MATPN MIDLANDS 2025 AGENDA

24 – 25 June 2025, EMCC, Nottingham

MATPN is a unique, two-day learning and networking event which brings together the most inspirational leaders and transformational suppliers in the MAT sector to share cutting-edge insight, knowledge and experience. Our agenda is carefully curated to address the most relevant and emerging challenges in the sector.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Day 1
Day 2

24 June 2025

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Main Room

Registration
8:45 am - 8:55 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Adrian has served as CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust for ten years, overseeing its growth from three to eighteen schools. Under his leadership, the Trust has excelled in transforming challenging schools, with several now rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Originally focused on secondary education, Chiltern Learning Trust consistently ranks among the top performers nationwide for GCSE outcomes. The Trust also operates multiple teacher training programs, two teaching school hubs, behaviour hubs, and an attendance hub.

Before joining Chiltern, Adrian was Headteacher at a school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted on three occasions, a role he held for fourteen years. During this time, he established a multi-academy trust and served as Executive Head across several schools. Adrian has also been a National Leader of Education for the past fifteen years.

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Welcome to the MATPN Midlands 2025!
8:55 am - 9:35 am

Main Room

Keynote leaders panel – Embedding inclusion: a trust-wide imperative

Adrian has served as CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust for ten years, overseeing its growth from three to eighteen schools. Under his leadership, the Trust has excelled in transforming challenging schools, with several now rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Originally focused on secondary education, Chiltern Learning Trust consistently ranks among the top performers nationwide for GCSE outcomes. The Trust also operates multiple teacher training programs, two teaching school hubs, behaviour hubs, and an attendance hub.

Before joining Chiltern, Adrian was Headteacher at a school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted on three occasions, a role he held for fourteen years. During this time, he established a multi-academy trust and served as Executive Head across several schools. Adrian has also been a National Leader of Education for the past fifteen years.

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Rachel has worked on school leadership teams for over 20 years. She was the Headteacher of an inner-city primary school for 7 years before becoming the CEO of Humber Education Trust when it was formed in 2017. Rachel worked as a National Leader of Education for a number of years and is passionate about all children getting the best start in life through high-quality education. She has seen the growth of Humber Education Trust to 17 schools, ensuring that inclusive practice and high aspirations for all are at the heart of the Trust’s ethos.

Rachel Wilkes

Chief Executive Officer
Humber Education Trust

Cori Bateman

Chief Executive Officer
Pioneer Learning Trust

Julian Scholefield

Chief Executive Officer
Esteem Multi-Academy Trust

The SEND system remains under intense scrutiny with rising EHCP demand, funding deficits (projected to exceed £5 billion by March 2026) and local authority pressures. What are MATs doing in their schools to address these rising concerns...

The SEND system remains under intense scrutiny with rising EHCP demand, funding deficits (projected to exceed £5 billion by March 2026) and local authority pressures. What are MATs doing in their schools to address these rising concerns?

Our speakers explore strategies to weave inclusion into Trust strategy and culture, addressing pupils, staff and leadership. With the SEND system under increasing scrutiny, panellists will unpack:

Defining Inclusion: What does it mean for diverse pupils and staff?

Neurodiversity at Work: Supporting high-functioning neurodiversity with training and resources.

Trust-Wide Equity: Ensuring inclusion permeates every level of leadership and operations.

Policy Alignment: Preparing for SEND reforms while fostering innovation.
9:35 am - 9:55 am

Main Room

Going to School in 2035 - What might learning look like?

Google for Education helps transform teaching and learning so that every student can realise their full learning potential. We believe that everyone – educators and learners at every age and stage – deserve the tools and skills that set them up for success in building the future they want for themselves.

Anu Manthri

Head of Google for Education, UK & I
Google for Education

Google for Education helps transform teaching and learning so that every student can realise their full learning potential. We believe that everyone – educators and learners at every age and stage – deserve the tools and skills that set them up for success in building the future they want for themselves.

Fiona Law

Partnership, Programmes and Communities Lead
Google

Google for Education helps transform teaching and learning so that every student can realise their full learning potential. We believe that everyone – educators and learners at every age and stage – deserve the tools and skills that set them up for success in building the future they want for themselves.

Grace Kelly

Head of Digital Transformation UK&I
Google

In the future, our schools can be vibrant hubs of personalised learning, where technology leads students on individual pathways and teaching is restored to its rightful place as the most prestigious profession. Google technologies allow ...

In the future, our schools can be vibrant hubs of personalised learning, where technology leads students on individual pathways and teaching is restored to its rightful place as the most prestigious profession. Google technologies allow every student access to an infinite curriculum; assessment will be transformed; while advanced collaboration tools will connect learners across the globe. The classroom walls may dissolve, replaced by boundless exploration and the pursuit of knowledge tailored to each unique mind. Join Google to explore the art of the possible in the future of education- in order to prepare your learners and workforces today.

Key learning points: assistive technology for SEND and inclusion; digital skills; sustainable digital strategy, collaboration within and between schools
10:00 am - 10:40 am

Main Room

Dragons' Den - Speed presentations

Our signature ‘Dragons’ Den’ session provides each solution provider with an opportunity to deliver a short pitch, explaining why they are here and how their services can help tackle some of the sector’s ongoing c...

Our signature ‘Dragons’ Den’ session provides each solution provider with an opportunity to deliver a short pitch, explaining why they are here and how their services can help tackle some of the sector’s ongoing challenges.
10:45 am - 12:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
12:05 pm - 12:25 pm

Main Room

Delivering sector led, fully funded, retention, recruitment, and wellbeing solutions across education

BeReady have proudly assisted our partners within education in accessing over £30 million in funding to attract, develop, and retain talent.

