Professional communities

Our professional communities

Our professional communities are knowledge-building networks, focused on key aspects of school trust life. An integral part of CST membership, they provide unique opportunities for networking, peer-learning, and sharing of expertise.

Our communities offer safe and supportive environments in which to develop your understanding of some of the key challenges and opportunites of your role, with access to expertise from across the sector and beyond. By joining, you will open get access to:

  • Online community meetings
  • Networking with colleagues across our sector
  • Community-exclusive resources and blogs
  • Topical webinars on emerging issues
  • Our dedicated community site, accessible anytime through our website and mobile app
  • Early access to bookings for our in-person community events

Membership of our communities is included for all staff and governance volunteers in your trust, as an integral part of CST membership.

You can join one or several communities, matching your interests and needs.

How to join

If you are already registered for MyCST, CST's personal registration for employees and governance volunteers at member trusts, you can add professional communities to your account using our community registration form.

MyCST is CST's personal regisration for employees and governance volunteers at member trusts. Registration unlocks your access to member benefits, include exclusive resource on this website, our briefing emails, and our professional communities.

If your trust is a CST member you can sign up using our MyCST registration form.

Explore our professional communities

Chief executives

A place for trust accounting officers to network, share, and learn.
Communications

Our community school trust communications and marketing.
Data and insights

Everything data: creating the insight that helps trusts keep improving.
Early years

Getting pupils off to the best start at school.
Finance

From the day to day to the strategic, supporting trusts to maintain robust financial health.
Governance and trustee

Why trust governance matters, how we do it, and measuring its impact.
Operations

Building excellence in operations, for excellence in education.
People and culture

Helping adults flourish, so the children they support can too.
Safeguarding

Working together to keep pupils safe.
School improvement

Helping trusts work at scale to support teaching and learning.
SEND and inclusion

Working towards education that prioritises a good life for all.

It's extremely helpful to be surrounded by a group of people who have such relevant shared experiences... thought provoking, as well as providing reassurance that you're doing things right whilst also providing different perspectives to consider.

Claire Gordon, The Consortium Academy Trust

Confederation of School Trusts, registered in England & Wales, company no 05303883, charity no 1107640
CST Professional Development Ltd, registered in England & Wales, company no 10354936, VAT registration no 270088018
Registered offices both at Fifth Floor, 167-169 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PF

Contact Details

The Confederation of School Trusts is the national organisation for school trusts in England. We advocate for, connect, and support executive and governance leaders.

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