Do you want a year's worth of good ideas in one day?
Get school improvement ideas from inspiring schools
Outstanding against the odds: Courageous heads, tough schools, holistic education
Thursday 21st November 2024
Incredible stories
Inspiring insights
Practical tips
Join our online conference to hear how headteachers beat the odds to deliver excellence for their children
Are you struggling to overcome your challenges right now? Things like recruitment, budget, attendance?
Would you love to visit amazing schools to get ideas, but you don't have the time?
OK - We'll bring them to you đ
Meet heads who are getting above average results, in below average circumstances
Be inspired by five headteachers, who have been carefully selected because their school became outstanding despite many challenges and are not âheroâ heads
Practical tips from great schools
We looked at over 100 schools, to bring you 5 that have achieved excellence in tough circumstances. We've met the heads, visited their schools and there is a lot to learn from them.
Learn with your SLT
Spend the day discussing great leadership ideas with your SLT so youâre all on the same page and buzzing with great ideas for your school.
Our annual conference is in it's 13th year.
Attendees consistently rate it a 9/10 event đ
Included in your ticket
Access for your entire SLT
The biggest, easiest impact comes when you learn as a team, so weâve built reflection time for you into the agenda
Slides from each talk
Accessed through our online portal
Recordings of the talks
So you can use them in school with your wider team
You will be like a kid in a candy store, trying to choose between all the great ideas that you know will move your school forward!
1. Book onto âOutstanding against the odds: 5 heads, tough schools, holistic education'
2. Get inspiration and practical ideas
3. Take the best ideas back into your school
Meet some of our speakers from last year



Linda Hothersall and her team at Eastgate Academy serve a community with high deprivation. Iâve been to the school, Iâve seen their context.
For those children, they need the very best education. More than others might. Theyâve been awarded âoutstandingâ twice, most recently in 2023.
Paula Phillips and her team at East Wichel Primary & Nursery has led the first school to outstanding in Swindon, bucking a narrative about Swindon being one of the worst places to live in the country and an education cold spot. The school was rated outstanding in Dec 2022.
Paul Murphy and the Lancasterian team serve a tough demographic in Tottenham. Good isnât good enough for them. The school has gone from the bottom of the borough to outstanding in four out of five areas, in June 2023.
This yearâs speakers
We'll be finding and announcing speakers throughout the year... watch this space!
What your colleagues say about the conference:
“All the speakers were inspirational and I took away so many ideas. I am glad I gave myself the gift of time to attend. “
V Lord, Headteacher, Irk Valley Primary School, 2023 conference
 What did you enjoy the most? “Having a range of outstanding Heads being very honest about what they have been doing. From a range of backgrounds, Heads have given us different stories. They were inspirational and I got some really good ideas. Thank you very, very much.“
C Taylor,
Headteacher, New Mills Primary School, 2023 conference
“It was a wonderful opportunity for all of SLT to hear the messages from each of the HTs. It generated important discussions, we will set some time aside to further explore and create plans of action. Thank you!“
A Trott,
Headteacher, Raynham Primary School, 2023 conference
Conference Schedule
(Subject to change)
09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome |
09:40 – 10:25 | Speaker 1 |
10:25 – 10:40 | Reflection & Break |
10:40 – 11:25 | Speaker 2 |
11:25 – 11:40 | Reflection & Break |
11:40 – 12:25 | Speaker 3 |
12:25 – 13:05 | Reflection & Lunch Break |
13:05 – 13:45 | Speaker 4 |
13:45 – 14:00 | How Heads Up supports schools |
14:00 – 14:15 | Reflection & Break |
14:15 – 15:00 | Speaker 5 |
15:00 – 15:15 | Reflection & Break |
15:15 – 16:00 | Speaker 6 |
16:00 – 16:15 | Reflection and Close |
FAQs
Yes, and youâll be given access via our online portal.
Yes, theyâll be available for you in our online portal.
One ticket gives access to you and all of your SLT.Â
I understand, a lot of online training sucks! But not ours. How do we know? We’re consistently rated 9/10 by headteachers and school leaders like you. We also ask what people prefer and th e majority opt for online, as this way you don’t have to pay for trains and you can attend with your SLT. You save time and money.
The conference will be take place online using zoom. We’ll email the joining instructions to you a couple of weeks before the event and send reminders.
If you have any questions please contact [email protected]
Whatâs my investment?
ÂŁ360+VAT
