Blog, News and Updates from the Schools & Academies Show

Join the Sector’s First Major Event Since Landmark White Paper

Written by Schools and Academies Show | Apr 1, 2026 1:16:39 PM

The Schools & Academies Show returns to the Excel, London on 7th May as a pivotal moment for the education sector, marking the first major national event since the release of the Schools White Paper.

Bringing together thousands of school leaders, trust executives, and education professionals, the show will serve as a critical event for unpacking policy, sharing best practice and preparing for the changes and challenges ahead.

Unmissable CPD Content

With the White Paper set to reshape the educational landscape, this year’s event places a strong focus on what these reforms mean in practice. A series of sessions and panels will explore the implications for MATs, operational strategy and the evolving priorities around SEND and inclusion, ensuring visitors leave with clarity, confidence, and actionable insights to bring back to their school.

The SEND Conference will return to the heart of the show floor, with CPD-content built around the real challenges facing the SEND community, equipping educators with the insights and strategies needed to deliver truly inclusive learning.

Alongside this, the School Estates Summit provides the perfect opportunity to meet leading education estate suppliers, hear the latest compliance updates and take part in peer-led discussion. The content at the summit provides guidance and solutions to help leaders manage their school estates with confidence, ensure efficiency and create a safe learning environment for pupils and staff.

Across our other dedicated theatres, we've invited leading practitioners to delve into the most pressing sector challenges and emerging trens, from improving attendance and behaviour, delivering effective digital transformation and building high-performing teams and strong trusts.

New Feature Areas Reflect Sector Priorities

Responding directly to the most pressing challenges facing schools, we’ve introduced a range of new, dedicated features across the show floor:

    • The Inclusive Classroom – An immersive feature sponsored by Findel Education, showcasing what an inclusive classroom can look like in practice, this presents a practical and inspiring example of how thoughtful design can support emotional regulation and reduce sensory stress. This feature shows how a biophilic approach can help students to feel emotionally safe and ready to learn. 
    • Operational Excellence Hub – Hosted by the ISBL, this is designed for trust leaders and school business professionals, this hub delivers insights on financial sustainability, resource management, and operational efficiency in an increasingly complex environment.
    • Governance Trail – A curated content stream throughout the show floor highlighting essential guidance and expert advice for governors and trustees navigating accountability, compliance and strategic leadership.
    • The NGA MAT Conference - We've joined forces with the National Governance Association to host the NGA MAT Conference, which will include expert-led sessions that explore the strategic, structural and accountability challenges facing trusts every day, offering practical guidance to strengthen governance and decision making.
    • The FED Theatre – We’re partnering with the Foundation for Education to introduce the ‘FED Theatre: Hosting the NEA’, showcasing their extensive network of experts and thought leaders on a wide range of topics, from SEND and inclusion to accountability, teacher retention, recruitment and the disadvantage gap.

Hundreds of Solutions to Support Schools

The show will host an exhibition of 200+ leading education suppliers, showcasing key solutions tailored to the evolving needs of schools and trusts.

Headline sponsor Commercial Services Group will be sharing their latest research on the Schools White Paper and practical insights on the challenges school leaders struggling to navigate.

Visitors can also engage with leading providers including:

    • VenturEd Solutions, offering integrated systems that reduce costs, streamline operations, and support leadership teams in achieving strategic priorities through solutions spanning communications, payments, analytics, and data integration.
    • Amazon Business, providing a simplified procurement experience with access to thousands of products, streamlined invoicing, and business-specific purchasing features.
    • Tes (Headline Media Partner), showcasing its mission-driven ecosystem designed to empower educators, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance learning experiences globally.
    • The Access Group, presenting its suite of education software designed to improve efficiency, boost engagement, and enable educators to focus on delivering exceptional outcomes.
    • ESPO, bringing over 40 years of expertise in education procurement, offering a trusted, one-stop-shop solution to help schools save time and money.
Explore the key solutions at the show via our exhibitor list.

A Must-Attend Event for Education Leaders

As the sector stands on the cusp of significant transformation, the Schools & Academies Show London offers an essential opportunity for education professionals to connect, learn, and prepare for the future.

From policy to practice, strategy to implementation, this year’s event promises to empower attendees with the tools and insights needed to navigate change and drive meaningful impact across their schools and trusts.

Key event details:

 
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