Schools North East

JOIN THE SCHOOLS NORTH EAST TEAM 📍

As we approach our 20th year as the region's dedicated voice for schools, we're looking for talented people to join our Events team and help deliver the conferences, training, webinars and stakeholder events that support schools across the North East and beyond.

We're currently recruiting for two exciting opportunities:

1️⃣ Events Manager
Lead and shape our ambitious events programme, drive income and growth, and play a key role in the strategic development of the organisation.

2️⃣ Deputy Events Manager (Maternity Cover)
Support the delivery of high-quality events and take ownership of an allocated diverse programme of conferences, webinars, roundtables and training sessions.

If you're highly organised, passionate about education and enjoy building relationships, delivering exceptional experiences and making a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

You'll be joining a small, committed and high-performing team with a shared mission to support schools and champion education. For every child, for every school, for the future of our region.

🔜 CLOSES MONDAY 29 JULY.

We'd truly love to hear from you. Find out more about BOTH roles and apply today: https://shorturl.at/nhPMg

One week ago today we held .

More than ever, schools are being asked to do more with less. Rising costs, increasing SEND demand, workforce pressures, ageing estates and growing expectations continue to place enormous strain on the education system.

Yet despite these challenges, schools across the North East continue to deliver remarkable outcomes for our region’s children and young people.

That was the central message running through this year’s The Education Business Conference, which brought together School Business Professionals, CFOs, COOs, HR leaders, estates teams, governance professionals and school leaders from across the region and beyond.

Read the full story: https://schoolsnortheast.org/news/educations-most-valuable-players-take-centre-court-at-the-education-business-conference-2026/

Education's Most Valuable Players take centre court at The Education Business Conference 2026 - Schools North East More than ever, schools are being asked to do more with less. Rising costs, increasing SEND demand, workforce pressures, ageing estates and growing expectations continue to place enormous strain on the education system. Yet despite these challenges, schools across the North East continue to deliver....

Enrichment plays a vital role in helping young people develop a sense of belonging, build essential skills and access opportunities beyond the classroom.

The Department for Education has now published eight new benchmarks to help schools and colleges review and strengthen their enrichment offer. Covering everything from strategic alignment and accessibility to partnerships, outcomes and continuous improvement, the benchmarks provide a framework for evaluating existing provision and identifying areas for development.

We've pulled together a short summary of the eight benchmarks in the attached PDF. Take a look and let us know how your setting approaches enrichment. Share your thoughts with with us: [email protected]

We are pleased to welcome three new Trustees to the Schools North East Board, further strengthening the leadership that underpins one of the most influential and collaborative education networks in the region – and the only school-led regional network in the UK.

Their appointment comes at a pivotal time for education, as schools continue to navigate growing pressures while striving to deliver the very best outcomes for children and young people across the North East.

Without further ado, we’d love to give a very warm welcome to:

Louise Spellman — CEO of Spark Education Trust
Stuart McGhee — CEO of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust
Brendan Tapping — CEO of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust

Read the full story: https://schoolsnortheast.org/news/schools-north-east-welcome-three-new-trustees-to-the-board/

What a day. Schools North East was proud to welcome School Business Professionals, CFOs, COOs, HR leaders, estates teams, governance professionals and school leaders from across the North East and beyond to The Education Business Conference 2026.

Throughout the day, delegates heard from an outstanding line-up of speakers covering resilience, wellbeing, workforce development, AI, cyber security, inspection readiness, medicines management, climate action, employment law, estates, procurement, energy and inclusion.

Sessions combined national policy with practical experience, providing delegates with insights they can take back to their schools and trusts.

Between sessions, the exhibition hall was alive with conversation and collaboration. Thank you to all of our exhibitors for showcasing the products, services and expertise that support schools every day, and to our sponsors for helping to create such a vibrant and engaging event.

Special thanks also go to Dolce for keeping delegates fuelled throughout the day with refreshments and a fantastic lunch.

But perhaps the most important message from the conference was this.

Schools don't run on spreadsheets.

They don't run on procurement frameworks, policy documents or performance tables.

Schools run because of people. Brilliant, remarkable people.

That is why we called the theme of this year's conference *Most Valuable Players*. Because they are.

Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, exhibitor and delegate for making this year's conference such a success.

And thank you to the remarkable School Business Professionals and operational leaders who quietly make everything in our schools possible.

Until next year.

NEW EPISODE of The Schools North East Podcast! 🔔

As the Government's shift the focus from labels to learner need, one question becomes increasingly important: Do we truly understand the children and young people we are designing provision for?

In this episode, we're joined by James Waller, Head Teacher of Sunningdale School, Sunningdale Early Years Centre and SENhub in Sunderland, and one of the country's leading voices on and inclusion.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience and his work influencing national policy, James explores what it really means to design provision around learner characteristics rather than assumptions.

We discuss:

🔹 Why two children with the same diagnosis may need very different support
🔹 The opportunities and challenges presented by SEND reform
🔹 How schools can move beyond labels to better understand need
🔹 Why getting this right matters for every child and young person

Following his thought-provoking session at , this conversation is essential listening for school leaders, SEND professionals and anyone with an interest in the future of inclusive education.

Listen now and join the conversation: https://schoolsnortheast.podbean.com/e/what-inclusion-really-means-beyond-send-labels/

Yesterday's letter from the Secretary of State reinforced just how central the Department for Education's Maximising Value for Pupils programme has become to the future of school and trust finance.

With major developments announced on energy, banking, agency supply and Management Information Systems, and new expectations set to be incorporated into the Academy Trust Handbook, schools are being encouraged to harness the power of collective action to ensure more money reaches the classroom. (full letter: https://shorturl.at/WHcfN)

Those themes will be front and centre at THIS THURSDAY'S The Education Business Conference ( ). At a time when the national spotlight is firmly on maximising value for pupils, there has never been a better opportunity for school business professionals to come together, hear from experts and prepare for the changes ahead.

Last-minute bookings are still available. Join colleagues from across the region and beyond for what promises to be one of the most timely and important education business events of the year.

View full programme and book here: https://schoolsnortheast.org/event-calendar/the-education-business-conference-2026/

⏳ 3 DAYS TO GO — FINAL BOOKINGS REMAIN

The Education Business Conference 2026 is almost here, and this is your last chance to join one of the most important gatherings for education operations and business leadership in England.

Across schools and trusts, the pressure is rising: tighter resources, growing complexity, and constant change. Yet it’s the leaders, COOs, CFOs, School Business Managers and operational teams who are making the difference every single day.

This conference is about recognising that impact... and STRENGTHENING it.

⏰ Final places remaining. If you’re planning to join us in Newcastle, now is the time to secure your booking: https://schoolsnortheast.org/event-calendar/the-education-business-conference-2026/

Looking forward to hearing from some fantastic organisations including Education Mutual (main event sponsors), Matrix Academy Trust, NYES, Department for Education, Digital Safety CIC, and The Legacy Learning Trust.

Following the Government’s announcement to scrap the PE and Sport Premium and replace it with a new Partnerships Network model, Schools North East has carried out a rapid survey of schools across our network to understand the likely impact on pupils, schools, and communities.

Responses were received from over 150 North East primary schools, providing a clear and consistent picture of concern not only across our region, but across the sector. Unsurprisingly, the findings point to significant worry about both the scale of the funding changes and the way in which they’ve been introduced.

These findings have since gained national coverage, including in TES and Schools Week, amplifying concerns raised by schools and reinforcing the strength of feeling across the North East.

Read the full story: https://schoolsnortheast.org/news/schools-north-east-highlights-deep-concerns-over-changes-to-pe-and-sport-funding/

Today marks National School Business Leaders’ Day (NSBL Day), an annual opportunity to recognise and celebrate the incredible contribution of School Business Managers (SBMs) and School Business Leaders across the UK.

It’s a day that rightly shines a spotlight on the people who keep our schools running—strategically, operationally, and financially—ensuring that our brilliant Head Teachers, Teachers, and support staff can focus on what matters most: the pupils.

Across the North East, we are proud to say that we are supported by some of the very best School Business Leaders, and how sincerely grateful we are for all the remarkable work you do…

Read the full story: https://schoolsnortheast.org/news/celebrating-school-business-leaders-the-power-behind-every-school/