CEO of the Vine Schools Trust, Emma Wigmore, recently attended the annual National Conference with Deputy Directors of Learning, George Athanasiou and Becky Fairhead.
Led by young people from the National Secondary Leadership Network, the conference invited leaders across the education sector to gather at the Union Chapel in Islington for an exciting day of talks, workshops and networking.
The day began with special performances from iSingPOP schools and the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, which really set the tone for the event. Having taken part in an iSingPOP concert last year, it was lovely for Vine leaders to listen to more of their energising songs with the other attendees.
The audience was then split into groups and invited to attend a range of talks on the themes of ‘Growing Faith’, ‘Curriculum’, ‘Racial Justice’ and ‘Leadership’. These sessions were carried out at St Mary Magdalenes Academy, with guest speakers including Reverend Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York and Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner for England.
Emma Wigmore, CEO of the Vine Schools Trust, said:
“After a three-year gap, it was great to be back together at the 2023 National Conference. The conference was titled Flourishing Together which nicely describes the place that we find ourselves in following the turbulence of the last few years. Times are still tough for leaders and there are many challenges facing us which is why it is so important to take the opportunity to come together to be inspired, to reflect, to worship and to celebrate. The National Conference allowed us time to make connections with like-minded people and create relationships which will support us in delivering the Church of England vision for education back in our everyday lives”.
Becky Fairhead, Deputy Director of Learning, added: “It was a privilege to listen to such high-profile keynote speakers, such as Gillian Keegan MP and the Archbishop of York, who both shared provoking and motivational memories of their own education”.
