Conference Programme

Welcome to our School Leaders' Conference 2026

Friday 13th November 9 am - 4 pm

Creating a New Story

Outline of the day

After each keynote, there will be dedicated time for table discussions, giving you the opportunity to reflect, share insights and process the ideas presented.

8.30	Refreshments on arrival
9.15	Welcome and opening prayer
9.30	Choir
9.40	Zoe Arden
10.45	Morning break
11.15	Choir
11.25	Joe Seddon
12.30	Lunch
13:30	Testament
14:30	Wendy Shearer
15:30	Closing reflection

Cloakroom: The Percy Shaw room is set aside as a cloakroom for you to leave any coats or luggage for the day.

Mid-morning refreshments and lunch will be served in the Harry Chorley Room, on the left as you leave the main hall. Delegates are welcome to use the seating in this area, return to the main hall or relax in the foyer.

Toilets are along the corridor to the right as you leave the main hall.

Welcome

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for joining us for this year's School Leaders’ Conference. In every Church school, stories of hope, service and transformation are being written every day, through the lives of children, families and staff. Today is an opportunity to pause, reflect and look ahead together, as we consider how our leadership can help write the next chapter.

This year’s theme, Creating a New Story, invites us to reflect on the stories we are helping to shape within our schools and communities. At a time of significant challenge and change, it encourages us to think creatively and courageously about the future whilst remaining rooted in the vision and values that sustain us. It is a call to new possibilities, deeper belonging and a shared commitment for every child and adult to flourish.

We are privileged to be joined by our range of inspiring speakers, who will challenge and enrich our thinking throughout the day. We are also delighted to welcome pupils from Flockton First School, who will share their voices with us in song. Their contribution reminds us that young people remain at the heart of all that we do.

It is always a joy to gather as a Church school family. There is so much strength and inspiration within this community through our shared vision, mutual support and a commitment to serve with wisdom, hope and compassion.

As always, thank you for all that you bring each day in your schools. Thankyou for the new stories of hope, opportunity and transformation that are being written every day in the lives of young people. It is my prayer that today brings you all that you need – encouragement, inspiration and space for deeper thinking.

So, relax, enjoy this time, as we consider together the part each of us can play in creating the next chapter.

With every blessing,

Simone Bennett

Diocesan Director of Education

Our Conference Prayer

Loving God,

We gather together, united in service to our schools and communities.

In creating new stories,

open our minds to fresh ideas, our hearts to one another

and our eyes to see all that is possible.

When familiar paths no longer lead where we need to go,

give us the courage to embrace new journeys.

When difficult decisions arise, guide us to act with wisdom and integrity.

And just as new stories are written in our schools each day, remind us that we are part of Your greater story:

A story of hope overcoming fear, light shining in the darkness and lives transformed by love.

May today inspire and challenge us.

That when we leave, we do so refreshed and encouraged to begin the next chapter.

Amen

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Meet our Speakers

Zoë Arden

Leadership and communications specialist

Zoë works at the intersection of leadership and storytelling. She is a Fellow at the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and has supported thousands of business leaders globally to strengthen their capability, confidence, courage and commitment to lead change through her training programmes and influence and impact coaching. Her book Story-Centred Leadership – Crafting Cultures of Change illuminates how our stories can engage, motivate and mobilise others. More than ever, we need stories that help us build healthy, productive workplaces and communities – stories that grow our sense of agency as citizens, grounded in the belief that every voice and every action matters. Zoë designs and delivers leadership programmes for many global businesses. She is the co-author of CISL’s Leadership Capabilities for a Sustainable Future framework and her online courses including Communicating for Influence and Impact and Leading Sustainability: High Impact Leadership have a global alumni. Previous business roles include Director at telecoms giant BT where she developed BT Retail’s responsible business strategy, reporting into the CEO; European Managing Director at global communications firms Weber Shandwick and Golin; Director of advisory firm SustainAbility, and Vice President of US agency Access Communications, working with Apple. In her spare time, she treads the boards at her local theatre and swims in the River Thames, whatever the weather.

