Poised for Growth: Reach South’s 2025 Leadership Conference

This week, leaders from across Reach South Academy Trust are coming together at a pivotal moment in the life of our organisation.

With a theme centred on leadership transition and strategic alignment, the 2025 conference is designed to sharpen our focus on what comes next. As we look to 2026 and beyond, the trust is entering a new phase; one shaped by clarity of purpose, collective ambition and long-term resilience.

That purpose remains unchanged: to support the full and positive development of every child and young person in our care. Not just academically, but intellectually, emotionally, socially, creatively and spiritually. We want our pupils to be confident in who they are, curious about the world around them, and equipped to shape their own futures. This is what drives us.

It’s also what makes this next phase so significant.

Reach South is poised for growth - and that ambition is matched by the confidence placed in us by the Department for Education. With the development of a new Alternative Provision in Wiltshire, and a new free school in Gloucester, we are preparing to deepen our impact and extend our reach.

Our 2026 vision sets out a clear and measurable agenda:

• Every academy rated ‘Good’ or better by Ofsted
• Disadvantaged pupils achieving as well as their peers
• A culture of wellbeing embedded across all schools
• A confident, connected workforce built through investment in people
• A resilient organisation capable of thriving in challenging times

Consistency, creativity and commitment sit at the heart of this work. We are strengthening the systems that support school improvement, while continuing to value local identity and innovation at the front line.

The conference also reflects the trust’s unwavering focus on people. From induction to leadership development, we are committed to growing the very best educators and school leaders. We want to make Reach South a place where talented people choose to build their careers.

Dean Ashton OBE, CEO of Reach South Academy Trust said:

“As I prepare to step down, I am incredibly proud of what Reach South has become: a values-led organisation that has never lost sight of its purpose. Our commitment to inclusion, to equity, and to whole-child development runs deep. I’m very proud of what we have achieved to date and have every confidence that the trust is in very good hands: the future is very bright indeed.”

Tom Leverage, CEO designate said:

“Reach South is poised for growth, and we’re ready to meet that moment with clarity, compassion and ambition. The work we do is challenging, but it matters deeply. I’m proud to be taking on the leadership of an organisation that is committed to building strong schools, resilient systems and successful futures for every pupil we serve.

“This year’s conference is about looking ahead; not just to expansion, but to impact. Not just to growth, but to the kind of growth that is sustainable, values-driven, and anchored in the needs of our pupils and communities.

“Our message is simple: Reach South is ready. We are poised for growth - but more importantly, we are united by purpose.”

Lucy Livings, Regional Director for the DfE, who is delivering a keynote address at the conference said:

"This is a significant moment for Reach South. Dean leaves Tom with big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to seeing what the next chapter brings and how the trust move forward with a continued focus on embedding high-quality, inclusive education and driving up attendance—so that every pupil, regardless of background, can thrive".