Academies Conference 2025
Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park, Newcastle
The eighth annual Schools North East Academies Conference invites trust staff from across the region and beyond to connect, network, and address the unique challenges you face in your educational settings.
This conference will feature a dynamic mix of keynote addresses and practical sessions, designed to keep you informed about the latest policies, practices, and procedures that impact your trusts or academies. The Schools North East Academies Conference is also an excellent opportunity for those in maintained schools to gain valuable insights into the process of academisation.
Delegates will have ample opportunities to network with peers and engage with leading provider organisations at our targeted exhibition.
Who Should Attend:
Whether you’re a trust leader, an academy head teacher, or a leader in a maintained school, the Academies Conference 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 Leora Cruddas, CEO of CST, 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.
Event Organiser
Event Main Sponsor
Event Costs
Partner School£100 + VAT
Non-Partner School£160 + VAT
Commercial/Education Supporter Member£250 +VAT
Non-School£300 + VAT
Book your placeEvent Overview
Leora Cruddas
Chief Executive, Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
Leora Cruddas is the founding Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts – the national organisation and sector body for school trusts in England. She has advised successive governments and sits on several Department for Education advisory bodies. She was recently the vice chair of the Head Teacher Standards Review Group, a member of the external advisory group for the Schools White Paper, SEND National Implementation Board and the Regulatory and Commissioning Review.
Prior to founding CST, she was Director of Policy and Public Relations for the Association of School and College Leaders. Leora has six years of experience as a director of education in two London local authorities.
She is a visiting professor at UCL Institute of Education.
Leora was made a CBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.
Chris Zarraga
Director, Schools North East
Chris has been part of the Schools North East team since its inception in 2007 and in 2019 he was appointed Director.
Chris works with other leaders across the North East, the education sector and charity sector to represent the voice of North East schools, and lobby policy makers to ensure that the North East is not left behind when it comes to education policy. Chris has overseen the launch of the Ednorth evidence-based excellence programme, as well as the partnership with SHINE bringing over £500,000 worth of funding to North East schools.
Under Chris, Schools North East has moved to a greater focus on lobbying around education policy, with the launch of the Manifesto for North East Education in December 2019. As well as being a trustee of a local MAT, Chris sits on various boards including the board for Opportunity North East. Prior to joining Schools North East, Chris worked with over 165 schools in the North East and various education organisations including local authorities, Excellence Partnerships, 14-19 Groups, the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust, and School Improvement Officers. He led a large scale culture change project in education across the North East and was the development consultant for the LEGI funded Wansbeck Enterprise Education Network.
Parking FAQ’s
Parking is available on site and is free to hotel guests and Academies Conference attendees.
You MUST input your car registration number at one of the screens either at the hotel main reception desk or at the event registration desks. Failure to do so may result in a parking fine.
Arrival
Please head to the conference foyer and register your arrival on the screen at the registration desk.
Public Transport
Newcastle Racecourse bus station is located a 3 minutes walk from the venue.
Arriva Buses 43,44 & 45 and Go North East bus 116 stop there.
The nearest metro station is Regent Centre, Buses 43, 44 & 45 leave from the station to the Newcastle Racecourse stop outside the venue.
WiFi
Elite Venue WiFi
OR
Grandstand Gosforth Free WiFi
(no passwords)
Accommodation
For anyone wishing to stay at the venue either the night before or the night of the event, we have agreed a reduced rate with the Grand Hotel.
The cost is £60 bed & breakfast for a single occupancy, double bedroom.
To book, please contact the hotel sales team and let them know you are attending the Schools North East Academies Conference:
events760@theelitevenueselection.co.uk | 0191 236 4111
Please use the form below to book if you have any issues click here to open in your browser.
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