As industry leaders in inclusion, BeReady launched their SEND Teaching Assistant programme, which has been revolutionary in improving the SEND skill set amongst support staff in schools. To build on the success of this programme, BeReady have recently expanded their offerings to include a ground-breaking Early Years Educator with SEND Level 3 programme. These initiatives have been designed to equip staff with the skills to tackle the complex challenges faced by the entire sector, due to the increasing needs for SEND provision, and improve learning environments and outcomes for all pupils.

In addition to this, BeReady launched the first-ever Wellbeing Champion Programme for schools in September 2022. Since then, they’ve helped develop hundreds of Wellbeing Champions who continue to support staff and student wellbeing and improve cultures in schools across England.

Kyle Burrows

Chief Learning Officer
BeReady

BeReady partners with Multi-Academy Trusts to tackle recruitment and retention challenges through sector-driven solutions. This collaborative presentation emphasises the importance of a strong people strategy, to create a culture of incl...

BeReady partners with Multi-Academy Trusts to tackle recruitment and retention challenges through sector-driven solutions. This collaborative presentation emphasises the importance of a strong people strategy, to create a culture of inclusion and belonging. The challenges of retaining and developing staff are highlighted, with solutions provided addressing workload, wellbeing, and career pathways.
BeReady introduces how AI and professional development can ease administrative burdens, allowing educators to focus on their impact. By providing fully funded people development strategies and solutions, BeReady supports the creation of lasting, positive change in education.
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Main Room

Mastering distributed leadership

After working in various commercial industries, Claire became a School Business Manager and has now worked in education leadership for 22 years, 16 of those within academy trusts. After working for two large national academy trusts, most recently as Deputy CEO, she became CEO of Broadleaf Partnership Trust in 2020.

Claire has developed and led multidisciplinary teams that have designed and implemented trust-wide strategies and large-scale change projects. She has been involved in a number of successful academy conversions, most recently leading the integration of the newest schools into Broadleaf. Under her leadership, the Trust has more than doubled in size.

Claire gained her MEd in Education Leadership in late 2020. She has also served as a Trustee and is a passionate believer in the benefits derived through collaboration within and beyond academy trusts.

Claire Pritchard

Chief Executive Officer
Broadleaf Partnership Trust

How can MATs empower leaders while maintaining strategic coherence? This session dives into the art of distributed leadership, offering strategies to build high-functioning central teams that enhance autonomy without sacrificing oversigh...

How can MATs empower leaders while maintaining strategic coherence? This session dives into the art of distributed leadership, offering strategies to build high-functioning central teams that enhance autonomy without sacrificing oversight. We dive into:

Empowerment Strategies: Fostering collaboration and trust across leadership tiers.
Strategic Alignment: Linking decision-making to Trust goals and quality standards.
Overcoming Challenges: Addressing the pitfalls of distributed control.
Practical Insights: Building leadership capacity for sustainable impact.
12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Main Room

AI in Education - How Olex.AI is going way beyond workload reduction

Olex.AI is multi BETT award-winning generative AI platform, revolutionising English writing, feedback, assessment and moderation for schools. Our platform enhances teaching by making feedback more efficient, engaging, and inclusive. Developed with teachers,

Olex.AI drastically reduces marking time, allowing personalised feedback for an entire class in under two minutes. Customise marking with nationally recognised rubrics or your school’s frameworks, and gain insights on class strengths and weaknesses. With multilingual support, feedback is automatically translated for clear communication.

Additionally, create stunning AI-powered illustrations to transform students’ writing into personalised StoryBooks. We empower teachers, enhance learning, and make education accessible through the latest generative AI technology.

Victoria Mallinson

COO
Olex.AI

In this session, COO Vicky Mallinson, shares how leading trusts across the UK are making Olex.AI a core part of their teaching and assessment strategies, delivering transformative change and raising standards for students and staff.
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

An opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers to talk over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
2:05 pm - 2:30 pm

Main Room

Fire side chat – Safeguarding together: a collective mission

Vic Raynor

International Safeguarding Consultant
Raynor Safeguarding

Dr Martin Bloomfield

Founding Director, Beyond Inclusion Ltd, Lecturer in Digital Ethics
Berlin School of Economics and Law

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility so how do MATs make it a lived reality? During the fire-side chat, our experts share optimal approaches to safeguarding that empower staff and embed vigilance Trust-wide. We delve into:

...

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility so how do MATs make it a lived reality? During the fire-side chat, our experts share optimal approaches to safeguarding that empower staff and embed vigilance Trust-wide. We delve into:

Shared Accountability: Building a culture of collective responsibility.
Practical Embedding: Integrating safeguarding into daily routines.
Staff Empowerment: Equipping teams to protect and support pupils.
2:30 pm - 2:50 pm

Main Room

Teaching Smarter, Scaling Faster: Why MATs Choose Magma Maths

For the last 8 years, Magma Maths has revolutionised how Maths is taught in Sweden, the US, and now the UK as well. Today, over 70% of all Swedish schools, school districts in all 50 states in the US, and over 100 trusts in the UK use Magma.

