The programme
08:00
Registration, Networking & Breakfast
Registration, Networking & Breakfast
09:10
Panel Discussion - "Setting the scene, why is a people strategy pivotal?"
This panel discussion to kickstart the day will feature panellists from MATs and Organisations, this discussion will set the scene for the rest of the day and address "where are we, here and now?"
09:35
Keynote Session - Your skills and abilities grow - Developing leaders at every level
In this session, Trust leaders will share the E-ACT's People Strategy, and their focus on developing leaders at every level. They will outline courses designed to support personal growth, foster collaboration, and promote continuous learning. Attendees will gain insights into how these initiatives are creating a culture of growth and empowering individuals to lead from any role.
10:00
Keynote Session - Friday Breakfast won’t cut it any more - The changing priorities of recruitment and retention from one Trust’s perspective
Garry Ratcliffe
Chief Executive Officer
The Golden Thread Alliance
With a national pressure on MATs to recruit and retain the best teachers and leaders, this session will look at how The Golden Thread Alliance’s priorities have changed, with a renewed focus on working beyond the free-breakfast-benefit.
10:25
Keynote Session - Developing a MAT wide recruitment strategy
This slot is reserved for Reed Education.
10:50
Morning Break, Networking & Refreshments
Morning Break, Networking & Refreshments
11:30
Keynote Session - Motivating, Developing & Retaining Great People
Rob Darling
Deputy CEO
Inspire Education Trust
How Inspire Education Trust has successfully grown from within by developing its workforce to ensure our communities have the very best people in our academies.
11:55
Keynote Session - Starting Upstream: embedding a coaching culture so they WANT to stay
Retention is not about holding onto people when they want to leave; it is about creating a workplace culture which lights them up, feels fulfilling, nurturing, empowering. This session shares examples of how embedding PURE coaching approaches across your schools and central trust teams develops the potential of individuals aligned to their intrinsic motivation, so their work becomes a joy.
Hosted by:
Catherine Hulme, CEO, Leadership Edge Coaching in Schools
with contributions from:
- Manny Botwe, ASCL President
- Kate Ivackovic, Director of People, Greenshaw Learning Trust
- James Roach, CEO, Inclusive MAT
12:20
Keynote Session - Delivering a Complete Human Strategy across a multi-academy trust
Jacqueline Bircham
Deputy CEO
ASSET Education
How we grew a research based study trip to The Netherlands into a wellbeing approach that now forms that foundations of our Trust strategy, developing our people, improving staff retention, pupil and community wellbeing, and culminating in recognition as Wellbeing Trust of the year at the national MAT Excellence Awards.
12:45
Keynote Session - Labours Plan To Make Work Pay – But Who Will Be Paying?
Labour first announced their “new deal for working people” as part of their Manifesto, and while they have dialled back from some of their initial proposals, the ramifications for employers will be significant. The Employment Rights Bill 2024 was published on 10 October 2024 and has been followed up with various publications from the Government. During our session, we will cover what we do know, and importantly, what we do not know, and how these changes will impact anyone running a MAT.
Our discussion will centre around the new right to claim unfair dismissal from day one of employment, flexible working, the right to switch off, statutory sick pay, zero/casual hours contracts (which will be significant for schools), family rights, pay gap reporting, the race equality act, new single worker status, new rules on changing terms and conditions (fire and rehire), the likely timescales and what Trusts should be doing now.
14:00
Keynote Session - Using Challenges and Mini Disasters to Shape Your People Strategy
Nick Osborne
Chief Executive Officer
Maritime Academy Trust
Does your Trust School really have a culture? This session will explore the following key points: • Many organisations claim to have a defined culture, but with such diverse staff, is it consistent across your school? Does the culture in your school office match that of the Early Years team or the French department? • We’ll discuss how everyday experiences and even small crises can be valuable tools for leaders to intentionally shape culture and people strategies. • Drawing on insights from Dan Ariely and Robert Cialdini, we’ll examine how their work can influence what staff think of their schools and help leaders create a more cohesive and authentic culture.
14:25
Workshop Session - Using the strong trust descriptors to bring your People Strategy to Life
Do you know your people metrics as well as your pupil metrics? Are decisions made on your workforce based on evidence or intuition? Consider the importance of evidence-informed decision-making, based on powerful insights into your workforce. Good data highlights key people risks, challenges and opportunities and enables you to focus on what matters to your people, reducing those risks and maximising opportunities, ensuring you are working towards a stable, engaged and impactful workforce driving improved pupil outcomes. Data also enables effective monitoring and evaluation, so the impact of initiatives can be measured. Share your experiences, challenges and initiatives, your successes, tips and watch-outs.
