This exciting event brought together over 500 staff and governance volunteers from all our schools, for a day of professional learning and meaningful networking. The conference offered a diverse array of more than30 talks and workshops covering a range of themes.

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The day started with an inspiring keynote address by Jeffrey Boakye, a former educator, renowned broadcaster, and author of the insightful book “I Heard What You Said.” Boakye’s book delves into his experiences as aBlack teacher navigating the English education system. His compelling speech set the tone for the entire day by challenging attendees to reflection our shared responsibility in cultivating an authentic sense of belonging and ambition for all the children and young people under our care. Whether they were teachers, support staff, members of the administrative teams, governance volunteers, or school leaders, Jeffrey’s message resonated deeply.

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Inclusion of, and ambition for all pupils was a recurring theme throughout the day. Sessions explored various aspects of this theme, such as fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment, supporting students with special educational needs, diversifying the curriculum, promoting cultural awareness and addressing unconscious bias, nurturing student mental health and well-being, and delivering effective careers education.The commitment to inclusive practices among the staff was palpable, as evidenced by this feedback:

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“A key takeaway was the strong focus the Trust has on the importance of inclusion and diversity. We work amongst so many people who are passionate about it!”

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Additionally, the conference spotlighted curriculum and pedagogy, featuring a second keynote by Daisy Christodoulou, a bestselling author in the field of education. Her session underscored the significance of aligning curriculum and assessment, a key area of focus for many of our schools. Other workshops in this category delved into the unique characteristics of various subject disciplines and offered evidence-based strategies to enhance classroom instruction. Topics ranged from problem-solving in mathematics across primary and secondary levels to reading fluency, reading for pleasure, cognitive science applications, data-driven instruction, post-16 pedagogy, and digital classroom tools.

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Business and administrative staff were also offered relevant workshops, including professional development, software training, and behaviour management tailored to their roles.

Similarly, governance volunteers had access to specialised sessions focusing on UnderstandingGovernance in a Multi-AcademyTrust, preparing for Ofsted inspections, and understandingPupil Premium.

As the day drew to a close, we hosted workshops with a focus on well-being and relaxation strategies. A last-minute yoga session in the sports hall was a delightful surprise, but it was the staff choir that stole the show.
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They learned and performed three songs from scratch, serenading their colleagues in the courtyard as refreshments were served, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and idea-sharing.

Out of the 31 sessions offered, an impressive 21 were led byCharter staff, with 38 individuals contributing, across all schools and roles. This bears witness to the generosity, dedication, and expertise of our exceptional staff within the Trust. Their willingness to lead sessions, even at the end of a taxing year, demonstrates their commitment to supporting one another and ultimately improving outcomes for all students, echoing the sentiments of Dylan Wiliams:

“If we create a culture where every teacher believes they need to improve, not because they are not good enough, but because they can be even better, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”