Teachers have loved the service since Magma launched in the UK in the Autumn of 2023. Teachers, Maths Leads and Trust Leaders agree with Magma’s core pillars for Maths education:

• Creativity: Let pupils show their work – not just their answer
• Collaboration: Embrace discourse in the Maths classroom
• Data-driven teaching: Identify and address knowledge gaps when they appear, in real time

Daniel Hagstedt

Managing Director
Magma Maths

For the last 8 years, Magma Maths has revolutionised how Maths is taught in Sweden, the US, and now the UK as well. Today, over 70% of all Swedish schools, school districts in all 50 states in the US, and over 100 trusts in the UK use Magma.

Teachers have loved the service since Magma launched in the UK in the Autumn of 2023. Teachers, Maths Leads and Trust Leaders agree with Magma’s core pillars for Maths education:

• Creativity: Let pupils show their work – not just their answer
• Collaboration: Embrace discourse in the Maths classroom
• Data-driven teaching: Identify and address knowledge gaps when they appear, in real time

Alex Page

Head of Sales
Magma Maths

Discover how Magma Maths is transforming maths education across classrooms and MATs. We’ll show how teachers use Magma to deliver engaging, feedback-rich lessons that support deep learning and great pedagogy. Then, we’ll shift perspe...

Discover how Magma Maths is transforming maths education across classrooms and MATs. We’ll show how teachers use Magma to deliver engaging, feedback-rich lessons that support deep learning and great pedagogy. Then, we’ll shift perspective to explore how trusts can unlock powerful, centralised assessment and analytics at scale—reducing workload, improving outcomes, and aligning strategy with student progress.
2:55 pm - 3:15 pm

Main Room

Digital transformation of schools - from No 10 to the classroom

Stop trawling through school websites and policies.
Robin does all the hard work for you, with its AI-powered compliance checks and policy audits. Free up your team’s time, feel confident your schools are compliant and identify areas for improvement. Join 40+ MATS (500+ schools) today.

Joe Blair

Co-Founder & Director
Robin

What should technology and data in the school system look like, and how close are we to getting there?

Joe reflects on his rollercoaster year as a No 10 Innovation Fellow at the DfE, seeing the challenges and opportunities first ...

What should technology and data in the school system look like, and how close are we to getting there?

Joe reflects on his rollercoaster year as a No 10 Innovation Fellow at the DfE, seeing the challenges and opportunities first hand.

He sets out a vision for harnessing data, AI, and tools like Robin to make MAT and school operations:
✓ Smarter, simpler, cheaper and faster
✓ More experimental and adaptable
✓ More fair and more fun.
3:20 pm - 3:40 pm

Main Room

One platform to empower leaders and staff across your trust

The National College is transforming the way MATs approach professional development, compliance management and people development. Our online platform offers a single, integrated solution to help you raise education standards, save time, reduce risk, and build a culture of improvement across your organisation.
You can tailor our platform and resources to meet your trust’s specific needs, and access powerful management tools to direct trust-wide CPD, compliance and appraisals. Home to the world’s largest collection of CPD for educators, our platform is used by thousands of education establishments and over a million users globally and endorsed through 19 major awards.

Jamie Garnley

Head of Sales
The National College

The National College has transformed the way MATs approach professional development, compliance management and people development. Our online platform offers everything you need to help you:

✓ raise education standards across yo...

The National College has transformed the way MATs approach professional development, compliance management and people development. Our online platform offers everything you need to help you:

✓ raise education standards across your organisation
✓ save time and reduce risk across your organisation
✓ build a culture of continuous improvement across your organisation

You can tailor our platform and content to meet the specific needs of your group structure and schools, and take full control of trust-wide CPD, compliance and appraisals processes.

Join us to see how.
3:45 pm - 5:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
5:05 pm - 5:35 pm

Main Room

Keynote – Navigating the way forward for your people, not all people

Adrian has served as CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust for ten years, overseeing its growth from three to eighteen schools. Under his leadership, the Trust has excelled in transforming challenging schools, with several now rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Originally focused on secondary education, Chiltern Learning Trust consistently ranks among the top performers nationwide for GCSE outcomes. The Trust also operates multiple teacher training programs, two teaching school hubs, behaviour hubs, and an attendance hub.

Before joining Chiltern, Adrian was Headteacher at a school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted on three occasions, a role he held for fourteen years. During this time, he established a multi-academy trust and served as Executive Head across several schools. Adrian has also been a National Leader of Education for the past fifteen years.

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Sufian Sadiq

Director of Teaching School and Talent
Chiltern Learning Trust

One-size-fits-all people strategies don’t work so, how do MATs design ones that fit their specific trust identity and values? Our speakers explore building a bespoke workforce plan aligned with Trust needs, not external trends. Unpacki...

One-size-fits-all people strategies don’t work so, how do MATs design ones that fit their specific trust identity and values? Our speakers explore building a bespoke workforce plan aligned with Trust needs, not external trends. Unpacking their approach to:

Listening Strategically: Understanding team priorities and needs.
Cultural Alignment: Linking initiatives to Trust goals and identity.
Practical Steps: Creating a strategy that resonates and delivers.
5:35 pm - 5:45 pm

Main Room

Chair's closing remarks
5:45 pm - 7:45 pm

Main Room

Hotel check-in / free time
7:45 pm - 10:00 pm

Main Room

Drinks reception & networking dinner
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Breakout Room 1

Leveraging technology for MAT growth and efficiency

Matt McIver

Chief Operating Officer
Cidari Multi Academy Trust

An innovative, iterative, and human centred approach to technology can help to define, demonstrate, and embed your culture. Supporting recruitment and retention, enhancing performance and creating appeal as a Trust of choice.
Matt ...

