Sustainable and Informed Governance: Haringey Governor Conference 2026

Haringey’s governor community are once again coming together for a morning of insight, challenge and connection at the 2026 Haringey Governor Conference, taking place at Lea Valley Primary School on Saturday 7 February.

For many governors, our annual event offers a rare chance to step away from individual school settings and connect face‑to‑face with peers from across the borough – exchanging ideas, learning from shared experiences and building relationships that support sustainable, informed governance in a rapidly changing education landscape.

Keynote speaker Laura McInerney will be returning to unpack the education trends we can expect to see throughout 2026 and, if the government’s Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper is released in time, she will offer timely expert insight into its potential impact on schools and what it will mean in practice for governors. This would give governing boards a rare opportunity to engage early with one of the most significant national policy developments on the horizon.

Su Turner’s keynote will focus on her five strategic levers for sustainable governance, openly acknowledging the very real challenges governors face while bringing her trademark optimism, clarity and sense of possibility to the room. Grounded, hopeful and practical, her session will leave governors feeling energised, supported and confident about the impact strong governance can make.

The conference promises to equip governing boards with the clarity and confidence they need for the year ahead.

Watch highlights from the Haringey Governor Conference 2025.

Laura is one of the UK’s most recognised education journalists, the co‑founder of the daily survey app Teacher Tapp and a renowned keynote speaker. She is a long‑standing Guardian education columnist and was the first editor of the award‑winning Schools Week newspaper. Known for her straight‑talking, fiercely insightful commentary, Laura specialises in distilling complex government policies and explaining their impact on teachers, pupils, parents and the wider school community. She has also written four books: The Leadership Factor, Leading Academy Trusts, The Leadership Juggling Act, and The Six Predictable Failures of Free Schools (And How To Avoid Them).

Su is the founder and chief executive of Shaping Governance. She is a highly experienced governance specialist with more than 25 years in senior governance roles and has a proven track record of driving meaningful improvement. Su has held numerous governance and non‑executive positions, including serving as a Governance Associate for the Local Governance Association and as a National Leader of Governance for the Department for Education, supporting boards facing significant challenges. Su is regularly called upon to review governance structures, evaluate impact and strengthen governance capacity. Her career also includes serving as Director of the local Chamber of Commerce, where she supported local businesses, and as a Non‑Executive Director of a GP Federation, helping to improve access to healthcare services. She has authored more than 13 publications on governance, scrutiny and the difference effective governance can make.

As Haringey’s schools continue to operate in a fast‑moving landscape – shaped by evolving policy, new inspection approaches and an increased emphasis on sustainable leadership – the need for informed, connected and forward‑thinking governance has never been clearer. This conference is designed to give governors exactly that: the insight to anticipate upcoming challenges, the tools to support strategic decision‑making, and the space to learn from fellow governors facing similar issues across our borough.

We look forward to welcoming you to Lea Valley Primary School for a day that strengthens our collective understanding and reinforces the vital role governors play in shaping the future of education in Haringey. Join us, be inspired, and help ensure our schools are equipped for the years ahead.

Book your place today: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/haringey-governor-conference-2026-sustainable-and-informed-governance-tickets-1977619334666?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Jonathan is the Lead for Communications and Content at HEP. He has a passion for storytelling and has previously worked as a journalist and communications advisor in New Zealand.