Putting relationships at the heart of trust leadership
'If you want to change the world, start with relationships.' Sir David Robinson, Co-Founder and Co-Lead, The Relationships Project.
Relationships are not the soft side of leadership. They shape every aspect of our lives, work and community. For leaders, relationships are the infrastructure through which strategy is understood, change is led, and trust is built.
In this three-part seminar series, we will examine the evidence about why relationships matter, explore what relational practice looks like across a school trust, and consider how executive leaders can create the organisational conditions in which strong relationships are built and maintained as vital assets.
The programme will help leaders move beyond relying on individual strengths and goodwill towards an intentional, trust-wide approach to relational practice. It will consider relationships within the organisation, including those between executive leaders, schools and staff, as well as relationships with pupils, families, communities and civic partners.
Who is it for?
Chief executives and executive leaders responsible for trust strategy, culture, people and organisational development.
What you will gain
This course will help you to:
- Build a clear strategic case for relational practice
- Understand relationships as part of your trust’s organisational infrastructure
- Identify where systems, structures and leadership practices create connection, distance or friction
- Consider the conditions that support trust, voice, belonging and constructive challenge
- Examine relational practice across workforce, school, family and community relationships
- Apply practical frameworks and diagnostic tools to a live organisational priority
- Identify practical priorities for leading a more relational approach across your trust
Session 1: Why relationships matter
This session will move from the strategic case to organisational practice. Participants will examine the skills and capabilities that underpin effective relational practice and consider what individuals, teams and organisations can do to cultivate them. Leaders will also have the opportunity to reflect on who they are in this work, and how it influences their leadership approach.
Session 2: Developing your practice
This session will move from the strategic case to organisational practice. Participants will examine the skills and capabilities that underpin effective relational practice and consider what individuals, teams and organisations can do to cultivate them. Leaders will also have the opportunity to reflect on who they are in this work, and how it influences their leadership approach.
Session 3: Creating the conditions
This session will focus explicitly on executive leadership responsibility. Participants will explore how strategy, culture, structures, resources, leadership behaviours and assurance arrangements combine to create the conditions in which relationships flourish. They will apply a relational diagnostic to a live organisational issue and identify focused priorities for change.
02:30 pm
11 Nov 2026 01:00 pm to
02:30 pm
18 Nov 2026 01:00 pm to
02:30 pm
- CST members £280+VAT
- Non-members £340+VAT