An innovative, iterative, and human centred approach to technology can help to define, demonstrate, and embed your culture. Supporting recruitment and retention, enhancing performance and creating appeal as a Trust of choice.
Matt will talk through his experiences on a pathway of technological transformation. The risks, the challenges, the successes, the failures, and the unexpected benefits our approach created.
Key Skills:
Being bold: Taking an iterative approach to digital transformation
Inclusive design: How to get buy-in from our people, and make them champions for change.
Defining a culture: How the approaches to digital transformation, and the technology itself can promote and enhance your culture.
12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Breakout Room 1

£13m and Counting: How Trusts Are Reclaiming Energy Spend to Fund Education

Mark Dolling

Strategic Development Director
eEnergy

Every pound wasted on inefficient energy is a pound that could be spent on teaching, learning, and student wellbeing.
Mark Dolling shares how schools are reclaiming over £13m a year in energy spend through fully funded energy effi...

Every pound wasted on inefficient energy is a pound that could be spent on teaching, learning, and student wellbeing.
Mark Dolling shares how schools are reclaiming over £13m a year in energy spend through fully funded energy efficiency projects, delivering immediate impact without capital outlay.
At a time when budgets are under increasing pressure and with practical insights from 1,200+ school decarbonisation projects, Mark will unpack:
• How to access DfE-compliant funding with no upfront cost
• Where the biggest savings lie in your estate
• How MATs are redirecting savings into teaching & learning
• Why delaying action could be the most expensive choice
If you’re ready to turn energy waste into pupil-centred investment, this session shows you how
2:55 pm - 3:15 pm

Breakout Room 1

Building Reliable Digital Infrastructure: Identifying Problems Before They Happen

Lightspeed Systems® patented technology was imagined and designed just for education:

• Lightspeed Alert™ gives schools immediate insights in to signs of self-harm, cyberbullying and violence.
• Lightspeed Filter™ provides scalable, cloud-based safeguarding and reporting.
• Lightspeed Classroom™ gives teachers an overview of all online classroom activity, letting them control browsing as well as viewing screens.
• Lightspeed Insight™ gives schools real-time insights into app usage and student engagement to help them save money and stay GDPR compliant.
• Lightspeed MDM™ gives hierarchical, centralised control of devices features and apps.
• Lightspeed Signal™ allows schools to Identify device, network, and app issues for connected learning

Harry Saunders

Account Manager
Lightspeed Systems

Your teams are stretched thin, devices are constantly swapped between students, and you only discover app outages when frustrated teachers reach out. Meanwhile, senior leadership expects seamless technology performance to support learnin...

Your teams are stretched thin, devices are constantly swapped between students, and you only discover app outages when frustrated teachers reach out. Meanwhile, senior leadership expects seamless technology performance to support learning outcomes across your entire trust.

In this session, you’ll discover how predictive IT intelligence transforms reactive troubleshooting into strategic advantage. Learn how leading MATs are using real-time insights to monitor device health, track app performance, and identify connectivity gaps before they disrupt classroom learning.
3:20 pm - 3:40 pm

Breakout Room 1

Narrowing the Digital Divide with Data Driven Digital Strategy

Nick Shea

Director of Education
Wavenet

Technology is reshaping our world. Transforming the way we work, the way we communicate, collaborate, and innovate. It is reshaping the traditional model of education, enabling engaging and revolutionary environments for learning. Howeve...

Technology is reshaping our world. Transforming the way we work, the way we communicate, collaborate, and innovate. It is reshaping the traditional model of education, enabling engaging and revolutionary environments for learning. However, one of the core challenges we often hear referred to is the challenge of narrowing the digital divide in education as technology has evolved at a rate that it is hard to keep pace with. It is a challenge that MATs and Schools face daily. How do you run successful and transformative technology across a Trust? How do you ensure that your technology is inclusive to all? And how do you embed a culture for learning that will prepare your young people for their futures that will undoubtedly be shaped by the evolving tech of the digital world?
In this session Wavenet Education will showcase how they deploy inclusive Digital Strategy alongside programs of CPD to ensure that you take your users on your journey of digital transformation to support your Trusts educational vision and drive engagement and improve the outcomes of your students.
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Breakout Room 2

Leadership development: myth-busting HR

Emma Hendry

Chief HR Officer
Exceed Academies Trust

Not every outstanding teacher makes a great leader.

Leadership extends beyond classroom instruction, requiring the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide colleagues and stakeholders.

Emma explores how to identify and nurtu...

Not every outstanding teacher makes a great leader.

Leadership extends beyond classroom instruction, requiring the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide colleagues and stakeholders.

Emma explores how to identify and nurture leadership potential, distinguishing between leadership and management, influence and control. Emma will highlight:

Key Skills: for effective leadership
Foster an open culture: where colleagues can thrive.
Dynamic pipeline: creating a pipeline of leaders.
12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Breakout Room 2

Safeguarding Staff Reputation: Combatting the rise of defamation

Since 2018, Education Mutual has been transforming staff absence protection with an innovative, non-profit making approach that prioritises schools, budgets, and wellbeing. As the UK’s largest member-owned provider, recommended by the Department for Education through the CPC framework, we offer an ethical alternative to traditional insurance.
Our multi-award-winning service delivers budget certainty and includes access to a wide range of health and wellbeing services which are all included at no additional cost such as face-to-face counselling, physiotherapy, 24/7 GP access, and occupational health support to reduce and prevent absences.
Tailored memberships combine the benefits of commercial insurance with a community-focused ethos, ensuring every surplus is reinvested directly back to the education sector where it’s needed most!

