Education Conferences & Events | Schools North East

Ofsted Annual Update (South) 2026

The Workplace, Newton Aycliffe

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Thu 12 November 2026

09:00 - 12:30

Join school and trust leaders from across the North East for the annual Schools North East Ofsted Update 2026, featuring James Duncan, Ofsted Assistant Regional Director for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and John Lucas, Ofsted Senior HMI for the region.

Schools and trusts are continuing to adapt to a significantly changed inspection landscape, with greater emphasis on inclusion, context and how schools demonstrate the experiences of different groups of pupils. As the new approach moves into its second year, leaders now have an opportunity to move beyond understanding the framework itself and learn from how it is being applied in practice.

This event is your opportunity to hear directly from Ofsted about what is emerging from inspections so far, what leaders need to know for the year ahead and what the evolving approach means specifically for North East schools and trusts.

Hear directly from Ofsted

James and John will explore Ofsted’s current approach to school inspection, experiences under the new framework so far and the key areas of focus for schools and trusts going forward.

The session will also provide an important North East perspective, creating an opportunity to consider how the national inspection and accountability landscape is being experienced by schools across our region.

Hear from schools that have experienced the new approach

Alongside Ofsted’s perspective, you’ll hear directly from North East school leaders who have recently been inspected, sharing their experiences of the new approach and practical learning from the process.

Bringing together the regulator and the leaders experiencing inspection on the ground reflects Schools North East’s wider role: connecting our schools with those shaping national policy and practice, while ensuring the experiences of the North East are part of the conversation.

Ask Ofsted your questions

A live Q&A with James and John will give you the opportunity to put your questions directly to Ofsted and explore the issues that matter most to you and your school.

Questions can be asked in person or submitted anonymously through Slido or the booking form, giving every delegate the opportunity to contribute to the discussion.

Who should attend?

Head Teachers and school leaders
Trust CEOs and executive leaders
Deputy and Assistant Heads
Trust school improvement teams
Governors and Trustees
Leaders responsible for quality of education and school improvement

As we approach Schools North East’s 20th anniversary, we’re proud to continue bringing our region’s school leaders together with those shaping national education policy and practice.

Join colleagues from across the North East to hear directly from Ofsted, learn from schools that have experienced the new inspection approach and make sure you are prepared for what comes next for your school or trust.

Book your place

Event Organiser

Event Costs

SNE Partner School£50 +VAT

Non-Partner School£70 +VAT

Non School£150 +VAT

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Insights from the First Year of Inspections Under the Renewed Framework – Andy Jordan, Inspection & Accountability Specialist, ASCL

This session will analyse data from inspections that have taken place on the renewed Ofsted framework. We will also reflect upon the changes that have been introduced in September 2027 and share some early views on how these are impacting on inspection activities and outcomes.

Inspection in Practice: Context, Disadvantage, and the Structural Divide – Ben Hardy, Policy Manager, Schools North East

A year into Ofsted’s renewed framework, is inspection seeing North East schools clearly? This autumn, school and trust leaders representing over 350 schools across the region told Schools North East how inspection is working in practice: those already inspected, those still waiting for the call, and leaders of trusts.

Ben Hardy, Policy Manager at Schools North East, will launch the findings for the first time and set them alongside what published inspection outcomes are showing so far. Together they ask a central question: does a framework that starts from headline data give fair weight to the context schools work in?

The North East’s challenges reflect structural divide, not school failure. The region’s schools do more than most for long-term disadvantaged pupils, yet they serve communities facing some of the deepest disadvantage in the country. The session asks whether inspection recognises that, what it is costing leaders, and what it means for the future of school leadership in the schools that need great leaders most.

Ben will also set out what SNE will ask Ofsted and government to change, and you will have the chance to shape those asks in the room.

Learning from Experience: School Leaders’ Reflections on Ofsted’s Renewed Framework – North East School Leaders

A practical and honest panel discussion with school and trust leaders who have recently experienced an inspection under Ofsted’s renewed framework, exploring how the process worked in practice, what surprised them, and key lessons learned. Panellists will share advice for colleagues preparing for inspection, followed by an opportunity for audience questions and discussion.

