SNE 24/25 Events: Celebrating a remarkable year of connection, insight, and impact
As we look back on the 24/25 academic year, it’s impossible not to feel a deep sense of pride, gratitude, and optimism for the future.
Over the past twelve months, Schools North East has yet again had the privilege of bringing together thousands of passionate educators, leaders, and changemakers across our region (and beyond!) through a series of powerful conferences and events.
Each one served not only as a hub of ideas and inspiration but also as a rallying point for our shared commitment to improving education in the North East — and, in the case of the National Network of Special Schools (NNoSS), for School Business Professionals in the specialist sector.
Let’s recap on what we, as a network, accomplished together…
Summit 2024 – Educating Westminster: Influencing the Direction of Change
Our flagship event set the tone for the year on Thursday 17 October. With over 500 educators and leaders gathered under the theme Educating Westminster: Influencing the Direction of Change, Summit 2024 was a powerful demonstration of how the North East is influencing national education policy.
It was an honour to welcome Catherine McKinnell MP, newly appointed Minister for School Standards, for her first major public speech, which was a significant moment for reconnecting with regional educators.
From Margaret Mulholland (SEND and Inclusion Specialist)’s call to action on SEND and inclusion, to Steve Rollett (Confederation of School Trusts)’s reflections on inspection reform, and the insightful analysis of regional student outcomes by Chi Sum TSE of the OECD, the day was packed with substance and purpose.
We also explored groundbreaking research from Gayle Munro and Samantha Spencer of NatCen, before closing with the unforgettable presence of Ziauddin Yousafzai (educational entrepreneur and activist best known as the father of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai), who reminded us all of the transformative power of education.
Academies Conference 2025 – Lead, Not Plead
With over 200 Trust leaders in the room on Thursday 23 January, the Academies Conference 2024 offered a bold space to discuss leadership, inclusion, and the future of our school system.
Tom Rees, Chair of the DfE’s new Inclusion Advisory Group, delivered a powerful maiden speech that urged us to reframe inclusion and SEND as the cornerstone of systemic improvement.
Other standout voices, including Leora Cruddas (Confederation of School Trusts), Katherine Cowell & Paul Green (Department for Education), Paul Whiteman (NAHT), and Michael Heppell (motivational speaker), added depth, insight, and practical guidance for trust leaders navigating increasingly complex terrain.
Curriculum Conference 2025
This year’s Curriculum Conference on Tuesday 18 February brought together over 300 curriculum leads and senior leaders to explore how we can build a curriculum that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our young people in the North East.
With contributions from Vanessa Ogden, a key voice on the government’s Curriculum Review body, and thought leaders like David Didau (Author & Educational Consultant), David Bailey (Education Village Academy Trust), and Marc Rowland (Unity Schools Partnership), the day was filled with honest conversations, practical takeaways, and renewed energy for purposeful curriculum design.
The NNoSS Conference 2025
Another standout moment of the year was the NNoSS Conference 2025 on Thursday 9 May – the only national event dedicated exclusively to School Business Professionals working in special schools, hospital schools, and alternative provision settings.
This year’s speakers brought a wealth of insight and inspiration. Diana Osagie, author of Courageous Leadership, closed the day with a powerful message about leading with strength and authenticity in even the most challenging environments, while Adam Sproston, Senior HMI from Ofsted’s Inclusive Education Team, gave timely updates on inspection frameworks for SEND and AP settings.
More than a conference, NNoSS Conference 2025 was a celebration of the skill, dedication, and quiet leadership that drives excellence in some of the most important and overlooked corners of our education system.
Inclusion Conference 2025 – Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers
Held on Thursday 22 May, our Inclusion Conference 2024 (an evolution of our Healthy MindED and Challenging Behaviour conferences) lived up to its theme, creating space for honest, challenging, and hopeful dialogue on one of education’s most pressing issues.
From Dame Christine Lenehan’s leadership on disability rights, to key insights from Katherine Cowell (Department for Education), Alison Aitchison (Ofsted), and Hannah Wilson (Diverse Educators), this conference was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we work together to remove barriers and build inclusive schools for all.
Education Business Conference – Future Proofing Education
In its 12th year (and under a new name) the Education Business Conference 2025 was a resounding success. Held in a brand-new venue, the event celebrated and empowered the region’s School Business Leaders, recognising the critical role they play in keeping our schools running and evolving.
Sessions from Claire Knowles (Insights Discovery), Adam Wright (Chimp Management), and Dr Kimberley Hardcastle (Northumbria University) helped attendees reimagine systems, infrastructure, and people development in ways that will sustain and strengthen education in our region for years to come.
Other notable events to celebrate
Beyond our major conferences, 24/25 was filled with many other standout events that brought our education community together.
We kicked off the academic year with the 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM), a crucial gathering that brought together our Partner School members, Board members and Trustees. This vital event offered a direct opportunity for them to shape the strategic direction of the coming year. We were especially honoured to have special guest speaker Frank Norris MBE FCCT, Education Advisor, Northern Powerhouse Partnership.
Our fourteenth annual Patron’s Dinner, themed Champions of the North East, was a heartfelt celebration of the dedication and leadership across our region’s schools, featuring an inspiring address from Dan Jackson, author of The Northumbrians. It was nothing short of amazing to welcome 500 CEOs, Head Teachers, and Senior Leaders from Schools North East’s Partner Schools and Trusts for an evening of networking, celebration, and inspiration.
We also held well-attended Ofsted Update events in both the north and south of the region, where Katrina Gueli and regional school leaders provided valuable insights into evolving inspection frameworks and recent experiences.
Throughout the year, we hosted a wide range of virtual events — including four School Business Manager webinars, three on recruitment and retention, three governance sessions, three TeachMeets, three NNoSS virtual conferences, one legal update (The Duty to Prevent Sexual Harassment in the Workplace) and a truly unique event for our Partner School senior leaders, with Michael Fullan, one of the world’s most renowned voices in education. All of these events were designed to keep our community informed, connected, and supported, and all recordings are available here and free for Partner School Members to access.
Throughout 24/25, our roundtable series served as a critical forum for direct action. These discussions, a blend of virtual and in-person events, empowered our network’s school leaders to directly confront the most urgent issues facing education in our region alongside key decision-makers. We invited high-profile attendees, such as Sam Rushworth (MP for Bishop Auckland), Sharon Hodgson (MP for Washington and Gateshead South), and a real highlight in November, Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner.
These events, large and small, demonstrate the strength, collaboration, and shared commitment of the North East education family.
Together, we are the change
This year has been nothing short of extraordinary. We’ve come together to share ideas, challenge norms, and set a bold agenda for the future of education in the North East. Whether in Newcastle or Westminster, classrooms or conference halls, one message has rung clear: when we unite as a region, we can shape national conversations and drive real, lasting change.
Thank you to every attendee, speaker, and business who joined us, supported us, sponsored us, and shared in this journey.
Here’s to building on this momentum in 25/26 with another action-packed programme of events, which you can find here.
For every child, for every school, for the future of our region.