Connected: 1,200 Staff, One Family, One Mission – A Review of the WAT Conference 2025

11th December 2025

On Friday 5th December, 1,200 staff from across Windsor Academy Trust’s fifteen schools and central team, alongside guests from across the education and health sectors, gathered at The ICC for the WAT Conference 2025: Connected - Co-creating Brighter Futures for All

It is a rare occasion to have our entire family—from teachers and teaching assistants to site teams and professional services staff—in one room. We do this because we believe deeply in the power of connection.

The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Connected’. At Windsor Academy Trust, we know that we are stronger together. We know that by sharing our expertise, pooling our resources, and aligning our vision, we can unlock both the academic and personal potential of every single child in our care, regardless of their background or which of our schools they attend.

The day was a celebration of this collective power; a chance to learn from world-leading experts, to be inspired by our incredible students, and to look ahead at how we will co-create a brighter future for all.

Kicking Off with Energy

The day exploded into life with a high-energy performance of We’re All In This Together from High School Musical. This wasn't just a performance; it was a statement of unity involving students from 9 of our schools across the Dudley, Walsall, and South Staffordshire regions. Their confidence and talent set the perfect tone for the day.

Following this electric opening, we premiered our new film, ‘Connected: We Shine Together’. This moving piece featured students from across the family reciting a poem that captured the essence of what it means to belong to Windsor Academy Trust. Hearing young people articulate their hopes, dreams, and sense of connection grounded us all in our moral purpose.

Setting the Vision: Game Changers and Future Shapers

Our CEO, Dawn Haywood, took to the stage to set out our vision for 2030. Dawn emphasised that "connection builds confidence." She highlighted how our strategic "Turbo Boosters"—Students, Staff, Society, Sustainability, and System—are already accelerating progress and laid down a challenge to go even further in closing the attainment gap for our most vulnerable learners.

We were then privileged to witness a 'fireside chat' between Dawn and the legendary Baroness Sue Campbell D.B.E.. Drawing on her unparalleled career in UK Sport and women’s football, Sue shared profound insights on high-performance leadership. Her central message resonated deeply: true leaders do not just manage processes; they care for people. She challenged every person in the room to be a "game changer" in their own role.

Soulful Collaboration

After a break for networking and refreshments, the atmosphere turned soulful with a stunning performance of Joyful Joyful.

This massed choir brought together students from 6 of our schools across Stoke, North Staffordshire, and Sandwell, performing alongside the wonderful Birmingham Community Gospel Choir and Staffordshire Show Choir. It was a powerful display of collaboration and vocal talent that truly raised the roof.

Shaping the System: Civic Leadership

Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, delivered a compelling keynote on "New Domains of Educational Leadership".

She explored the concept of Civic Leadership, highlighting how Windsor Academy Trust is actively looking beyond its own gates to help shape the wider education system for the public good. Leora's address reminded us of the importance of schools acting as anchors in their communities, driving change not just for our students, but for society as a whole.

Deep Diving into Excellence: The Masterclasses

We believe that the best way to improve outcomes for students is to invest in the development of our staff. The afternoon was dedicated to a comprehensive programme of masterclasses, allowing colleagues to tailor their learning to their specific roles and interests.

We were delighted to welcome a host of renowned external experts and home-grown talent to lead these sessions:

• How Learning Happens: Dr Carl Hendrick explored the science of learning, translating complex research into practical classroom strategies.
• Re-defining Resilience: Alex Staniforth shared his personal toolkit for building resilience and embracing the unexpected.
• Embracing Equity in Education: Professor Lee Elliot Major OBE challenged us to embed equity in everything we do to ensure every child succeeds.
• AI and Assessment: Daisy Christodoulou examined the future of assessment in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
• Building a Culture of Belonging: External speaker Louis Everett led a powerful session on fostering a true sense of belonging in schools
• Flourishing Leaders: Andy Wolfe discussed how leaders can create cultures where both staff and students thrive.
• A Non-Technical Intro to AI: Anna Berkman provided a practical guide to AI for our professional services teams.
• Alongside these external voices, we were proud to showcase the expertise within our own family, with WAT leaders delivering sessions on inclusion (Kirsten Tinsley), sustainability (Chris Berry), and healthy futures (Claire Gething).

Celebrating Our People

Following lunch, we premiered ‘Unlocking Potential: The Windsor Academy Trust Story’, a video montage celebrating the journey of the Trust so far and showcasing the real-life impact of our work in classrooms and communities.

This led perfectly into the WAT Awards. We know that our staff go above and beyond every single day, and this was our moment to pause and say "thank you."

Hosted by Andy Middleton, Chair of our Board of Directors, it was wonderful to see 126 finalists recognised on the big screen, alongside our amazing Highly Commended colleagues.

A huge congratulations to our 2025 winners:

• Unlocking Academic Potential: Sam Wilson (Windsor High School and Sixth Form).
• Unlocking Personal Potential: Clark Gould (Windsor Olympus Academy).
• Empowering & Growing Staff: Charlotte Pottinger (Rivers Primary Academy).
• Society Award: Johanna Warren (Windsor Olympus Academy).
• Sustainability Award: Claire Holmes (Great Wyrley Academy).
• System Award: Sonya Lanckham (Central Team).
• Excellence Award: Carly Wall (Manor Way Primary Academy).
• Leadership Award: Sal Khan (Goldsmith Primary Academy).

A special thank you to our partners Aperture Portraits for supporting these awards.

The Lasting Impact of a Teacher

To close the day, we needed a message that would resonate with every person in the room, reminding us of the 'why' behind our hard work.

Richard McCann delivered an emotional and unforgettable keynote. Sharing his personal story of overcoming immense adversity, Richard spoke about the profound impact one teacher had on his life at a critical moment. Feedback from across the Trust has highlighted this as a standout moment, serving as a powerful reminder that the words we speak and the belief we show in young people can change their futures forever.

To close the conference, our students returned to the stage for a finale that showcased poise, elegance, and discipline. Performing ‘Dancing on the Stars’ in the style of André Rieu, it was a beautiful end to an inspiring day.

Reflections and Highlights

We left the conference feeling proud, inspired, and more connected than ever. As the OECD Learning Compass 2030 reminds us: "The light shines brightest when we shine together".

Events of this scale are only possible with significant support. We would like to extend a huge thank you to our Headline Supporting Partners—Barker, JPL, CHG, and sync—along with Ginger Energy and Aperture Portraits, for helping us bring our family together.

As we move forward into 2026, we do so with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to continue co-creating a brighter future for every child in our family of schools.