Academies Conference 2026
Grand Hotel, Gosforth
Join Schools North East for the ninth annual Academies Conference, where trust leaders, academy heads, and educational professionals will come together to shape the future of education.
Annually, the Academies Conference welcomes around 250 senior leaders from academies and multi academy trusts from across the region and beyond to network and explore the unique challenges they face. The conference will include a mix of keynote speeches and practical sessions to allow you to stay up to date with how policies, practices and procedures impact your trusts or academies. The Academies Conference also provides an ideal opportunity for those in maintained schools to learn about the ins and outs of academisation.
The event also provides a fantastic opportunity for delegates to network with each other and to engage with provider organisations through our focussed exhibition.
Who Should Attend:
Whether you’re a Trust CEO, CFO, COO, Academy Head Teacher, or School Business Professional, the programme offers tailored sessions to meet your needs. The event is designed for leaders from trusts, academies, and maintained schools, with content focused on both strategic planning and the operational management of your setting.
Notable Past Speakers:
Our previous speakers have included influential figures such as Bridget Phillipson MP, now Secretary of State for Education, Catherine McKinnell, now Schools Minister, former National Schools Commissioner, Sir David Carter, and Ofsted’s National Director of Education, Lee Owston, among others.
Due to the ongoing Tyne Bridge works, queues at the Tyne tunnel may take longer than expected.
Bookings open soon..
Event Overview
Chris Zarraga
Director, Schools North East
Chris is the Director of School North East. He has been part of the Schools North East team since its operational inception in 2008 and in 2019 he was appointed Director. Chris works with senior leaders across the North East and nationally in the education and charity sectors, to represent the voice of North East schools. A central part of his work is to lobby politicians, policy makers, and the media to put a strong ‘regional accent’ on the education debate, so that North East schools are not left behind when it comes to education policy.
Under Chris, Schools North East launched the ‘Manifesto for North East Education’. The manifesto sets out the perennial challenges that impact educational opportunities in the North East and the principles needed to inform any educational policy wanting to address them.
Chris works with hundreds of schools across the North East and various organisations including Ofsted, the DfE, the North East’s universities, Local Authorities and various regional/ national businesses. Prior to joining Schools North East, he led a £1.4 million culture change project in education across the North East for the Treasury and DfE and was responsible for setting up a multi-million pound Enterprise Education Network.
Chris sits on various advisory boards including the NHS Integrated Care Boards, various Combined Authority advisory boards, and was a member of the DfE’s Opportunity North East strategic board. He has also sat on various boards for North East Universities. As well as being a Director of two North East multi academy trusts, Chris has been Chair of a 3 school Trust, Vice Chair of a large maintained secondary school and Vice Chair of a primary foundation school.
In a variety of roles from Regional Manager to Chief Executive to Board member, Chris has led large scale change management projects in education and has over 20 years’ experience of strategic management, consultancy, and client development experience at a ‘Big Four’ firm and various financial institutions.
Chris holds an MBA with distinction from Durham University Business School.
Tyne Bridge Restoration – Travel Information
If you are planning to travel to the Schools North East Summit by car, please remember that the Tyne Bridge is currently undergoing major restoration works and is down to one lane each way.
We recommend avoiding the Tyne Bridge as there are expected delays of up to 40 minutes at peak travel times. Heavy congestion is expected on the Quayside route, Swing Bridge and routes to and from Redheugh Bridge and all approaches to the Tyne Bridge from both Newcastle and Gateshead sides.
Public transport is strongly advised when travelling to and from Newcastle city centre and Gateshead town centre, whether or not you now drive over the Tyne. For those who can’t use public transport, other river crossings that drivers could use include the A19, with the Tyne Tunnel connecting North Shields and Jarrow. Further west, motorists could cross the Tyne via the A1 on Blaydon Bridge or Scotswood Bridge, which connects the A694 and A695.
Whichever route you decide to use, we advise planning ahead, allow more time for your journeys, and expect delays.
More information about parking, public transport & journey here!
Public transport
- Newcastle Racecourse bus station is located a 3 minutes walk from the venue.
- Buses 43,44 & 45 leave at Regent Centre (nearest metro station), and Go North East bus 116 stop outside the venue.
Parking
- Parking is available on site
Arrival
Please head to the conference foyer and register your arrival at the Schools North East registration desk.
Your name badge will be laid out alphabetically by last name—just find yours, help yourself to a drink, and take a seat!
WIFI
Elite Venue WiFi or Grandstand Gosforth Free WiFi
(no passwords)
Exhibition Bingo
HOW TO PLAY:
- Visit the stand numbers on your card
- Get this card stamped by the exhibitors
- Fill in you contact details and deposit this card at the registration desk for you chance to win!
Bingo Prizes coming soon!
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Event Date: 23 January 2025
Location: Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park, Newcastle
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