James Duncan

Assistant Regional Director, Ofsted

James Duncan is an Assistant Regional Director at Ofsted, working across the North West and North East, Yorkshire and Humber delivery unit. He has specific responsibility for the delivery of Ofsted’s school inspections, whilst line managing a number of Senior HMI and HMI. James is a qualified teacher with extensive experience of inspecting maintained schools and academies, including primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, pupil referral units and independent schools. James also inspects initial teaching training providers and local authorities. James has post-graduate degrees in Education Studies and also in Informatics.

Andy Jordan

Inspection & Accountability Specialist, ASCL

Andy Jordan worked in a secondary school as a deputy headteacher for over 15 years before joining the ASCL policy team as Inspection and Accountability Specialist. He originally trained as a history teacher before becoming Head of Post-16 in a large inner city 11-18 academy. He particularly loved teaching A level politics and intends to use this knowledge and experience to influence those in power to make education better for everyone involved.

Andy held various responsibilities over the years including raising achievement, teaching and learning, monitoring and evaluation, literacy and data protection. Most recently he led on personal development and is passionate about giving children from all backgrounds a rich and varied educational experience. He also led on improving attendance and was the attendance champion for his school. Andy has been a governor in two different primary schools and was elected to be the North East representative on ASCL Council before joining the team in 2025.

Ben Hardy

Policy Manager, Schools North East

Ben returned to Schools North East in January 2026 as Policy Manager, leading on the organisation’s strategic policy and public affairs agenda. His work provides alignment between policy, research, stakeholder engagement, and member insight; ensuring the voice of North East schools is heard to influence decision-makers at the highest levels.

Ben brings a wealth of cross-sector experience to the role. He re-joins Schools North East following five years at the Department for Education, where he primarily led on stakeholder engagement working closely with the sector to ensure that strategy was developed with schools, trusts, and local authorities. He also served as Policy and Strategy Lead for the ‘Maximising Value for Pupils’ programme, which was launched to tackle systemic challenges at a national level.

Between 2019 and 2021, Ben was Relationship Manager at Schools North East, where he developed strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the region, including CEOs, CFOs, Head Teachers, School Business Professionals, local authorities, and other charitable organisations. Prior to this, Ben spent five years at The Key, supporting school and trust leaders nationwide. A committed advocate for the sector, Ben has been involved in school governance for over a decade and is currently Chair of Governors at a primary school in Newcastle.

Terence Conway

Headteacher, Norham High School

Terence became the Head Teacher at Norham High School in 2019, following a period of decline in the school which resulted in it being placed in Special Measures by Ofsted, and it was also one of the lowest performing schools nationally with regard to KS4 outcomes. Terence has led the school through numerous challenges including financial, behavioural and pedagogical barriers which had held the school back for a number of years. The school is now full and oversubscribed, and is securing results that place it 12th in the region, from its starting point in 2019 of 138th. Prior to leading Norham High School, Terence worked at a number of large secondary schools across the region as a leader of science, an Assistant Head Teacher, and also a Deputy Head Teacher.

Karl Ellerbrook

Headteacher, Westgate Hill Primary Academy

Karl Ellerbrook began his career in finance at PwC after graduating from Newcastle University, but in 2004, he transitioned into education, training as a primary teacher through the Nottingham University SCITT programme. Since then, he has gained extensive teaching and leadership experience in schools across Gateshead, Northumberland, Sunderland, and Newcastle.

He is currently Head Teacher at Westgate Hill Primary Academy in Newcastle - a school he has successfully led from special measures to outstanding, alongside a dedicated team of colleagues. Under his leadership, the school has made significant progress in addressing its unique challenges, particularly in improving attendance, supporting pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL), and enhancing the life chances of vulnerable children.

Karl holds both the NPQH and NPQEL accreditations.

Outside of school, he is an avid traveller and enjoys a lifelong interest in all things automotive.

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.

Public Transport

The nearest train station is Heighington Station, which is approximately a 5-minute walk from the venue.

Aycliffe Industrial Estate is served by local bus services, including Services 5 and 7, with stops on Durham Way, Durham Way North/South and Long Tens Way. The venue is approximately a 5-minute walk from the nearest bus stops.

Parking

On-site parking is available, with overflow parking next door if required. The venue encourages attendees to car share where possible.

WiFi

Network: 1VISITORS Password: twpvisitor

Arrival

Name badges are arranged alphabetically by last name—find yours, grab a drink, and take a seat!