Jordan Stebbings

Senior Advocate
Education Mutual

In this presentation, Education Mutual will explore the avenues available to multi academy trusts in England to protect staff reputation against defamatory comments from the community and parents. We will discuss proactive measures such ...

In this presentation, Education Mutual will explore the avenues available to multi academy trusts in England to protect staff reputation against defamatory comments from the community and parents. We will discuss proactive measures such as implementing clear communication policies, engaging legal counsel for defamation cases, and fostering positive community relations.

Additionally, we will highlight strategies to prevent future occurrences, including educational workshops for parents and community members, and the importance of maintaining a robust online presence to counteract negative narratives. Our goal is to equip trusts with the knowledge and tools to safeguard their staff’s professional integrity effectively.
2:55 pm - 3:15 pm

Breakout Room 2

PFI Schools – making the most of PFI contracts and managing expiries with minimum friction

Eddisons specialises in supporting the education sector toward a greener future for staff, students, and stakeholders.

Our varied departments provide exceptional building surveying, valuations and even PFI advice to schools and Trusts across the country, alongside our dedicated decarbonisation specialists to assist with applications and delivery for Salix-funded projects.

We help to achieve clients’ sustainability goals by sourcing and securing funding for the Low Carbon Skills Fund and Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, among others.

All these efforts contribute to helping public and private sectors succeed in line with the UK’s commitment of reaching Net Zero by 2050.

Jenny Fram

Director of Business Development
Eddisons

As the first wave of PFI contracts approach their expiry, our schools face the risk of inheriting poorly maintained assets, leading to potential liabilities. In this session, Jenny Fram from Eddisons will demonstrate how your Trusts can ...

As the first wave of PFI contracts approach their expiry, our schools face the risk of inheriting poorly maintained assets, leading to potential liabilities. In this session, Jenny Fram from Eddisons will demonstrate how your Trusts can minimise these risks by seeking professional guidance before contract handback. During the presentation, we will explore ways you can reclaim unspent budgets and assess costs to restore assets. Jenny will also highlight opportunities for savings during the contract’s operational stages, demonstrating it’s never too late to act.
3:20 pm - 3:40 pm

Breakout Room 2

Effective Benchmarking

School Business Services (SBS) provides innovative, MAT-led software and expert consultancy to support Trusts with strategic planning and operational delivery. Our SBS Financial Planner and new SBS ICFP tool are designed with CFOs to meet the scale, complexity, and accountability demands of modern MATs.

We also offer interim finance cover, internal scrutiny, finance support, and MIS & ICT services — all delivered by education specialists. With a people-first approach, we empower Trust leaders to make confident, data-driven decisions that improve outcomes, strengthen financial sustainability, and reduce pressure on central teams.

Helen Dowsett

Product Specialist
School Business Services

Join Helen Dowsett, Product Specialist at SBS and former Financial Controller or multiple MATs to explore the critical role of benchmarking in driving performance, accountability, and continuous improvement within academies.
12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Breakout Room 3

When vision meets reality: strategic development planning

Andrew Strachan

Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Emmanuel Schools Foundation

How can MATs turn ambitious goals into actionable plans? This session tackles strategic development, balancing vision with operational constraints while keeping pupils first. We explore:

Resource Allocation: How to maximise value ...

How can MATs turn ambitious goals into actionable plans? This session tackles strategic development, balancing vision with operational constraints while keeping pupils first. We explore:

Resource Allocation: How to maximise value and funding efficiency.
Progress Tracking: Measuring success amidst challenges.
Adaptable Strategies: Building plans that flex with reality.
12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Breakout Room 3

From retention to reputation: building trusts people want to work in

Smarter technology for stronger trusts
Trusted by over 12,000 schools and 75% of multi-academy trusts across the UK, our comprehensive solutions transform how schools manage operations, drive improvement, and deliver better outcomes for pupils. Our solution suite includes Finance & Budgeting, HR & Payroll, Compliance & Estates, Student MIS, Parent Engagement, Cashless Catering, and Recruitment.
From Unity Schools Partnership and Kernow Learning, to Future Academies and Durrington Multi-Academy Trust, we work with leading MATs and schools to connect people with data, turning insights into action.
We’re passionate about helping individuals, teams, and entire trusts succeed. When our technology gives you time back, you can invest it where it matters most: in your people, your pupils, and your purpose.
Time creates value. Value delivers success.

Matt Brown

Sales Manager
IRIS Education

Earlier this year, almost half of education leaders said recruitment and retention were among their biggest challenges, and with good reason. Our latest sector-wide research reveals the recruitment crisis is deepening, but the bigger opp...

Earlier this year, almost half of education leaders said recruitment and retention were among their biggest challenges, and with good reason. Our latest sector-wide research reveals the recruitment crisis is deepening, but the bigger opportunity lies in retention.
Join IRIS Education for a 20-minute session as we explore how trusts are moving beyond perks to prioritise human-centred leadership, values-based hiring, and intentional staff development. Building on our previous findings linking staff happiness to pupil outcomes, we’ll now share insights from our most recent Leaders’ Survey and a recent expert panel, exploring what really keeps people in roles, and thriving.
This is a session about people: what motivates them, what makes them stay, and how the culture and systems within your trust can become your biggest recruitment tool.

25 June 2025

9:00 am - 9:05 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Adrian has served as CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust for ten years, overseeing its growth from three to eighteen schools. Under his leadership, the Trust has excelled in transforming challenging schools, with several now rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Originally focused on secondary education, Chiltern Learning Trust consistently ranks among the top performers nationwide for GCSE outcomes. The Trust also operates multiple teacher training programs, two teaching school hubs, behaviour hubs, and an attendance hub.

