School leaders: are you prepared for the challenges ahead?
Health, safety finance and legal CPD event for schools with our partners.
School leadership has never been more demanding.
Budgets are under increasing pressure. Compliance expectations continue to grow. Accountability for school and trust leaders has never been greater.
Join Azets, Crysp and Schofield Sweeney for an exclusive half-day leadership event designed to give education leaders practical advice, expert insight and the confidence to navigate the challenges ahead.
📅 Tuesday 6 October 2026
📍 Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford
🕘 9:00am – 1:30pm
Including networking lunch.
What we'll cover
Finance
Surviving today's financial pressures while planning for tomorrow
Understand the latest funding challenges, financial governance expectations and practical strategies to strengthen your organisation's financial resilience.
Health & Safety
Reducing risk. Protecting people. Building confidence.
Learn how to create proportionate compliance systems that protect pupils, staff and leadership teams whilst reducing unnecessary administrative burden.
Legal & Governance
Leadership accountability in an increasingly complex world
Gain practical guidance on governance, compliance, legal responsibilities and how to minimise organisational and personal risk.
You'll leave with
Greater confidence in your governance and financial oversight
Practical ways to strengthen compliance without increasing workload
A clearer understanding of your legal responsibilities
Ideas to improve resilience across your school or trust
Reassurance that other leaders are facing many of the same challenges
Who should attend?
Headteachers
CEOs
CFOs
School Business Leaders
Trust Leaders
Executive Leaders
Speakers
Graham Fitzgerald
Partner, Audit & Assurance | Azets
Graham leads Azets' Academy sector team and has over 30 years' experience advising charities and academy trusts. He supports more than 50 charitable organisations and serves as a trustee and Chair of Finance for a growing multi academy trust, giving him valuable practical insight into the financial and governance challenges facing schools today.
Chloe Rhodes
Chief Professional Services Officer | Crysp
Chloe leads Crysp's professional services team, supporting education providers across the UK with health and safety, compliance and property risk management. Combining digital compliance technology with practical auditing expertise, Chloe helps schools and trusts develop sensible, proportionate approaches that keep people safe while supporting effective leadership.
Tina Morris
Director, Education | Schofield Sweeney
Tina leads Schofield Sweeney's specialist education team and advises academy trusts, maintained schools and governing bodies on academy conversions, governance and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience supporting both single and multi academy trusts through complex legal and strategic change.
Agenda
9:00am
Arrival, registration, tea, coffee and pastries
9:30am
Welcome and opening session
Finance
Surviving the squeeze and planning to thrive
Health & Safety
Risk, reassurance and real-world protection
Refreshment break
Legal & Governance
Accountability, governance and protecting leadership teams
1:00pm
Panel discussion and audience questions
1:30pm
Networking buffet lunch
Why attend?
The education landscape is changing rapidly. Financial pressures, increasing regulatory expectations and heightened accountability mean school leaders must make informed decisions with confidence.
This event brings together three trusted advisers to the education sector, offering practical guidance that you can take back to your organisation immediately.
Whether you're leading a single school or a large multi academy trust, you'll leave with valuable insight, practical actions and new professional connections to help your organisation remain compliant, resilient and prepared for whatever comes next.