Case Studies

Be among the first to hear directly from North East school and trust leaders who have undergone inspections under the new Ofsted framework.

Panellists from schools involved in the earliest wave of inspections will share their honest, practical experiences, giving delegates invaluable perspective.

Joining them will be Andy Jordan, ASCL Inspection and Accountability Specialist, providing a national view on how the new framework is being received and what emerging themes are beginning to surface across the country.

This session offers a unique opportunity for trust leaders, Head Teachers and senior staff to understand the realities of inspection under the new model, directly from those who’ve already been through it.

This practical session will guide leaders through the emerging policy developments, cost pressures, and sector-wide changes that are shaping trust financial planning for 2026 and beyond. From pay awards and staffing implications to funding trends, and operational risks, this session will help School Business Professionals and Senior Leaders understand what’s coming down the line, and how to build resilience into budgets, workforce planning and strategic decision-making. Attendees will leave with clearer insight into how to anticipate change, stress-test scenarios, and position their trust to respond confidently in an increasingly challenging financial landscape.

Sam will talk about the key themes from his book ‘Failed State: Why Nothing Works And How To Fix It” – showing why even good politicians struggle to get anything out of the Westminster system. He will apply the lessons to education policy over the past few decades and look at how the same challenges will affect the upcoming white paper. And he’ll offer some possible solutions.

Explore how schools across the North Tyneside Learning Trust are working together to harness AI in ethical, safe, and effective ways that boost productivity, support staff wellbeing, and reduce workload. This practical session will showcase real examples of AI use in teaching, assessment, pastoral care, and administration, all grounded in safeguarding and responsible innovation. Attendees will gain insight into how collaborative working groups are shaping AI policy and practice, and have the chance to discuss challenges, solutions, and the exciting future potential of AI in education. 

Schools are at the heart of building cross-sector partnership to foster joined-up approaches that support children and families holistically. This session will draw upon over a decade of insight and examples from not only Poverty Proofing the School Day work but the work we do within healthcare and culture, as well as across local authorities delivering on their anti-poverty strategies.

Key Takeaways:

• Raising Awareness to Drive Change
  Gain tools to build awareness of poverty-related challenges among staff, pupils, and the wider community, fostering a culture of empathy, dignity, and proactive support.

• Asset-Based Community Involvement
  Discover how to mobilise existing community strengths, like parent associations, foodbanks, libraries and local volunteers, to co-create solutions that are inclusive and sustainable.

• Aligning Strategies Across Sectors
  Explore how schools can engage with wider initiatives such as the year of reading or the NHS 10-year plan to understand community needs and align efforts for greater impact.

Discover how schools, organisations, and communities across the North East can gang up on the problem of inequality and poverty through smarter, more connected collaboration. This interactive session will guide attendees through ecosystem and partnership mapping to diagnose the conditions keeping local challenges in place and explore practical ways to respond collectively. Drawing on real case studies and effective models of place-based partnership, we’ll examine how hyperlocal action can be strengthened by national allies, and how a clear Theory of Change and Collaboration (ToCC) can help attract the investment our region needs. Perfect for anyone committed to building stronger, fairer outcomes for North East learners.

With shared vision and values merging two trusts should be straightforward. Merger journeys however are not easy particularly when timeframes are tight. Although ethos, vision and values are often aligned, there is the small matter of knitting together two teams often with very different and well-established ways of working. In this session, CEO Louise Spellman and CFOO Katy Riley reflect on the Spark Education Trust journey and share how a bold vision, careful planning and positive culture laid the foundations for future success.

A session exploring the implications of MAT mergers from the initial idea through to a successful merger.

Join Zoe Levitt, Executive Director of Education at Consilium Academies, as she shares how the trust delivered £2 million in savings in just 30 working days—without losing staff or compromising culture. By using Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP), Zoe and her team reshaped staffing, uncovered hidden inefficiencies and released funding that had been tied up but not making an impact.

This session will show how a joined-up approach to curriculum, people and finance can strengthen systems, sharpen focus and redirect resources to what matters most: improving outcomes for young people.

Aligned with this year’s conference theme of shaping the future of education, Zoe offers practical, real-world insights for leaders looking to build resilience and make smarter, more strategic decisions in challenging financial times.

This session will take a broad lens across the Government’s priorities and look at how academy trusts across the NE can play their part.