Driving Change: Centre for Young Lives and Mission 44 unite with North East partners to champion Inclusion
06/02/26
This week, Schools North East championed the voice of North East schools at the ‘Ambitious about Inclusion’ event in Newcastle alongside school leaders, youth advocates, and regional partners.
A collaborative workshop run by the Centre for Young Lives and Mission 44 focused on breaking down the barriers to inclusion for young people across the North East, and provided a vital space to discuss how we can ensure every young person in our region has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background.
A mission born from experience
The event opened with a powerful reminder of why this work matters. Laurie Hunte, Senior Impact Manager at Mission 44, shared the inspiration behind Sir Lewis Hamilton’s foundation.
Having faced significant barriers linked to inclusion himself, Hamilton launched Mission 44 to create a fairer future, specifically focusing on STEM careers and ensuring students feel a true sense of belonging in the classroom.
Tackling the regional challenge
For those of us in the North East, we’re familiar with the statistics shared that underscore the urgency of this mission. Our region currently faces a suspension rate considerably higher than the national average, with permanent exclusions nearly double the national rate.
With 31 percent of our children living below the poverty line, the link between educational disadvantage and regional poverty remains a critical hurdle that requires a united, cross-sector response and with a joint accountability framework to go with it.
Our schools and trusts work tirelessly to provide the best possible outcomes for all of our region’s children and young people, but they can’t do it alone.
Practical steps for inclusion
The heart of the day was found in the thematic workshops, where delegates moved beyond identifying problems to co-developing solutions. Discussions focused on:
- National Engagement Framework: Exploring the upcoming June 2026 framework designed to improve pupil engagement and accountability.
- Representative workforce: Practical steps to support teachers from all backgrounds, ensuring the workforce reflects the communities they serve.
- Youth Voice: Centering the experiences of young people to shape local and national government policies that actually work on the ground.
Looking ahead: The Schools North East Inclusion Conference
This week’s event further highlighted the importance of schools and trusts across our region coming together at the Schools North East Inclusion Conference 2026, taking place on Tuesday 19 May at Kingston Park Stadium.
As we were reminded again this week, inclusion remains at the heart of the national conversation and will continue to be a central focus as part of the forthcoming schools white paper. Our May conference will explore these issues in greater depth, featuring expert speakers such as Amjad Ali and Marc Rowland, who will support schools and trusts in navigating one of the most pressing challenges in education today.
We look forward to sharing further updates and continuing to drive positive change together. For every child, for every school, for the future of our region.