As a new academic year begins with much promise and opportunities, as well as plenty of challenges to address, we thought it would be helpful to share some key articles, resources and a few opportunities too.
National CEO Conference
The first thing to highlight is the sixth annual National #TrustLeaders CEO Conference, which takes place in a few weeks’ time and I know many of our national CEO network members have already signed up for. The theme is thriving together – children, staff, communities and, indeed, as CEOs. And we have some leading and highly respected national and international CEOs and thinkers to help us in horizon scanning and planning for the year ahead. All those attending the event this year will also receive a complimentary copy of Sir Steve Lancashire’s new book, ‘Reflections on Being The CEO’. If you’re a national CEO network members, but haven’t already booked, here’s the link: National #TrustLeaders CEO Conference 2023 | Forum Strategy
CEOs and the power of time management
We’re also mindful that this time of year means reflecting on how you spend and invest your time as CEOs – ensuring we manage the reactive and the pressing, with the need to be strategic and to plan ahead. This Forum Strategy article on how CEOs approach time management is a useful and timely reflection, and we hope provides some inspiration as you begin a new year: Being The CEO – the power of time management | Forum Strategy (membership login required)
CEO performance management process
The start of a new academic year also means that Chairs and CEOs will be thinking about performance management and setting goals for the year ahead. This Forum Strategy article, together with a video briefing from Michael Pain and our commercial partners at Wrigleys Solicitors, is a helpful resource to reflect upon as we begin that process – with plenty of hints and tips to consider: Is it that time of year? CEO performance management; some hints and tips | Forum Strategy (membership login required)
Get ahead on the ‘trust quality’ evidence base
Another key development as we move into the year ahead is the emergence of the Department for Education’s pillars of a high quality trust. It is clear that these pillars will be informing decisions around trust development and growth, and that a much clearer picture is emerging around the evidence that will be used to inform those decisions. At Forum Strategy we have broken down some of the key ‘need to knows’ at this stage, and the implications for you as trust leaders. So, why not take a look at this article so that you are in the picture around the latest developments on this front – and let us know if you feel you may need some support in making the case for your trust: Making the case for trust growth; the pillars, the evidence you’ll need, and not losing sight of the bigger story | Forum Strategy
We will also be running a Members’ Breakfast Briefing exploring this – looking at some of the evidence you’ll need to gather and how this can support trust growth. Book your place here: Members’ Breakfast Briefing I Developing the evidence base to demonstrate trust quality and support trust growth
Cutting edge thinking for CEOs
Finally, two big areas of development in the last year at Forum Strategy have been the thinking around thriving trusts and system leadership in the trust sector, Both of these pieces of work are receiving a significant amount of engagement from trust leaders as you develop your strategic planning and reflect upon how the role of CEO and the trust can add even great value to schools and their communities. The thinkpiece on Thriving Trusts can be found here: Thriving Trusts Thinkpieces | Forum Strategy and the thinkpiece produced with international leadership experts the Brown Collective, can be found here: System leadership in 2023 and beyond | Forum Strategy
CEOs as system leaders – honing your skills for system leadership at this level
We are now recruiting to a system leadership programme, which will take place in early 2024, and is aimed at CEOs looking to develop their thinking and skills across our three pillars of system leadership – namely locality leadership, trust to trust support, and policy informing and influencing. The programme includes residentials, cross sector input, and buddying with international practitioners. Places are very limited: CEOs as System Leaders Programme 2024
We look forward to working with all our national CEO network members in the weeks and months ahead. If you are not a member, you can find out more here: National #TrustLeaders CEO Network for academy trust CEOs | Forum Strategy
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