Extraordinary Us Event

At LST, "ordinary" simply isn’t in our DNA—we are driven by the pursuit of the extraordinary every single day. This vision came to life in a powerful way on Friday at our inaugural "Extraordinary Us" event. Bringing together 800 passionate educators, our founder, the School Improvement and Central Services teams, Governors, Trustees, and a lineup of truly inspiring guest speakers, the day was a celebration of who we are and all that we stand for.

The highlights were many, but the stories shared left an unforgettable mark on all of us:

• Tessy I. Idumedia, an LST alumna from Excelsior Academy, took the stage to remind us why we do what we do. Her journey from an LST student to a law graduate from Manchester University is proof that an LST education can profoundly transform lives.
• Geoff Ramm challenged us to redefine every interaction we have with our pupils, encouraging us to create experiences that are nothing short of remarkable.
• We were honoured to hear from Lord Laidlaw and Laidlaw Foundation CEO Susanna Kempe in an intimate Q&A, where their insights and vision further fueled our mission.
• Abdul Chohan showcased the transformative power of EdTech in closing educational gaps, demonstrating what’s possible when technology meets purpose.
• Bennie Kara urged us to think deeply about identity in the curriculum and unconscious bias, pushing us to ask the critical questions that drive meaningful change.
• And Shonette Bason-Wood closed the day with humour, heart, and an inspiring message about resilience in education. She left us all uplifted and recharged, dancing out of the arena to the Venga Boys while donning capes to deflect negativity.

The event also provided an opportunity to honour the outstanding achievements of our staff through the LST Value Awards. The volume of nominations and the inspiring stories of excellence reminded us just how extraordinary our community is. We are incredibly proud of how our team members lift each other up, creating a culture of support and excellence.

Adding to the day’s impact, our Academy Specialism stalls showcased the unique strengths of our 11 academies, allowing staff to connect, share, and learn from each other’s expertise—a testament to the power of unity and collaboration.

Finally, a special thank you to our visionary Co-CEOs, Sally Newton and Rob Hughes. Their dedication and belief in what we can accomplish together makes the pursuit of the extraordinary not just a goal, but a reality.

This was more than an event; it was a rallying cry to dream bigger, push harder, and reach higher—for our students, our schools, and each other. Here’s to many more moments like these on our journey forward.