DBE Senior Leaders' Conference 2025 - Vision in Action

Vision In Action: Exploring the Practical Impact of your School's Christian Vision: 

Join us as we delve into how your school's Christian Vision can be meaningfully lived out in everyday practice. This day is designed to ease the burden by working together to demonstrate what effective, actionable vision looks like. Our goal is to support, equip, and empower you to bring your vision to life within your school community.

Our Keynote Speakers are Trevor Cooling who will speak on Theological rooting to a school’s Christian Vision and Emily Norman who will explore Flourishing For All and the suite of guidance and vision from National Society.

We will also host afternoon workshops on the following topics providing practical guidance on incorporating your school's vision into aspects of the lived experiences of your school's community. 

• A Strategic Approach to Racial Justice

Delivered by Emily Norman: Head of Curriculum and Inclusion at the National Society for Education

Racial justice is a national priority. This workshop helps schools understand how to create a culture that celebrates diversity, embraces differences, and reduces discrimination—making inclusion not an add-on, but an integral part of school life.

• Vision in Action: Responding to Disadvantage

Delivered by Jo Powell, Headteacher, Lostock Gralam CE Primary School

In this workshop, Jo will reflect on the school’s journey with how challenging circumstances have influenced and shaped their vision. She will share the ways in which the school has adapted to support both families and the wider community, including the development of their social supermarket, as a practical and compassionate response to the needs of families. She will talk about how the vision has impacted on the entire school community and give examples of what this looks like in the very busy school day. This is the ongoing story of one school acting out their vision and adapting their response in light of challenging circumstances which we all face.

• Pupils’ Research - Driving the Vision Forward

Delivered by Kate Appleby: Headteacher, Warmingham CE Primary School

Kate and a small group of pupils from the school, will be sharing their experience of how pupil-led research gives a unique opportunity for young voices to shape understanding around vision, advocacy and spirituality. Their work in this area has had great impact on school staff and pupils. They can begin to see how these aspects of school life connect to a wider vision. This work has been transformative in finding ways to make this vision clear and meaningful for all of the community.