Morning, Thursday, 23rd October 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for raising attainment and standards in England’s early years settings, primary and secondary school - including strategies for narrowing attainment gaps and improving outcomes across diverse learner groups.
Bill proposals & inspection reform
It will bring together stakeholders and policymakers to discuss proposed measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill - currently progressing through Parliament - including new statutory requirements on teacher qualifications, pay and conduct, with potential implications for recruitment, retention, professional development, and national consistency in SEND provision.
The proposed introduction of Ofsted reports will also be discussed, and the way forward for inspection reform in enabling transparency, accountability, and standards improvement.
Use of funding
Delegates will discuss funding and the potential impact on improving outcomes in light of the Government’s commitment in the 2025 Spending Review to increase the core schools budget by £2bn, including aims for raising standards and improving opportunity. Attendees will assess the potential use of £132.5m from the Dormant Assets Scheme to support disadvantaged young people, with discussion on how funding might be delivered in practice through school, charity and community partnerships, and deployed to effectively support pupil enrichment, wellbeing and progression. Delegates will also consider how the Government’s recently proposed Better Futures Fund - aimed at supporting early intervention and progression for young people - might be used to direct funding to schools to address challenges around attendance, behaviour and attainment.
Equity and inclusion, pupil wellbeing & targeted support
Delegates will look ahead to development of recently announced Best Start Family Hubs, and how they should approach their role in fulfilling aims to improve outcomes in the early years by integrating local services, and strengthening parental engagement. Areas for discussion include enhancing multi-agency collaboration, improving access to early support, and contributing to long-term attainment.
Sessions will consider latest thinking on strategies to address persistent disparities in attainment for pupils with SEND and from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly in light of findings in the Curriculum and Assessment Review interim report of inequities and proposals for a more inclusive national curriculum and assessment system. Discussion will look at pupil premium funding, options for curriculum design, and ways to strengthen the role of early intervention and wellbeing support.
There will be further discussion on the role of mental health and wellbeing support in improving educational outcomes, including priorities for expanding early intervention, integrating pastoral care, and responding to complex pupil needs. Delegates will explore strategies for strengthening behaviour support and school culture, alongside the development of attendance and behaviour hubs, and best practice for providing targeted support to improve engagement and reduce persistent absence.
Workforce priorities & sector collaboration
Coordination between schools and colleges will be a focus, including frameworks for aligning the delivery of education and skills with workforce needs. Delegates will also consider best practice in collaboration with universities and employers to support progression and raise standards, drawing on initiatives such as tutoring provision and data-led evidence sharing. Areas for discussion include strategies for building workforce capacity and supporting leadership development, in line with proposed statutory requirements for teacher qualifications, pay and conduct set out in the Bill, and how these might be applied across different types of school and trust structures.
Sessions will examine implementation of Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence teams and their role in supporting schools through targeted, evidence-informed intervention, as well as priorities for delivering sustained, tailored support focused on driving up standards in local contexts.
Digital tools & infrastructure
Further areas for discussion include key issues for the evolving role of digital tools in teaching and assessment, particularly how they might support teaching excellence, reduce workload, and help meet the needs of different learners. Implications of the Government’s announcement in the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy of £38bn investment in education to 2030 will be considered, towards rebuilding and refurbishment of school buildings, upgrades to the school estate, and improved digital infrastructure. Delegates will assess best practice on successful and practical use in schools, how to build staff confidence and skills, and ensure all schools and pupils can benefit, including for situations where access to devices or connectivity may be limited.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates.
