Successful Governor Conference

An Evening of Collaboration and Strategic Focus

On Tuesday 1 October 2024, The Keys Academy Trust held its second annual Governor Conference, bringing together governors, trustees, and leaders from across our schools. The event was a great success, providing a valuable opportunity for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and strategic planning.

The evening began with a warm welcome by David Horrocks, Chair of the Trustee Board, who provided an update on the Board of Trustees’ key priorities from the previous year, which included inspections, growth and a continued focus on supporting disadvantaged children and improving staff wellbeing.

One of the key highlights was the presentation by Jan Martin, Director of Education and Safeguarding at ODBST, on Governor Accountability for SEND. As the number of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) continues to rise, Jan shared key findings from the NFER April 2024 report, highlighting the challenges schools face in supporting these pupils. The discussion reinforced the questioning and lines of enquiry governors should be asking their schools. This will help to ensure our schools are fully equipped to provide high-quality, inclusive education.

Attendees also had the opportunity to engage in networking sessions, during which local governing bodies shared feedback and exchanged ideas on how to improve collaboration across schools.

The event concluded with Hester Wooller, CEO of The Keys Academy Trust, outlining the Trust’s strategic priorities for 2024-2025, focusing on narrowing the gap for disadvantaged pupils, workforce collaboration, and adapting provision for pupils with complex SEND.

We are incredibly grateful for the contributions from all attendees, and the event has further strengthened our collective commitment to ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to thrive.

We look forward to continuing our journey together in creating high-quality educational environments for all our pupils.