Access Education Leadership Summit

Step into a day designed to inspire, inform, and equip leaders from schools and trusts using Access Education. The Access Education Leadership Summit brings together 100 senior school and trust leaders, providing a unique opportunity to share ideas, explore practical solutions, and hear exclusive news about the next evolution of Access Education, launched to our customers first. 

This is more than a summit - it’s an immersive experience with: 

• Expert Keynotes offering fresh insights into education trends and AI in schools 

• Interactive Breakouts tailored to your role and school priorities 

• Hands-On Demos & Freebies to explore technology that makes your day-to-day easier 

• Networking Opportunities with fellow leaders and Access experts 

Spaces are limited and invite-only, ensuring you connect with peers and thought leaders in a focused, high-value environment. 

Seats are limited to 2 per organisation, and we encourage you to send your CEO, CFO, COO, or Senior SBM to make the most of this opportunity.

09:00 – 10:00 | Networking Breakfast & Exhibition Stands 

Start your day with a relaxed breakfast and informal networking while exploring Access Education’s product suite and interactive demos. 

10:00 – 10:15 | Welcome 

10:15 – 11:00 | Keynote: Education Trends 2026 – Laura McInerney 

Laura McInerney is co-founder of Teacher Tapp, former editor of Schools Week and Guardian education columnist, and a respected commentator across national media. In this keynote, Laura explores the forces shaping education in 2026. From curriculum reform and AI to workforce pressures and changing parental expectations—and shares actionable insights that every school leader can take back to their setting. 

11:00 – 11:45 | The AI Advantage: What It Really Means for Your School or Trust 

Cut through the hype: discover practical ways AI can transform teaching, operations, and leadership. Learn what’s realistic today and what’s possible tomorrow. 

11:45 – 12:30 | Connected by Design: One Suite, One Vision 

Explore how leading schools integrate finance, HR, curriculum, and communication into a single, connected ecosystem, streamlining systems and improving outcomes across the whole school or trust. 

12:30 – 13:30 | Networking Lunch & Demo Pods 

Grab lunch, connect with peers, and explore interactive product pods to bring ideas back to your school or trust.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions – Choose one of the three options for breakout stream 1 & 2. 

13:30 – 14:15 | Breakout Stream 1

Option 1:
Trust Growth, Succession Planning & Effective Due Diligence

For: MAT Leaders / CEOs / CFOs / COOs

Join Jeff Marshall from Academy Conversion where he will explore how to manage growth, mergers, and leadership transitions while ensuring smooth operations and strong governance. Learn practical strategies to plan proactively, avoid pitfalls, and leverage opportunities for smooth trust expansion. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Understand the interplay between growth, succession, and due diligence 

• Plan proactively for leadership transitions 

• Avoid common pitfalls and seize opportunities for trust development 

Option 2:  
Turn the Teacher Shortage into a Talent Strategy 

For: SLT / HR / COO / SBM

A fireside-style session exploring practical approaches to attract, engage, and retain teaching talent. Learn how to build a culture where staff want to stay, balancing engagement, wellbeing, and compliance. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Smart recruitment strategies for a competitive market 

• Engagement and retention tactics that work 

• Culture as a retention tool and compliance made simple 

 
Option 3: 
Closing the Attainment Gap: An Evidence-Based Approach

For: SLT / Teachers / Curriculum Leaders

Join Vicky Gardiner-Earl from Newcastle Research School where she will focus on tackling educational disadvantage with research-backed strategies, using the EEF’s Three-Tiered approach to deliver high-impact interventions. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Implement high-quality teaching strategies for all students 

• Apply targeted academic support for struggling pupils 

• Use wider strategies to address non-academic barriers, including parental engagement 

14:30 – 15:15 | Breakout Stream 2 

Option 1:

Getting Ahead for Budget Season – Tools, Tips & Trust-Centric Strategies

For: MAT Leaders / CFOs / COOs / Finance Directors
Practical, expert-led strategies to prepare financially for the next academic year, align strategic goals with robust planning, and use Access tools for smarter budgeting. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Strengthen financial planning with centralised systems 

• Apply effective reforecasting techniques 

• Use technology to improve transparency, collaboration, and resilience 

Option 2: 

Designing a People Strategy That Works – Practical Workshop

For: HR Directors / COOs / Heads / MAT and School Leaders

Join Mandy Coulter from Talent Architects in this hands-on workshop to turn people strategy insights into action. Explore the workforce trends affecting schools today, focus on leadership, culture and climate, and learn how to make your school or trust a great place to work.

Key Takeaways: 

• Latest research on why a people strategy really matters to busy leaders
• Discussion with delegates about current workforce pressures, pain points, and concerns
• Evidence-based insights into what makes schools and trusts great places to work
• Focus on leadership, culture, and climate as the biggest drivers of staff retention

Option 3: 
Evidence-Informed Curriculum Design: Responding to the DfE Review

For: SLT / Curriculum Leaders / Teachers

Join Vicky Gardiner-Earl from Newcastle Research School and learn practical ways to strengthen curriculum progression, memory retention, and literacy across subjects using cognitive science and Disciplinary Literacy. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Apply Retrieval Practice and Spaced Learning for lasting knowledge 

• Teach literacy and oracy within each subject effectively 

• Improve pupil outcomes in reading, writing, and subject-specific understanding 

15:30 – 16:00 | Product Roadmap 

Your challenges. Our priorities. Your feedback, insights and day-to-day pressures influence what we build, what we prioritise, and how quickly we deliver improvements. Take a look at how your product roadmap is evolving. We have something very exciting to share! 

16:00 onwards | Networking Drinks 

Unwind and connect with peers and Access experts before you leave. 

As an Access Education customer, this is your opportunity to: 

• Be the first to hear about our next evolution 

• Learn actionable insights from top education thought leaders 

• Participate in practical workshops you can implement immediately 

• Network with 100 senior peers and Access experts in an exclusive setting 

Spaces are limited. Reserve your place now and join us for a day that will inspire and equip you to lead your school or trust with confidence.