On Friday 6th February, the Leeds Learning Alliance (LLA) welcomed more than 300 delegates from across Leeds and beyond for its Inclusive Leadership and Practice Conference, held at Carr Manor Community School.
Bringing together leaders and practitioners from education and partner sectors, the event provided a day of insight, collaboration and inspiration focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.
The Leeds Learning Alliance would like to thank its sponsors for their generous support: Brown & Brown, Carr Manor Community School, Elite Teaching Solutions, Leeds City College, Leeds College of Building, Mod-Con Designs, Luminate Education Group, Morley Glass & Glazing Ltd, Navigatr, The Next Decade, Positive Regard and Think EJ.
Thank you also to our young volunteers from CATCH for their support in setting up the event and assisting throughout the day.
The conference opened with a keynote from Sir Kevan Collins, Non-Executive Director at the Department for Education. Sir Kevan shared his perspective on the direction of education nationally and engaged delegates in a wide-ranging Q&A, addressing topics including FE funding, place-based partnerships and the opportunities for system-wide collaboration.
Delegates then attended a programme of expert-led workshops exploring inclusive practice and sustainable leadership.
Sir Kevan Collins delivers the opening keynote
Delegates then took part in a programme of expert-led workshops focused on strengthening inclusive practice and building sustainable leadership across education systems. Each session provided practical insight alongside opportunities for reflection and discussion.
Ruth Swailes explored the importance of creating enabling environments that support independence, confidence and success for all learners. Her session examined how thoughtfully designed learning spaces and approaches can act as the ‘third teacher’, ensuring that children and young people are supported to thrive regardless of their age, stage or starting point.
Professor Mark Mon-Williams shared a 2026 ‘State of the Nation’ update from the Child of the North campaign, highlighting the significant challenges facing many children and young people across the UK. He outlined the growing momentum behind the campaign and introduced a charter for organisations committed to working collaboratively to improve life chances and build a country that works for every child.
Ruth Swailes’ Workshop
Margaret Mulholland provided a timely provocation for school leaders, focusing on the need to connect in-school practice with wider community and system-level approaches. Her session challenged leaders to consider the shifts in culture, systems and behaviours required to place struggling learners at the heart of sustainable school improvement, with a strong emphasis on voice, choice and collaboration.
Professor Toby Greany presented findings from a three-year national study into sustainable school leadership. His workshop explored how leaders are increasingly working beyond their traditional educational remit to support wider aspects of children’s welfare and wellbeing, and invited participants to reflect on how leadership can be reconceptualised across schools, trusts and localities to sustain both impact and personal resilience.
The morning also featured a special performance from Opera North, with Irish soprano Anna Devin accompanied by David Cowan, Head of Music, providing a memorable cultural highlight.
In a powerful and engaging interview, Matty Lee MBE, Olympic gold medallist, spoke with ITV journalist Sally Simpson about resilience, the transformative power of sport and his experiences as a former Carr Manor pupil.
Matty Lee MBE speaks to Sally Simpson
Following lunch and further networking opportunities, delegates returned to the theatre for a pupil panel chaired by Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, LLA Ambassador and CEO of the Leeds Rhinos. The panel brought together four young people who had been taking part in the LLA Youth Summit, held concurrently in the Carr Manor Community Hub.
Alongside the conference, 90 pupils from schools across Leeds worked together to develop ideas for improving the city, contributing to a youth manifesto and identifying priorities for change. The panel shared their views on the challenges facing young people today, perceptions of youth in society, the potential impact of a social media ban and their personal experiences, before responding to questions from the audience.
Thank you to Carr Manor Community School, Wetherby High School, Ralph Thoresby School, Leeds City College, Leeds City Academy, Co-op Academy Leeds, CATCH, Alder Tree Primary Academy, Bankside Primary, and Pudsey Southroyd Primary for contributing to the Youth Summit. We hope to see this group develop and flourish, providing real challenge to change-makers in our city.
The closing keynote was delivered by Liz Robinson, Co-founder and CEO of Big Education, who spoke about bold and vulnerable leadership. Drawing on her experience as a headteacher and system leader, she explored the importance of thinking and acting systemically, and shared examples of collaborative work to address inequality, including efforts to reduce barriers to British citizenship for vulnerable young people.
The youth panel
The day concluded with time for reflection, followed by an introduction from Tim Riches (Navigatr) to a new digital badging system being developed with councils and organisations nationwide. All delegates will receive a digital badge recognising their learning from the conference, with access to associated resources.
Recordings of keynotes and interviews, along with further materials, will be available in the LLA Members’ Zone.
