The CST Communications Leaders Professional Community is a unique development network for those leading on communications, marketing, public relations, and public affairs within school trusts.
Our professional communities provide support and development opportunities, through a blend of expert input on key practice challenges, facilitated discussion, and networking.
The community offers a safe and supportive environment in which to develop your understanding of some of the key challenges related to communications in schools, to access expertise from across the sector and beyond, and to build a professional network.
By joining, you will open up opportunities to engage through:
You will also gain exclusive access to our community platform, which connects you with a community of information, resources and support, that you can access anytime and anywhere. On the platform you'll find an ever-growing collection of resources, containing information about key knowledge areas needed in our profession, as well as a space to connect, learn and interact with your peers from across the country.
Membership of the community is included for employees of member trusts as a benefit of CST membership. Join using the button below with your MyCST membership details.
Join our Communications Leaders Professional CommunitySession one: Getting media coverage
Speakers: Jessica Shepherd, Sparrowhawk Communications
Tuesday 12 September 2023, 10:00 - 11:00 (online)
A look at how school trusts can get media interest in their events and activities; plus an introduction to the new community platform and details of our first Communications Summit coming up in Birmingham on March 14.
Session two: Digital tools for school trust communicators
Speakers: Claire Simpson, Hard Numbers; Nina Green, Wensum Trust
Tuesday 14 November 2023, 10:00 - 11:00 (online)
An overview of AI tools and dos and don'ts to consider when using them from Claire Simpson from the Hard Numbers marketing and communications consultancy; and Nina Green from the Wensum Trust on how she has used social media masterclasses to encourage schools in the trust to embrace and get the most out of social media.
Session three: How communication leaders can support retention and recruitment
Speakers: James Goffin, CST
Tuesday 16 January 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 (online)
Looking at the challenges facing trusts around keeping the right staff and replacing them if they do move on, and how communication leaders can help as an internal voice of the customer.
Communication Leaders Summit
Thursday 14 March 2024, Birmingham
School trust communications needs to be agile and responsive, meeting the needs of staff, parents, and pupils. But to get the best return it must be broader and deeper than that, with the trust’s vision and ethos at its core. It must be strategically led to support the goals of the executive and governance leadership.
This summit will help communications leaders from trusts of every size to place their work in that context, understanding the school trust sector’s place in the wider education landscape and their own crucial role in supporting their trust to flourish. We will explore communicating with purpose, building brands, and effective strategies for inclusive communications, alongside practical approaches that turn theory into action.
Session four: How to create a strategic PR plan
Speaker: Isobel Camier, Camier Communications
Tuesday 23 April 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 (online)
Session five
Tuesday 11 June 2024, 10:00 - 11:00 (online)
Company no: 05303883
Charity no: 1107640
