We’re pleased to be exhibiting at the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) Annual Conference next week, taking place on 15 and 16 October 2026 at the ICC in Birmingham. Come and find us at stand E5.
This year’s programme
CST’s 2026 theme is Connecting. The conference will explore how sector and civic leaders can respond to the ambitions of the Schools White Paper and the SEND reforms. It recognises that relationships, from classrooms to whole systems, are a vital and often underestimated driver of change.
The programme brings together more than 1,000 school trust leaders, policymakers, researchers and partners. Keynote speakers include the Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Lucy Powell MP, and Ofsted’s HM Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver.
Why estates belong in the conversation
Estates sit at the heart of how schools and trusts operate, and expectations are shifting. From September 2026, the Department for Education is asking school Responsible Bodies that are eligible for annual DfE capital funding to complete the first School Estate Management Standards annual return through the Manage Your Education Estate platform. The direction of travel is away from reactive repairs and towards planned, long-term estate management, with a focus on condition, risk and resilience. For many trusts and schools, that means gathering better data, strengthening assurance and giving trustees clearer oversight of the estate.
Come and talk to us
We’d love to hear from school professionals about your experiences of running a school estate: what’s working, what’s proving difficult, and where the new standards raise questions. Whether you’re thinking about condition data, planned maintenance or long-term investment, we’re happy to talk it through and help with any challenges you’re facing.
We look forward to seeing you in Birmingham!
