Academies Conference 2025: A Spotlight on Inclusion and the SEND Crisis
Yesterday (Thursday 23 January), we hosted the eighth Schools North East Academies Conference, bringing together over 200 North East Trust CEOs and senior leaders to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in education today.
A key highlight of the event was the maiden speech by Tom Rees, Chair of the Department for Education’s new Inclusion Advisory Group and CEO of Ormiston Academies Trust. His powerful address focused on the need for a transformative approach to inclusion and SEND, framing it as one of the most critical areas of reform for the next decade.
Tom underscored the systemic flaws in the current SEND support framework, stating, “Reforming the SEND system is the most important priority for the next 5 to 10 years in our school system. But it’s not just about funding—it’s about redesigning a poorly conceived system.” His insights emphasised the importance of viewing inclusion as a foundational pillar of mainstream education, rather than as a secondary or isolated concern.
Schools North East’s evidence submission to the Education Select Committee
This critical conversation around inclusion and SEND will continue as Schools North East submits evidence to the Education Select Committee later this month. Our submission draws on extensive input from school leaders across hundreds of schools in the North East, reflecting the profound challenges they face in supporting students with SEND:
- Inadequate Funding: A staggering 85% of schools identified funding shortages as the most significant barrier to providing effective SEND support. This has hampered their ability to hire specialist staff, adapt facilities, and deliver interventions.
- Rising Demand: Schools report a sharp increase in students with complex needs, including autism and SEMH (social, emotional, and mental health) issues, which current provisions cannot adequately address.
- Shortages in Specialist Places: With specialist schools operating at capacity, many children are placed in mainstream settings that lack the resources to meet their needs, affecting the quality of education for all pupils.
- Staffing Challenges: The shortage of trained SEND staff, coupled with high turnover, is leaving schools stretched and unable to provide consistent support.
Insights from the conference: A call to action
During his keynote at the Academies Conference, Tom Rees highlighted key priorities for reform: improving classroom practices, fostering family partnerships, enhancing workforce capability, and creating enabling conditions within schools. He urged attendees to shift the narrative around SEND from focusing on failures to identifying solutions.
This aligns closely with our evidence submission, which advocates for:
- A ring-fenced SEND budget to ensure funding is used effectively and equitably.
- Increased early intervention resources to prevent escalation of complex needs.
- Enhanced collaboration between schools, local authorities, and health services to streamline multi-agency support.
- Expanded specialist school capacity and outreach programs to better support mainstream schools.
The path forward
Both the conference discussions and our evidence submission emphasise the seriousness of the current SEND crisis. Schools across the North East—and the country—are grappling with a system that is overstretched and underfunded.
Yet, as Tom Rees eloquently stated, this is a solvable challenge. By prioritising inclusion and committing to collaborative, systemic reform, we can build an education system that meets the needs of all children.
At Schools North East, we will continue to advocate for meaningful change, ensuring the voices of our school leaders are heard at every level of government. Let’s lead the way in tackling the SEND crisis together.
Another huge thank you to all delegates, sponsors, and exhibitors for helping make yesterday’s conference possible, in particular our conference main sponsor, Ward Hadaway.