The Governance Conference is an annual event which brings together members, trustees, and local governors to network, share best practice and promote community and collaboration.

The day started with an introduction by Gary Turner, Chair of Trustees and David O’Toole, CEO at The 3-18 Education Trust.

Presentations from two expert external speakers were a highlight of the conference. 

Dr Gill Eatough delivered an insightful keynote on ‘How to Challenge School Leaders’ offering strategies for collaborating with school leaders and staff. Gill is an experienced CEO and governor with extensive knowledge of the education system.

Mark Davis, Director of Education at the Diocese of Lichfield, presented the second keynote, explaining how the Lichfield Diocese Board of Education collaborates with schools and sharing their vision for flourishing schools.

Carole Warner, Trust governance professional, presented on accessing shared resources. Claire Jones, Deputy CEO, gave an overview of the Trust Consultant network. These contributions provided a comprehensive overview of how governance can support schools.

David O’Toole said the conference “emphasised the importance of effective governance and educational excellence.”

Gary Turner, described the event as a “great success” and said, “there was a definite buzz in the room.”