Devon Maintained Schools conference 2026 programme

Conference programme

09:00  Registration, refreshments, networking and exhibition

09:30  Welcome and introduction - Jim Barnicott, Assistant Director, Inclusion and Learning

09:40  Maintained Schools Business - Ruh Alford, Executive Headteacher, The Carey Federation on behalf of the Devon Maintained Schools Group and Jamie Stone, Headteacher, Denbury Primary School and Vice Chair for Devon School Leadership Service (DSLS)

This session will provide clarity of roles and representation from DSLS along with outlining next steps

10:00  School improvement | The plan moving forward - Alice McShane and Mark Walker, Heads of Service for Education, Quality and Inclusion (South and West, North and Mid)

Our School Improvement Plan to Maintained Schools in Devon

10.30  Collaboration in practice - Christopher Tribble, Headteacher and Rhys Evans Assistant Headteacher, Honiton Primary School

11:00  Refreshments, networking and exhibition

11:30  Partnership mapping activity -Alice McShane and Mark Walker, Heads of Service for Education, Quality and Inclusion (South and West, North and Mid)

This session will discuss;

        • What are the features of a strong partnership?
        • Our Partnerships/Their Strengths
        • What would make them even stronger?

12:30  Next steps | Q&A session - Jim Barnicott, Assistant Director, Inclusion and Learning

13:00  Lunch and networking 

13:30  Close of event

Devon Maintained Schools conference 2026 programme