The Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, addressed Church of England school leaders at the National Society Annual Conference 2026, held at SAINT Church in Hackney, London.
In her speech, she reflected on the National Society’s founding in 1811 and its historic role in making education accessible to all, long before the state became involved. She thanked Church of England schools for their long-standing contribution to children’s education and highlighted the strength of partnership between schools, trusts and government.
She paid tribute to Nigel Genders for his leadership and impact on more than a million pupils, and welcomed his appointment as the Government’s Chief Schools Adjudicator, while also looking ahead to working with Andy Wolfe as interim Chief Executive.
The Secretary of State spoke about how childhood is changing rapidly, shaped by online life, uncertainty, rising anxiety, and the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. She noted that many young people feel less connected and less certain about their future, and stressed the importance of belonging, stability and strong communities.
She set out a vision of schools as calm, hopeful anchors at the heart of local communities, offering young people support, opportunity and a sense of purpose. She praised the work already happening across Church of England trusts to build strong school communities and improve life chances for pupils.
Looking ahead, she confirmed that a new schools white paper will be published soon, alongside wider government work on child poverty, early years, social care and post-16 reform. Together, these plans aim to make the UK the best place in the world for children to grow up.
She closed by calling for a renewed focus on young people — putting pupils at the centre, raising expectations for every child, strengthening inclusion (including for children with SEND), and ensuring education supports both achievement and wellbeing as we prepare the next generation for the future.
