Membership | Confederation of School Trusts

Supporting school trusts leaders to be the best they can

CST is the national membership organisation for school trusts in England. Leaders at our member trusts benefit from an unbeatable service focused on our unique mission to advocate, connect, and support.

Explore what membership can offer your trust

Education has a lifelong impact on our children, and we exist to support school trusts in delivering the best possible school system for England's children.

We believe that school trusts - as organisations with a single purpose to provide education - offer the best model for improving. In the 25 years since academies began, we have seen steady improvement in our schools and we continue to support the sector to move from good to great.

To help do that, we work to advocate for, connect, and support school trusts. Our members get access to exclusive sector intelligence and guidance, benefit from our unrivalled access to policy makers and thinkers, and discounted access to our training and events.

Advocate, connect, support

Delegate at CST Data and Insights Conference 2025

Connect with fellow school trust leaders

Our 11 professional communities offer a unique opportunity to meet with fellow school trust leaders to share ideas, problems, and solutions. Member can take part in regular online meetings and in-person conferences.

Delegate at CST Governance and Trustees Conference 2025

Join thousands of school trust leaders in membership

CST represents around three-quarters of school trusts in England, with members responsible for educating over three million children. Join with them to share in the benefits of membership for you, your trust, and your pupils.

CST's regular email briefings are invaluable intelligence and ensure we keep up to date with the sector, and that annual conference is a unique event. We wouldn't be without membership.

CEO of a 10-school trust in the South West