‘Why school matters to me’

Catherine Stalham, CEO of South Essex Academy Trust, is delighted to welcome you today to this gathering of leaders united by a shared purpose: shaping the future through education. Reflecting on the theme, “Why school matters to me,” she recognises that schools are far more than buildings or systems—they are the foundations of opportunity, belonging, and transformation.

She believes that every day, in every classroom, education has the power to change lives—not only through academic success, but through the confidence it builds, the values it nurtures, and the futures it helps young people to imagine.

As leaders, she emphasises the collective privilege and responsibility to create environments where every child can thrive. Today is about connection—sharing ideas, learning from one another, and strengthening a shared commitment to the communities served.

Because when schools succeed, society succeeds.