Before joining Chiltern, Adrian was Headteacher at a school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted on three occasions, a role he held for fourteen years. During this time, he established a multi-academy trust and served as Executive Head across several schools. Adrian has also been a National Leader of Education for the past fifteen years.

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Welcome to day 2 of the Multi-Academy Trust Partnership Network!
9:05 am - 9:45 am

Main Room

Keynote leaders panel – Talent dynamics: recruiting, retaining, and leading

Adrian has served as CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust for ten years, overseeing its growth from three to eighteen schools. Under his leadership, the Trust has excelled in transforming challenging schools, with several now rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Originally focused on secondary education, Chiltern Learning Trust consistently ranks among the top performers nationwide for GCSE outcomes. The Trust also operates multiple teacher training programs, two teaching school hubs, behaviour hubs, and an attendance hub.

Before joining Chiltern, Adrian was Headteacher at a school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted on three occasions, a role he held for fourteen years. During this time, he established a multi-academy trust and served as Executive Head across several schools. Adrian has also been a National Leader of Education for the past fifteen years.

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Phil Beecher

Chief Financial Officer
The Active Learning Trust

Darren Holmes

Chief Executive Officer
Enquire Learning Trust

Marcus Cooper

Chief Executive Officer
Spiral Partnership Trust

In a competitive education sector, how can MATs secure and sustain top talent? With over 60% of MATs facing recruitment challenges, how can trusts build a skilled, lasting workforce? Our panellists share their innovative strategies to re...

In a competitive education sector, how can MATs secure and sustain top talent? With over 60% of MATs facing recruitment challenges, how can trusts build a skilled, lasting workforce? Our panellists share their innovative strategies to recruit, retain and lead staff effectively.

Cost-Effective Deployment: Optimising staff resources smartly.
Resilience Building: Supporting staff to thrive under pressure.
Talent Retention: Creating a culture that inspires loyalty.
Employer Appeal: Positioning Trusts as top career destinations.
9:45 am - 10:05 am

Main Room

Academy Trust-worthy AI Marking: Unlimited writing practice, unparalleled diagnostic insight, and zero additional workload

stylus, founded by Dominic Bristow, is a small group of former teachers and technologists dedicated to improving the working conditions and efficacy of teachers, and the experience and outcomes of their students in turn.

Between them, the team are responsible for successfully launching many impactful education projects—such as Doddle Progress and Complete Mathematics TUTOR—and now, supported by government funding, and partnered with the DfE, stylus provides the first AI-powered service to bring teacher-moderated quality to handwritten work at scale.

Their ‘KS2 Writing Marking Service’ is now available—including Year 6 writing portfolios—with KS3/4 English soon to follow, and maths and science later in the year.

Dominic Bristow

Chief Executive Officer
stylus

Research tells us that increasing writing practice improves student writing ability. No surprises there. But writing practice is limited to the workload of already overstretched teachers, despite exam outcomes across subjects relying on ...

Research tells us that increasing writing practice improves student writing ability. No surprises there. But writing practice is limited to the workload of already overstretched teachers, despite exam outcomes across subjects relying on students writing well.

Dominic will reveal how the team at stylus has achieved something that no one else has—using meticulously curriculum-guided AI to produce provably teacher-quality marking output with zero teacher input.
This means:
• Unlimited marking and feedback on student writing
• Hyper-detailed diagnoses of every technical feature of writing
• Feedback that reflects all pieces of students’ work
• Laser-focused writing intervention across all schools in the Trust
10:10 am - 10:40 am

Main Room

Raising the bar: Implementing trust-wide behaviour standards

Lynsey Holzer

Chief Executive Officer
The Active Learning Trust

Jeremy Rowe

Trust Project Lead
The Active Learning Trust

Ensuring consistently high behaviour standards across a MAT requires a unified yet adaptable approach.

This session unveils a principles-based approach to foster positive behaviour in primary, secondary and special needs schools. ...

Ensuring consistently high behaviour standards across a MAT requires a unified yet adaptable approach.

This session unveils a principles-based approach to foster positive behaviour in primary, secondary and special needs schools. Exploring:

Unified Expectations: Embedding consistent behaviour principles.
Cultural Shift: Creating environments of high aspiration.
Contextual Flexibility: Adapting to individual school needs.
10:45 am - 11:45 am

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

15 minute meetings with suppliers who are offering solutions most relevant to your challenges. Please check the schedule on the back of your delegate pass for your meeting timings.
11:50 am - 12:30 pm

Main Room

Keynote leaders panel – Grasping growth: lessons for sustainable expansion

Adrian has served as CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust for ten years, overseeing its growth from three to eighteen schools. Under his leadership, the Trust has excelled in transforming challenging schools, with several now rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. Originally focused on secondary education, Chiltern Learning Trust consistently ranks among the top performers nationwide for GCSE outcomes. The Trust also operates multiple teacher training programs, two teaching school hubs, behaviour hubs, and an attendance hub.

Before joining Chiltern, Adrian was Headteacher at a school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted on three occasions, a role he held for fourteen years. During this time, he established a multi-academy trust and served as Executive Head across several schools. Adrian has also been a National Leader of Education for the past fifteen years.

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Ben has worked at senior positions with the Public Sector since 2002, and from 2011 has specialised in Education. He was part of a pilot programme for Aspiring Business Managers run by the National College, achieving an advanced diploma in 2013. Ben joined STEP Academy Trust in 2014 and embedded a business strategy which facilitated STEP’s growth from four academies in Croydon to 20 across London and the South East. Currently, Ben’s remit includes oversight of the STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub, as well as all functions that support Teaching and Learning.

