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Case Studies

SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2024

Barracks Suite
Sponsored by: Education Mutual
Moncur Suite
Sponsored by: AK Teaching
Heroes Suite
Sponsored by: ION
Sir Bobby Robson Suite
Sponsored by: Agilico

Level 4 foyer – Health Check Drop in 08:00 – 15:25

8:00 – 9:00: Registration Refreshments and Exhibition


9:00 – 9:30: Welcome

  • Chris Zarraga, Director, Schools North East,
  • Louise Levy, Director, Education Mutual & COO, Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust

9:30 – 10:30: The Art of Being Brilliant – Jonathan Peach


10:30 – 11:20: Refreshments and Exhibition


11:20 – 12:00: Session Round One

  • Barracks Suite: Pupil Exclusion and Independent Review Panels Graham Vials, Partner, Ward Hadaway
  • Moncur Suite: Menopause in the Workplace – Julie Liddell, Managing Director, Still Human
  • Heroes Suite: Maximise Every £1 you Spend to Improve Opportunities for our Future Generations – David Shields, CEO, Value Match Services
  • Sir Bobby Robson Suite: Flexible Working in the Workplace – Jill Donabie, Partner, Muckle & Claire Druery, Chief People Officer, BCCET

12:05 – 12:45: Session Round Two

  • Barracks Suite: Data Protection: The Key to Compliance for Schools – Debbie Pettiford, Data Protection Officer The DP Advice Service
  • Moncur Suite: Energy Solutions to Protect your Budget and Accelerate your Net Zero Journey – Bryan McCourt, Energy Solutions & Net Zero Consultant , Zenergi
  • Heroes Suite: Strategic Asset Management: Optimising Financial Allocation Across Your Estate – Dan Newton, Business Manager, Charles Gart
  • Sir Bobby Robson Suite: Agency Staff and Seconded Staff – Key Issues and Potential Pitfalls – Polly O’Malley​​​​, Partner, Browne Jacobson

12:45 – 14:00: Lunch and Exhibition


14:00 – 14:40: Operational Excellence and How it Intersects with SBP Professional Standards

Stephen Morales, Chief Executive, Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL)


14:40 – 15:20: What do School Business Personnel need from Government? What will Really make a Difference?

Chair: Pauline Aitchison, Deputy Director, Schools North East

Panellists: Andy Collishaw, Claire McDonald, Sarah Jones, Emma Swansbury


15:25 – 16:05: Session Round Three

  • Barracks Suite: Managing Risk in Schools and Academies – Mick Little, COO, Ascent Academies’ Trust
  • Moncur Suite: Effectively Managing Parental Complaints – Claire Mitchell, Leadership & Governance Partner, Berry Education
  • Heroes Suite: The Current Trading Environment in the Education Sector – Harry Rashid MCIPD, Head of HR (Commercial), NYES
  • Sir Bobby Robson Suite: Dealing with Difficult Conversations – Pam Mee, Director of HR & Jane Warburton, Senior HR Manager BWCET

16:05: Close