NGA MAT Conference (hosted at the Schools and Academies Show in May)
Join us for NGA’s MAT Conference on Thursday 7 May. We are delighted the School and Academies Show are hosting us in London. The event will include expert-led sessions that explore the strategic, structural, and accountability challenges facing trusts today, offering practical guidance to strengthen governance and decision-making.
By holding our MAT Conference at the wider Schools and Academies Show, you will gain additional benefits, including:
Free entry
Automatic registration for the 2-day SaaS event featuring 200+ top speakers.
Networking and exhibitor access
Access to 200+ exhibitors during the breaks.
Exclusive access
Exclusive NGA member sessions.
Agenda
Chair's opening address from NGA's Chief Executive, Emma Balchin.
NGA's Deputy Chief Executive, Sam Henson, and NGA's Director of Marketing and Communications, Rob Peters, will explore key questions facing multi-academy trusts, including:
- How to define a high-performing and effective trust
- Whether there is a perfect size for a trust, and the pros and cons of different sizes
- The barriers and enablers to merging trusts
- How trusts can balance considerations of place and community
This session will explore:
- The findings of a Trust media engagement survey
- What makes for strong and effective media engagement
- How trusts, as growing civic institutions, can develop their branding, presentation, and reputation within the press and broader media channels
NGA's Deputy Chief Executive, Sam Henson will explore:
- How trust inspections can deliver the most value and benefit to the sector
- The potential risks associated with inspections and strategies for mitigating them
- The role of inspections within the wider context of policy initiatives
NGA's Director of Professional Development, Charlotte Harding will explore:
- Whether your Scheme of Delegation is fit for purpose
- The importance of clear responsibilities and accountability in driving trust-wide change
- What your organisational structure reveals about your trust’s culture, vision, and ethos
- The benefits and potential pitfalls of different approaches to decision-making
 NGA's Chief Executive, Emma Balchin will explore:
- What the contents of the White Paper mean for trusts
- How much influence policy documents like the White Paper should have on trusts with a strong ethos, clear goals, and confidence in their offering
- The future of trusts in the context of the White Paper
Book your place
Excel London
Royal Victoria Dock
1 Western Gateway
London
E16 1XL
By train
The venue is connected by an Elizabeth line station, three DLR stations, a number of bus stops, and a cable car station.
Parking
If you’re using satellite navigation please enter the postcode E16 1FR for the entrance to the car park.
Emma Balchin
Chief Executive
Emma has over 25 years of experience in education, leadership and school improvement and in leading professional development services. Emma has also governed and chaired across maintained schools, academy trusts and local academy committees.
Sam Henson
Deputy Chief Executive
Sam has been NGA's Deputy Chief Executive since January 2024 and previously worked as NGA's Director of Policy and Communications. Sam oversees NGA's policy, research, advocacy, external affairs and advice and guidance work. Sam works closely with and deputises for NGA's Chief Executive, leading the organisation to achieve positive change and drive influence at a national level through our policy and influencing work.
Charlotte Harding
Director of Professional Development
As Director of Professional Development, Charlotte overseas NGA's training and consultancy services including our leading e-learning platform, Learning Link.
Rob Peters
Director of Marketing and Communications
Rob is a marketing strategist blending expertise in IT and e-business. He leads NGA's marketing and communications directorate, overseeing marketing, web, communications, governance development, and customer service operations.