Hundreds of delegates join SCHOOLS NorthEast for its biggest-ever SBM conference
Over 300 delegates joined SCHOOLS NorthEast for its sixth-annual School Business Management conference in Newcastle yesterday, making it the biggest and best to date.
The conference, which took place at St James’ Park, brought together school business leaders from across the region as well as over 65 exhibitors at one of SCHOOLS NorthEast’s biggest yearly events.
The theme of the conference this year was ‘Going for Gold’, inspired by the motivational speaker, Olympian Sally Gunnell OBE.
Sally spoke to delegates about how you can ‘make your best even better’, and to push yourself even further in both your personal and professional life.
She said: “All of my experiences have taught me how to deal with successes and failures. They have taught me how to overcome pressures when I thought I would crumble.”
The Olympian told the story of her journey to her famous, and gold-winning, race at the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and how everything that happened before then set her mind to achieving her ultimate goal.
She said: “These experiences happen for a reason – you have to learn to move on and put it behind you. Those who have the strongest and most positive mindsets are the ones that succeed.
“Don’t ever give up on that goal.”
The day also comprised of 16 sessions focused on People Management, Development, Finance and Information Security, with speakers including Val Andrew, Business Leadership Specialist from ASCL, Julie Cordiner, Education Funding Specialist from School Financial Success and Tim Care, Partner at Ward Hadaway.
Leora Cruddas, CEO of FASNA, provided a key note in the afternoon, focused on the need for more collaboration between schools.
She said: “Strong and sustainable collaboration of schools is the future of education – the world is watching England’s changing school system.”
Ms Cruddas was also keen to put forward her thoughts on leaders taking more ownership, as well as being aware of their moral compass.
She said: “We should be putting ethics and morals at the heart of leadership – we should all face this new world with optimism, energy and courage.”
To find out more about the day, and to join the conversation, follow the #SBM18 hashtag on Twitter.