Joe Seddon

Technology entrepreneur and founder & CEO of Zero Gravity

Joe Seddon is the Founder and CEO of Zero Gravity, an award-winning organisation that helps talented young people from low-opportunity backgrounds access leading universities and careers. Raised in a single-parent family in Morley, West Yorkshire, Joe studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the University of Oxford before founding Zero Gravity with the final £200 of his student loan. Since its launch, Zero Gravity has supported more than 23,000 students into leading universities and careers, including over 1,000 into Oxford and Cambridge, and works with major employers including HSBC, KPMG, McKinsey, Rolls-Royce and Snap to widen access to opportunity. Recognised as one of Europe's leading social entrepreneurs, Joe has been named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, featured in The Sunday Times Young Power List and honoured in King Charles III's Birthday Honours. He is a regular contributor to national media and speaks widely on social mobility, education and the barriers that prevent young people from realising their potential. Through his work, Joe challenges assumptions about talent, opportunity and social mobility, arguing that while talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.

Testament

Writer, poet, rapper and Guinness world record breaking human beatboxer

Testament is writer of awards nominated play BLACK MEN WALKING (UK Theatre Awards, Writer’s Guild of Great Britain) and ORPHEUS IN THE RECORD SHOP which was broadcast on BBC Four TV. Testament’s diverse work includes spoken word, composing music for award winning adverts, writing musicals, performing poetry at Downing Street, making radio history documentaries, nature essays and freestyle rapping for Nobel Peace Prize winners. Testament has had numerous TV appearances on BBC, ITV and Sky Arts and has been the guest host on Radio 4poetry show The Verb twice. His poetic radio drama DAUGHTER won Special Commendation at the BBC Audiodrama Awards 2022 and was nominated for the Prix Europa. He was 2019 Channel 4 Writer-in-Residence for THE ROYAL EXCHANGE THEATRE Manchester and was Black Nature Writer-in-Residence for the Yorkshire Dales 2024, and part of the HOT POETS eco-poetry collective. He is also a writer on the hit NETFLIX animated show Castelvania Nocturne. As a facilitator, Testament runs the HIP-HOP Clinic -which runs rap, poetry and beatbox workshops around the world. He has also worked with BBC Bitesize and presented GCSE Poetry podcasts. He joins us fresh from a performance at the Lyric Theatre in London based on the works of William Blake.

Wendy Shearer

Storyteller, Author, Oral Historian

WENDY SHEARER is a performance storyteller, oral historian and writer of Guyanese heritage. She is the author of Caribbean Folktales: Stories from the Islands and the Windrush Generation and three children’s books: African and Caribbean Folktales, Myths and Legends, The Bird of A Thousand Colours and Spooky Stories of the World featuring terrifying folktales, legends and myths from every continent. She has also contributed stories to: Bedtime Stories: Beautiful Black Tales from the Past, Super Great Kids Stories and Herba Mythica: Myths and Folk Tales of Sacred Healing Plants. Renowned for weaving African and Caribbean diaspora histories with folklore, Wendy has been described as a masterful storyteller, bringing hidden and lesser-known stories to life with joy and cultural sensitivity. Wendy regularly works with cultural institutions, including schools, libraries, archives and institutions across the arts, leading workshops, oral history projects and performing her stories at acclaimed venues, including the V&A, British Museum, London Museum, Story Museum and the British Library. She has been a Script Consultant for the award-winning CBeebies show JoJo and GranGran and appeared on the episode: Time For a Folktale. Wendy’s professional background is in TV Broadcasting, having produced programmes for Children’s BBC (CBBC), Nickeloden and PBS America. She is the Patron of Tall Stories Theatre Company and Chair of The Society for Storytelling – raising public awareness of the value and benefits of spoken stories.