He has been involved in shaping various pilots organised by the Department for Education, including the SRMA and Mentoring CFO programmes, and has worked on bespoke projects for Regional Directors. Ben is a qualified accountant and project manager, and has recently completed his NPQH. He is undertaking an Executive Coaching and Mentoring qualification and is a Fellow of the Institute of School Business Leaders, as well as past Trustee of the Institute.

Ben March

Chief Finance and Operations Officer
STEP Academy Trust

Emma Pritchard became CEO of The Black Pear Trust in 2021, bringing a wealth of experience in diverse educational settings. With a strong commitment to education, she has a proven track record of driving school improvement. Through strategic leadership, she has implemented robust improvement strategies, fostered a culture of high expectations, and ensured rapid progress across schools within the Trust.
Emma has built collaborative networks, allowing schools to share best practices, access support, and improve teaching and learning. Working alongside local authorities, she has developed strategic partnerships to support growth and help other schools in challenging circumstances.
By creating capacity for school-to-school support, Emma has ensured the Trust’s ability to enhance education for all learners. She has also built strong relationships with local authorities, higher education providers, and community organizations, positively influencing education and benefiting the families the Trust serves.

Emma Pritchard

Chief Executive Officer
Black Pear Trust

Matt Crawford

Chief Executive Officer
Embark Federation

What does successful MAT growth look like in 2025? Our panellists share their lessons on key aspects such as managing relationships, budgeting challenges, conducting effective due diligence and maintaining accountability and transparency...

What does successful MAT growth look like in 2025? Our panellists share their lessons on key aspects such as managing relationships, budgeting challenges, conducting effective due diligence and maintaining accountability and transparency throughout the growth process.
12:35 pm - 1:05 pm

Main Room

Closing keynote presentation – Trifles make perfection

James Nottingham is regarded by many as one of the most engaging and thought-provoking presenters in the world of education. He brings rare clarity and insight to research evidence; a breadth and depth of exemplar that connects with the reality of teaching and leading; and a sense of story and humour that makes learning stick.

With more than 30 years working in schools, he has an extensive background as both a teacher and a leader. Beginning as a teaching assistant in a special school, he then taught in primary schools, was a teaching & learning lead in a high school, a deputy head in a middle school, and director of an award-winning, multi-million-pound social regeneration project. The impact of this initiative made headlines for all the right reasons – supported by independent evaluations by Sunderland and Newcastle universities – leading to invitations to share his inspiration and practical advice far and wide. So, in 2006, James set up a not-for-profit company, Challenging Learning, growing this to seven companies in seven countries with 30 full-time staff – all supporting schools, colleges and local apprenticeship providers.

James Nottingham

Keynote Speaker, Author & Education Consultant
The Learning Pit

Michelangelo was one day explaining to a visitor what he had been doing to the statue he was working on: “I have retouched this part—polished that—softened this feature—brought out that muscle—given some expression to this ...

Michelangelo was one day explaining to a visitor what he had been doing to the statue he was working on: “I have retouched this part—polished that—softened this feature—brought out that muscle—given some expression to this lip and more energy to that limb.” “But these are trifles,” remarked the visitor. “It may be so,” replied the sculptor, “but recollect that trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle.”

It is arguable that Michelangelo achieved perfection with his statue of David, whereas in leadership – and even more so, in educational leadership – the idea of ‘perfection’ is such a moving target as to be indefinable. It is, however, the idea of ‘trifles making perfection’ that this presentation will focus upon. What are the smalls shifts that we can encourage in all staff to help our school grow in the direction of ‘perfection’?
1:05 pm - 2:00 pm

Main Room

Chair's closing remarks and networking lunch

Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a dinner and drinks reception to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Lunch is serve...

Networking sessions – throughout the event we host a networking lunch as well as a dinner and drinks reception to give you ample opportunity to connect with your peers and suppliers over the learnings from the event. Lunch is served buffet style and a range of options are available to cater for different dietary requirements.
10:10 am - 10:40 am

Breakout Room 1

Beyond numbers: measuring what truly matters in inclusive classrooms

Alex Handy

Strategic Lead for Digital Technology
Castle Pheonix Trust

Overview:
How can we go beyond surface-level metrics to meaningfully measure the impact of inclusive classroom practices? This session explores a compelling case study of Digital Creativity to unpack how data can be harnessed to im...

Overview:
How can we go beyond surface-level metrics to meaningfully measure the impact of inclusive classroom practices? This session explores a compelling case study of Digital Creativity to unpack how data can be harnessed to improve inclusivity and outcomes at scale. We will cover:
• Holistic data analysis: How triangulating qualitative and quantitative data offers a richer view of learner progress.
• Learner-led validation: Using pupil voice and experience to test and verify data insights.
• Scalable impact: How this approach can be adapted across multi-academy trusts to foster inclusive excellence in diverse settings.
Ideal for CEOs, system leaders and digital strategy leads aiming to embed inclusive impact measures across their schools.
10:10 am - 10:40 am

Breakout Room 2

Change champions: School improvement at the core

Matt is the CEO The Rivers CofE Academy Trust and was appointed in September 2023. As one of the largest primary-specialist trusts in the West Midlands, the trust currently has sixteen good and outstanding primary, first and pre-schools and a thriving teaching alliance.

He has been a headteacher of two primary schools in the past and also held the position of director of education in a large multi-academy trust in the West Midlands, overseeing significant improvements in educational outcomes.

