Celebrating the Success of the 2025 Annual Leadership Conference

The Keys Academy Trust’s Annual Leadership Conference 2025 was a resounding success, bringing together over 40 school leaders from across  Wokingham and Bracknell for a day of collaboration, reflection, and professional development. Held at The Crowne Plaza Reading East Hotel, the event provided an invaluable opportunity for leaders to connect, share best practices, and gain new insights to strengthen their leadership.

Inspiring Speakers and Meaningful Discussions

Julie Sherrington’s session, Specialist Knowledge for Leaders: Unlocking Outstanding Early Years Provision, provided deep insights into the essential aspects of early years education. She emphasised the importance of the prime areas of learning, highlighting their role in building strong foundations for children’s cognitive and emotional development. Her presentation explored key pedagogical approaches, including play-based learning, effective routines, and high-quality interactions, equipping leaders with practical strategies to enhance early years settings.

Vivienne Porritt’s session on Leadership of Culture explored the essential elements of fostering an inclusive and psychologically safe environment, emphasising the role of leadership in shaping a school's culture through shared values, trust, and incremental growth. She highlighted the importance of consistency in practice, leading by influence, and developing strong team dynamics to create transformational change in schools.

Feedback from attendees highlighted the impact of these sessions:

“The way speakers encouraged us to reflect on our own provision, thoughts, and journeys but also provided useful tools and tips was incredibly valuable.”
“I really enjoyed exploring psychological safety as an aspect of developing a school culture—something that requires effort and cannot be left to chance.”

A Commitment to Our Core Values

The conference embodied The Keys Academy Trust’s values:

• Innovation – Exploring fresh perspectives and evidence-based strategies to enhance school leadership.
• Love of Learning – Encouraging leaders to develop their skills and stay informed about the latest research.
• Excellence – Showcasing best practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Partnership – Strengthening networks within and beyond the Trust to build a collaborative leadership community.
• Nurture – Prioritising well-being and personal growth, ensuring leaders feel supported in their roles.
• Integrity – Upholding honesty, accountability, and transparency in leadership to create trust within our school communities.

High Engagement and Positive Feedback

With a 75% response rate on post-event evaluations, feedback showed overwhelmingly positive experiences. 97% of attendees expressed interest in participating in future events, reflecting the high value placed on the conference.

Attendees appreciated the chance to step away from their busy schedules to focus on leadership, professional development, and personal well-being. Many also welcomed the opportunity to meet with colleagues from different schools, further strengthening the sense of community within the Trust.

Looking Ahead

The enthusiasm and engagement at this year’s conference reaffirm our commitment to fostering exceptional leadership across our schools. We are already looking forward to next year’s event and continuing to build on this success.

Thank you to all our speakers, attendees, and organisers for making the 2025 Annual Leadership Conference such a memorable and impactful event!