Liz Robinson delivers the closing keynote
Gallery
On Friday 6th February, the Leeds Learning Alliance (LLA) welcomed more than 300 delegates from across Leeds and beyond for its Inclusive Leadership and Practice Conference, held at Carr Manor Community School.
Bringing together leaders and practitioners from education and partner sectors, the event provided a day of insight, collaboration and inspiration focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.
The Leeds Learning Alliance would like to thank its sponsors for their generous support: Brown & Brown, Carr Manor Community School, Elite Teaching Solutions, Leeds City College, Leeds College of Building, Mod-Con Designs, Luminate Education Group, Morley Glass & Glazing Ltd, Navigatr, The Next Decade, Positive Regard and Think EJ.
Thank you also to our young volunteers from CATCH for their support in setting up the event and assisting throughout the day.
The conference opened with a keynote from Sir Kevan Collins, Non-Executive Director at the Department for Education. Sir Kevan shared his perspective on the direction of education nationally and engaged delegates in a wide-ranging Q&A, addressing topics including FE funding, place-based partnerships and the opportunities for system-wide collaboration.
Delegates then attended a programme of expert-led workshops exploring inclusive practice and sustainable leadership.
Sir Kevan Collins delivers the opening keynote
Delegates then took part in a programme of expert-led workshops focused on strengthening inclusive practice and building sustainable leadership across education systems. Each session provided practical insight alongside opportunities for reflection and discussion.
Ruth Swailes explored the importance of creating enabling environments that support independence, confidence and success for all learners. Her session examined how thoughtfully designed learning spaces and approaches can act as the ‘third teacher’, ensuring that children and young people are supported to thrive regardless of their age, stage or starting point.
Professor Mark Mon-Williams shared a 2026 ‘State of the Nation’ update from the Child of the North campaign, highlighting the significant challenges facing many children and young people across the UK. He outlined the growing momentum behind the campaign and introduced a charter for organisations committed to working collaboratively to improve life chances and build a country that works for every child.
Ruth Swailes’ Workshop
Margaret Mulholland provided a timely provocation for school leaders, focusing on the need to connect in-school practice with wider community and system-level approaches. Her session challenged leaders to consider the shifts in culture, systems and behaviours required to place struggling learners at the heart of sustainable school improvement, with a strong emphasis on voice, choice and collaboration.
Professor Toby Greany presented findings from a three-year national study into sustainable school leadership. His workshop explored how leaders are increasingly working beyond their traditional educational remit to support wider aspects of children’s welfare and wellbeing, and invited participants to reflect on how leadership can be reconceptualised across schools, trusts and localities to sustain both impact and personal resilience.
The morning also featured a special performance from Opera North, with Irish soprano Anna Devin accompanied by David Cowan, Head of Music, providing a memorable cultural highlight.
In a powerful and engaging interview, Matty Lee MBE, Olympic gold medallist, spoke with ITV journalist Sally Simpson about resilience, the transformative power of sport and his experiences as a former Carr Manor pupil.
Matty Lee MBE speaks to Sally Simpson
Following lunch and further networking opportunities, delegates returned to the theatre for a pupil panel chaired by Jamie Jones-Buchanan MBE, LLA Ambassador and CEO of the Leeds Rhinos. The panel brought together four young people who had been taking part in the LLA Youth Summit, held concurrently in the Carr Manor Community Hub.
Alongside the conference, 90 pupils from schools across Leeds worked together to develop ideas for improving the city, contributing to a youth manifesto and identifying priorities for change. The panel shared their views on the challenges facing young people today, perceptions of youth in society, the potential impact of a social media ban and their personal experiences, before responding to questions from the audience.
Thank you to Carr Manor Community School, Wetherby High School, Ralph Thoresby School, Leeds City College, Leeds City Academy, Co-op Academy Leeds, CATCH, Alder Tree Primary Academy, Bankside Primary, and Pudsey Southroyd Primary for contributing to the Youth Summit. We hope to see this group develop and flourish, providing real challenge to change-makers in our city.
The closing keynote was delivered by Liz Robinson, Co-founder and CEO of Big Education, who spoke about bold and vulnerable leadership. Drawing on her experience as a headteacher and system leader, she explored the importance of thinking and acting systemically, and shared examples of collaborative work to address inequality, including efforts to reduce barriers to British citizenship for vulnerable young people.
The youth panel
The day concluded with time for reflection, followed by an introduction from Tim Riches (Navigatr) to a new digital badging system being developed with councils and organisations nationwide. All delegates will receive a digital badge recognising their learning from the conference, with access to associated resources.
Recordings of keynotes and interviews, along with further materials, will be available in the LLA Members’ Zone.
Liz Robinson delivers the closing keynote
Gallery