Matt was previously one of His Majesty’s Inspectors (HMI), leading over seventy school inspections and multi-academy trust summary evaluations. During his time as an HMI, Matt was appointed by Ofsted as their National Lead for Physical Education.

Matt is a member of the Confederation of School Trust’s Policy Advisory Group and a board member for the University of Worcester’s ITT Strategic Governance Board.

Matt Meckin

Chief Executive Officer
Rivers CofE Academy Trust

How do MATs lead strategic change without losing sight of school improvement? Explore how to lead strategic change while keeping school improvement at the heart of every decision through:

Change Alignment: Linking initiatives to T...

How do MATs lead strategic change without losing sight of school improvement? Explore how to lead strategic change while keeping school improvement at the heart of every decision through:

Change Alignment: Linking initiatives to Trust goals.
Resistance Management: Inspiring confidence in teams.
Sustained Momentum: Balancing operations and progress.
10:10 am - 10:40 am

Breakout Room 3

Estates evolution: strategic management for lasting impact

Tom O’Reilly

Head of Estates
The Romero Catholic Academy

What strategies cam be used to turn estates into assets for learning? This session explores effective estates strategies that enhance environments, ensure compliance, and align with funding. Covering:

Data Precision: Building plan...

What strategies cam be used to turn estates into assets for learning? This session explores effective estates strategies that enhance environments, ensure compliance, and align with funding. Covering:

Data Precision: Building plans on accurate insights.
Funding Leverage: Mastering SCA and CIF bidding.
Leadership Role: Elevating estates to executive priority.

Day 1
Day 2

MATPN MIDLANDS 2025 AGENDA

24 – 25 June 2025, EMCC, Nottingham

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

MATPN MIDLANDS 2025 AGENDA

24 June 2025

8:00 am - 8:45 am

Main Room

Registration

8:45 am - 8:55 am

Main Room

Chair's opening remarks

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer Chiltern Learning Trust

8:55 am - 9:35 am

Main Room

Keynote leaders panel – Embedding inclusion: a trust-wide imperative

Adrian Rogers

Chief Executive Officer Chiltern Learning Trust

Rachel Wilkes

Chief Executive Officer Humber Education Trust

Cori Bateman

Chief Executive Officer Pioneer Learning Trust

Julian Scholefield

Chief Executive Officer Esteem Multi-Academy Trust

9:35 am - 9:55 am

Main Room

Going to School in 2035 - What might learning look like?

Anu Manthri

Head of Google for Education, UK & I Google for Education

Fiona Law

Partnership, Programmes and Communities Lead Google

Grace Kelly

Head of Digital Transformation UK&I Google

10:00 am - 10:40 am

Main Room

Dragons' Den - Speed presentations

10:45 am - 12:00 pm

Main Room

Networking and business meetings

12:05 pm - 12:25 pm

Main Room

Delivering sector led, fully funded, retention, recruitment, and wellbeing solutions across education

Kyle Burrows

Chief Learning Officer BeReady

12:30 pm - 12:50 pm

Main Room

Mastering distributed leadership

Claire Pritchard

Chief Executive Officer Broadleaf Partnership Trust

12:55 pm - 1:15 pm

Main Room

AI in Education - How Olex.AI is going way beyond workload reduction

Victoria Mallinson

COO Olex.AI

1:15 pm - 2:00 pm

Main Room

Networking lunch

2:05 pm - 2:30 pm

Main Room

Fire side chat – Safeguarding together: a collective mission

Vic Raynor

International Safeguarding Consultant Raynor Safeguarding

Dr Martin Bloomfield

Founding Director, Beyond Inclusion Ltd, Lecturer in Digital Ethics Berlin School of Economics and Law

2:30 pm - 2:50 pm

Main Room

Teaching Smarter, Scaling Faster: Why MATs Choose Magma Maths

Daniel Hagstedt

Managing Director Magma Maths

Alex Page

Head of Sales Magma Maths

2:55 pm - 3:15 pm

Main Room

Digital transformation of schools - from No 10 to the classroom

Joe Blair

Co-Founder & Director Robin

3:20 pm - 3:40 pm

Main Room

One platform to empower leaders and staff across your trust

Jamie Garnley

Head of Sales The National College

3:45 pm - 5:00 pm

Main Room

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Chief Executive Officer
Humber Education Trust

Chief Executive Officer
Pioneer Learning Trust

Chief Executive Officer
Esteem Multi-Academy Trust

Head of Google for Education, UK & I
Google for Education

Partnership, Programmes and Communities Lead
Google

Head of Digital Transformation UK&I
Google

Chief Learning Officer
BeReady

Chief Executive Officer
Broadleaf Partnership Trust

COO
Olex.AI

International Safeguarding Consultant
Raynor Safeguarding

Founding Director, Beyond Inclusion Ltd, Lecturer in Digital Ethics
Berlin School of Economics and Law

Managing Director
Magma Maths

Head of Sales
Magma Maths

Co-Founder & Director
Robin

Head of Sales
The National College

Chief Executive Officer
Chiltern Learning Trust

Director of Teaching School and Talent
Chiltern Learning Trust

Chief Operating Officer
Cidari Multi Academy Trust

Strategic Development Director
eEnergy

Account Manager
Lightspeed Systems

Director of Education
Wavenet

Chief HR Officer
Exceed Academies Trust

Senior Advocate
Education Mutual

Director of Business Development
Eddisons

Product Specialist
School Business Services

Deputy Chief Operating Officer
Emmanuel Schools Foundation

Sales Manager
IRIS Education