi, Academies Governance Officer, Academies Enterprise Trust

Option B: Joining trusts

This breakout session explored the experiences of two trusts who have joined together and lessons from their journey.

Moderator: 
Katie Paxton, Company Secretary, School Governance Specialist & Author

Speakers:
Kylie Burgess, Governance & Compliance Manager, Dunraven Educational Trust
Helen George, Chair, Dunraven Educational Trust
Jamie Otter, Partner, Stone King

Option A: The trust journey: Developing trust board governance at key ‘inflection points’ of growth

The Department for Education (DfE) emphasise that governance will change and develop at different stages of the trust’s journey. Through this session, trust governance leads will share their stories of ensuring that their trust boards adapted structures and oversight to reflect the growth of their organisations.

Moderator:
Nicole Wicks, Trustee, Stowe Valley MAT & CST Governance Advisory Service Consultant

Speakers:
Emma Hughes, Chair, Rivers CofE Academy Trust
Kate Brunt, CEO, Rivers CofE Academy Trust

Option B: The trust journey: Embracing alternative innovation in local governance

Many trusts begin their local governance journey adapting practices from maintained governance. This session will profile innovative examples of local governance from within the academy sector that harness our flexibility to innovate.

Moderator: 
Rachael Bailey, Director, Trust Governance Professionals

Speakers: 
Siobhan Chester, Senior Governance Advisor, Reach2
Phil Beecher, COO, Boudica Schools Trust
Zoe Noble, Governance Manager and Clerk to the Trustees, Boudica Schools Trust

Questions that our governance professionals are asking. Followed by closing remarks

Questions that our governance professionals, trustees and local governance should be asking about educational outcomes and school improvement

Academy trusts sit within an increasingly dynamic external environment as they respond to new government policy and compliance requirements, and the demands brought by the pandemic. Governance professionals play a crucial role in supporting trusts and their governance stakeholders in navigating the changing landscape and translating policy into practice.

Speaker:
Sir David Carter, former National Schools Commissioner

Welcome & Keynote. Followed by The Academy Governance Code.

Keynote: The role of governance professional and the Academy Governance Code

Leora provided her practical vantage point on trust and governance developments in the sector, and shared information on the introduction of the Academy Governance Code.

Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive and Founder, Confederation of School Trusts (CST)

The Academy Governance Code

This session provided insights into how governance codes have been effectively used by governance professionals working in other sectors that have a governance code.

Moderator:
Louise Thomson, Head of Policy, NFP, CGIUKI

Speaker:
Maria Maltby, Head of Governance and Company Secretary, David Ross Education Trust
Lynsey Tweddle, Strategic Lead, Governance, Sport England
Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive and Founder, Confederation of School Trusts (CST)

Q&A with the Department for Education

This breakout session shares information on the current priorities of the Department for Education (DfE) and Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Moderator:
Emma Perkin, Director, Trust Governance Professionals

Speakers:
Craig Alderson, Financial Governance Frameworks Manager, Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), Chairperson, The Dove Academy Trust
Dame Kate Dethridge DBE, Regional Schools Commissioner with responsibility for Governance, Department for Education

Option A: Board evaluation and skills development

At this time of the year, governance professionals often consider the approach to delivering review, evaluation and skills audits with trust and local governance boards. This breakout session will profile the tools, techniques and organisations in the sector that can support boards to foster a culture of regular review and reflection.

Speakers:
Fiona Chalk, Founder, Governance4FE and The Chartered Governance Institute Champion of the Year 2020
Patrick Dunne, Author of 'Boards'
Cathy Brown, Director of Governance, The Mead Educational Trust

Option B: Development of the governance professional

Governance professionals play a vital role in trusts and the specialist nature of our roles is increasingly being recognised. This session focuses on the direction of our profession and celebrates the work being undertaken by governance professionals across the country.

Moderator:
Anna Machin, Director, Trust Governance Professionals

Speakers:
Anna Chambers, Trust Executive Officer, Brooke Weston Trust
Ruth Agnew, Head of Governance, Co-op Academies Trust
Jill Cameron, Trust Lead for Governance, Risk and Compliance, Eko Trust

Closing remarks by Louise Thomson, CGIUKI