Trust: The CST Podcast, Produced by PLMR

Governance isn’t a box-ticking exercise — it’s human, strategic and deeply moral. In this episode, Tiffany Beck OBE (PLMR) is joined by Samira Sadeghi, Director of Trust Governance at the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), and Andy Wolfe, Executive Director of Education for the Church of England, to unpack Next-Gen Governance: what it is, why it’s needed and how boards can become true stewards of long-term success.

In this episode, PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE and CST's Deputy Chief Executive Steve Rollett are joined by Naveed Khan, Director of Education at Westcountry Schools Trust and Chris Gould, Director of Education and Deputy CEO at Truro and Penwith Academy Trust. The group delves into CST's conceptual model of trust-led school improvement and sheds light on what it's all about, what it looks like in practice and what's coming next from CST in this space. 

Join PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE as she explores this year's CST Annual Conference theme of 'Building', on the ground in Birmingham. In this episode, Tiff speaks to Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah and his PE teacher; His Majesty's Chief Inspector for Ofsted Sir Martyn Oliver; Lord Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation; John Edwards, Director General for the Regions Group at the Department for Education; Dr Gordon Carver, UK Managing Director of Etio; and Leora Cruddas CBE, chief executive of CST. This episode also shares highlights from the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson's speech. Listen to find out more about building trusts as public institutions in order to build communities, the school system and a more just and peaceful society. 

Confederation of School Trusts' Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE, PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE and Windsor Academy Trust's CEO Dawn Haywood explore how to forge place-based partnerships between school trusts and NHS trusts in order to achieve lasting impact in communities. 

REAch2 Academy Trust currently supports 62 primary academies across England, making it the largest primary-only academy trust in the country. 58 of those academies have Reception classes and 36 also have nursery provision, meaning REAch2 holds perhaps unparalleled expertise in early years settings in schools. Early years is a hot topic at the moment, particularly as Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson has repeatedly made it very clear early years is her number one priority. Join Cathie Paine, Chief Executive of REAch2 Academy Trust, along with CST's Deputy Chief Executive Steve Rollett and PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE as they explore why early years is so important, some of the challenges in the sector and things Labour should consider as they seek to deliver on their ambitious aims for early years. 

School trusts are increasingly thinking about how to embed themselves as anchor institutions at the heart of the communities they serve. With so many different priorities to balance, how can leaders get started on thinking and doing bigger within their communities? Here Tiffany Beck OBE, Head of Education at PLMR, and Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive of Confederation of School Trusts, speak to Nick Osborne, Chief Executive of Maritime Academy Trust, about using a 'Year Zero' to get your strategy off the ground and explore Maritime's approach to community anchoring.

This episode is all about the system for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), exploring both the current challenges in the system and how we can take a more optimistic, long-term view by focusing on how to ensure greater dignity for people with SEND. PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE hosts this inspirational episode featuring the insights of CST's Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE and Ben Newmark, a passionate advocate for SEND whose stories will inspire, uplift and bring hope about what it really means to be human and how we can make the world a wilder and better place.

Tiffany Beck OBE, Head of Education at PLMR, speaks to Sam Skerritt, Director of Public Affairs and Policy at Confederation of School Trusts (CST) and Susan Fielden, CST’s Trust and School Funding Policy Specialist about the bottom line – school funding. How does it work at the moment, how does that complicate things for trust leaders and what solutions could make a big difference? 

Join CST's Leora Cruddas CBE, Reach Foundation's CEO Ed Vainker OBE and PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE as they discuss the role of school trusts as anchor institutions in their communities. Learn more about what that means, what impact it can have and how to approach developing or stepping up your strategy to achieve this -- plus, find out what a 'disruptive edge' is.

PLMR’s Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE speaks to CST’s Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE and Anthem Schools Trust’s Chief Executive Mohsen Ojja about reimagining trust governance. Since this recording, and following a concerted effort by CST, the DfE has now separated out governance guidance for academy trusts from maintained schools. CST welcomes the new guidance with its greater clarity about trust governance and has been part of its development, but CST’s guidance, Governing a School Trust, is still in CST’s view the most comprehensive guidance for trusts, rooted in a comprehensive analysis of the law and regulation governing school trusts.

In this episode, CST Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE and PLMR Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE discuss why school trusts are our best bet for a school system that keeps getting better.

Steve Rollett, Deputy Chief Executive of Confederation of School Trusts (CST), and Tiffany Beck OBE, Head of Education at PLMR, discuss CST’s new paper on school improvement architecture.

In this episode, Tiffany Beck OBE, Head of Education at PLMR, is joined by Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, and Hilary Spencer, Chief Executive of Ambition Institute. Together, they explore the vital role of evidence-led, high-quality professional development in building resilient, purpose-driven school trusts.From motivating teachers and fostering inclusivity, to addressing sector challenges like recruitment, retention, and rising SEND needs, this episode offers rich insights into the strategic potential of professional development. Hilary and Leora share powerful examples and practical reflections on how professional learning not only shapes teacher expertise, but is also foundational to sustainable system leadership.At its core, this conversation affirms a central truth: there can be no flourishing children without flourishing teachers.

In this special episode of Trust: The CST Podcast, produced by PLMR, renowned social psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt joins an audience of English school trust leaders to delve into the themes of his latest book, The Anxious Generation. He explores the profound impact of smartphones and social media on children's mental health, development and education.Hosted by journalist and broadcaster Samira Ahmed, the conversation also features insights from Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts. This timely conversation couldn't be more relevant in today's society.

In this episode of Trust: The CST Podcast, produced by PLMR, PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck OBE is joined by CST’s Chief Executive Leora Cruddas CBE, to explore the thinking behind her first book, New Domains of Educational Leadership. Leora shares why now is the right moment to capture emerging learning from across the school trust sector and how the book brings together three vital leadership domains: trust leadership, civic leadership and system leadership. Together, Leora and Tiff unpack foundational themes running through the book including the distinction between social justice and social mobility, the power of relational trust and the central importance of human flourishing. This conversation is about what educational leadership can be — and it's a call to ensure education is a force that lifts up all.

PLMR's Head of Education Tiffany Beck and Account Director Luke Walpole look back at the recent party conference season and what comes next.

Hear from a range of speakers and delegates on the ground at the CST Annual Conference 2023, reflecting on what 'belonging' means in education. 

Join CST’s Chief Executive Leora Cruddas and Deputy Chief Executive Steve Rollett, and communications agency PLMR’s Head of Education Tiffany Beck sharing an overview of what to expect as the series unfolds. This will be followed by special event episodes in October featuring the CST Annual Conference and a political party conference season round-up. The series will then continue in January, with regular episodes featuring experts across the school trust and wider education sector, giving their insights on the education landscape and wider public sector leadership.