THE GOVERNANCE TRAIL

In Collaboration with the NGA

The NGA will have speaker presence in dedicated sessions across the Schools & Academies Show. In collaboration with the NGA, we have designed a dedicated Governance Trail of sessions relevant for  Governors, Trustees and Governance Professionals.

We, at the Schools & Academies Show, understand that governance cannot be viewed in isolation, as it is interwoven through every element of the school system. This is why we have a governance voice across much of our content and sessions relevant to this important cohort of the sector.

With sessions featuring NGA's Michael Barton, Rob Peters and Emma Balchin and many more specialist speakers, you will not run out of things to see and do at the show and the Governance Trail will act as a guide of our highlights!

Confirmed Speakers from the NGA:

Michael Barton
Head of External Affairs and Advocacy
National Governance Association

Emma Balchin
Chief Executive
National Governance Association

Rob Peters
Director of Marketing and Communications
National Governance Association

Governance Trail 2024

The Trials and Tribulations of Trust Expansion : How Joining and
Expanding a Trust are Two Sides of the Same Coin
10:00am to 10:50am | MAT Summit

  • What organisational structures are needed to ensure trust expansion is successful and sustainable

  • Preparing schools to join trusts by establishing culture, norms and consistent practice across trusts

  • Overcoming the challenges of managing continual school integration into trusts, what are the pitfalls and stumbling blocks?

Speakers:

  • Zoe Carr OBE, Chief Executive Officer, WISE Academies

  • Andrew Warren, Regional Schools Commissioner- West Midlands, Department for Education

  • Stephen Stainhaus, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Solihull Alternative Provision Multi Academy Trust

  • Jodh Dhesi, Chief Executive Officer, King Edward VI Foundation Birmingham

  • Sir Andrew Carter, Chief Executive Officer, South Farnham Education Trust

Having an AI Strategy in Place in Your Organisation
11:15am to 12:00pm | EdTech Summit - Main Stage

Establishing clear lines of accountability for AI strategy and leadership will be an essential requirement for education organisations moving forward
How we can effectively support staff, students, and stakeholders in developing vision and policy within this rapidly evolving landscape, while also ensuring accessibility and achieving improved outcomes for learners
Keeping your privacy on lock with an organisational AI policy
Educating both staff and learners about the ‘ethical implications’ of using artificial intelligence

Speakers:

  • Dan Worth, Senior Editor, tes

  • Daniel Bull, Head of Learning Technologies, Leigh Academies Trust

  • Dr Shaid Mahmood, Chair, Association of Colleges (AoC)

  • Rashik Parmar MBE, Chief Executive, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

  • Rob Peters, Director of Marketing and Communications, National Governance Association

  • Georgina Dean, Founder, EdTech Stealth Startup

Digital Safeguarding and Pupil Wellbeing: A Vital Piece of the EdTech Puzzle
1:30 PM to 2:30 PM | EdTech Summit - Main Stage

  • Research shows that most students who claimed to feel "confident" about safely using the internet lacked media literacy. How should pupils be best taught about digital literacy and online harms?

  • There is a vital need to teach online safety skills beyond the classroom: Ways to better support parents in managing their children's online safety

  • Digital Wellbeing: Understanding wellbeing challenges faced, building cultures that help all students to feel supported

  • How can we identify online risks and empower students with a sense of responsibility to navigate them safely and effectively? Educating on Cyberbullying, Manipulation, and Grooming

Speakers:

  • Dan Worth, Senior Editor, tes

  • Jon Needham, National Director, Oasis Education

  • Holly Hunt, Learning Technologist Team Leader, Basingstoke College of Technology

  • Jenna Khanna, Regitonal Director (UK), Common Sense Media

  • Karen Squillino, Local services Director, NSPCC

  • Rob Peters, Director of Marketing and Communications, National Association of Governors

  • Professor Sonia Livingstone, Digital Futures for Children Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Fireside Chat - Balancing The Books: Managing School Finances with Limited Resources
1:35pm to 2:05pm | Business and Finance Theatre

  • How to respond to working at a budget deficit: what steps your setting should undertake

  • Selecting expenditure priorities and non-negotiables

  • Benchmarking spending patterns with similar settings to identify efficiency savings

  • Addressing challenges in 12-month cash flows and restricted monies

  • Responding to a Notice of Financial Concern or to a Notice to Improve

Speakers:

  • Clare Skinner, Business Manger, Kings Norton Girls School

The Benefits and Challenges of Working as a Cohesive Leadership Team
2:15pm to 3:00pm | MAT Summit

  • Promoting better understanding of the different roles within a trust and exploring the benefits this will bring

  • Improving organisational efficiency and capacity through mutual understanding of functions

  • Is there a space for cross-functional teams to enhance joint-planning and collective goal setting?

Speakers:

  • Stephen Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Knowledge

  • Rula Kanona, Director of Teaching and Learning, CORE Education Trust

  • Lee Davis, Head of Finance, Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust

  • Rowena Hackwood, Chief Executive Officer, Astra Academy Trust

Managing Change in Your Organisation: Building Capacity for Change and Improvement
2:50pm to 3:35pm | School Improvement Theatre

  • School improvement fundamentally rests on your ability to implement change. Well managed change initiatives have a greater chance of long- term improvement, how can you implement change successfully?

  • Laying the foundations in order to facilitate stakeholder buy-in and prevent resistance to change

  • Monitoring, assessing and evaluating change to adjust course appropriately

  • Giving you the tools to implement change within your school

Speakers:

  • Shabs Ahmed, Head of Faculty for English (Film and Languages), County High School, Suffolk

  • Sahreen Siddiqui, Director & Executive Headteacher, Wembley Multi Academy Trust

  • Steve Kay, Director of Schools & Employability, Birmingham City Council

  • Hayden Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust

  • Dr Robin Bevan, Education Leadership specialist, ISBL

Developing and Executing the Key Skills a Top Leader Needs for Today’s Education Sector
10:00am to 10:45am | Leadership & Workforce Theatre

  • What skills, knowledge and characteristics are essential in 2024 to set you apart as a school leader?

  • What don’t they tell you about being a school leader and how does a strong leader handle these unforeseen challenges

  • Understanding the impact of your actions and attitude on your wider staff team. How do you catalyse them to be the best that they can be?

Speakers:

  • Dr Robin Bevan, Education Leadership specialist (Headteacher 2007-24, NEU president 2020-21, ISBL Patron 2017-), NEU National President (2020-21

  • Keziah Featherstone, Executive Headteacher, Q3 Academy Tipton

  • Wayne Norrie, Chief Executive Officer, Greenwood Academies Trust

  • Shofiquez Zaman, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Community Schools Trust

  • Emma Balchin, Chief Executive, National Governance Association (NGA)

Money Talks: Prioritising Education Funding and Provision
1:35pm to 2:25pm | Main Stage

  • The current picture on school funding, what the economic climate means for school budgets, and thinking strategically about funding in times of uncertainty.

  • What is actually needed to fund an education system and how does the government plan to do it?

  • Understanding the rising costs faced by schools: How can you save money without impacting pupil outcomes?

Speakers:

  • Luke Sibieta, Programme Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies

  • Neil Short, Chairman, National Association of Small Schools (NASS)

  • Rashida Din, President, NASUWT, the Teachers Union

  • Emma Balchin, Chief Executive, National Association of Governors (NGA)

  • Stephen Morales, Chief Executive, Institute of School Business Leadership 

Visit the NGA Stand!

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with NGA representatives directly at the dedicated NGA stand (Stand E86), and discover more about what is coming up and the NGA’s priorities.