School leaders from across the Diocese came together on 6 March 2026 for an inspiring Senior Leaders Conference, held at Birmingham City Football Club.
With the theme Flourishing – Life in All Its Fullness, the day created space for reflection, encouragement and shared learning for those leading and supporting Church of England schools across Birmingham and the wider region.
The conference brought together headteachers, senior leaders and clergy, all committed to ensuring that children and young people in Church schools experience an education that nurtures them academically, spiritually and emotionally.
Grounded in the words of John 10:10 – “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” – the conference explored what flourishing really means in the context of education and how school communities can help every child experience a rich and abundant life.
The day began with a warm welcome from Dean Matt Thompson, Chair of Birmingham Diocesan Board of Education and Sarah Smith, Director of Education. This was followed by a time of worship led by the Bishop of Aston and a presentation on what it means to enable “life in all its fullness” in Church schools, led by Revd Canon Duncan Hill-Brown, Bishop’s Advisor for Church School Partnerships.
School leaders also heard from Kate Stenner, a counsellor who works closely with school leaders and staff, as she explored practical ways to support wellbeing and resilience within school communities.
Keynote speaker: Tier Blundell
Following lunch, school leaders heard from the afternoon’s keynote speaker, Tier Blundell, founder of Excluded from School. He shared a powerful and deeply personal reflection on belonging, identity and the transformative impact of faith.
Drawing on his own experiences of childhood exclusion, Tier spoke movingly about the sense of belonging he found after coming to faith and how this reshaped both his life and his work. Tier reflected on the influence of faith in his own journey, sharing: “That unconditional nature of God’s love has transformed me, and transformed everything that I do.”
Tier reminded school leaders that the relationships built within schools can have a life-changing impact, particularly for pupils who may feel on the margins.
He also encouraged teachers to recognise the importance of their own lived experiences, explaining that the empathy, understanding and care they bring to their work can help create meaningful connections with young people.
Creativity and conversation
The conference also celebrated pupils' voices. School leaders heard a joyful performance from the choir of St John’s CofE Primary School, Sparkhill, bringing music and energy to the afternoon programme.
School leaders also heard from Knowle CofE Primary School, Solihull, whose headteacher shared how a previous conference inspired the school to introduce ‘No Tech Tuesday’ to support pupils’ mental wellbeing.
Adding a creative dimension to the day, live illustrator Andy Gray captured key ideas and reflections as the conference unfolded.
Reflecting on the day, Director of Education Sarah Smith said: “God made us for relationship with one another. The buzz of conversation and the warmth of being together at our Senior Leadership Conference has grown year by year.
“These moments sustain us, encourage us, remind us we are not alone, and strengthen us for the times when the journey is hard.”
Find out more about Church of England schools across the Diocese of Birmingham.