Speaker Profile

Sally Newton

Sally began her teaching career in 2001 in County Durham, having been identified as a future leader through the Department for Education’s Fast Track Programme. Within four years she became Headteacher, leading national research and policy development to improve educational outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children. Her innovative approaches to community engagement were recognised nationally.

In 2008, Sally joined Durham Local Authority’s School Improvement Team as an Education Development Partner, working across a wide range of schools across the North East to provide rapid support and challenge to leadership teams, with measurable and sustained impact. As Headteacher of Sedgefield Hardwick Primary School, Sally led the school from inadequate to outstanding in all areas. She also founded a trading company to deliver extended provision and enrichment programmes that helped children explore their talents and interests, alongside consultancy and training services for local authorities and trusts.

Following Sedgefield Hardwick’s successful transition into Laidlaw Schools Trust in 2022, Sally joined the central executive team, becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2023. Under her leadership, the Trust has achieved record outcomes at the primary phase, sustained secondary improvement and delivered major system-wide initiatives, including the Engage alternative provision model, the Skylight SEND programme and the PedTech one-to-one iPad strategy funded by the Laidlaw Foundation.

Sally also led the creation of the Laidlaw Nursery Strategy, providing 30 hours of funded
early education for all children across the Trust. This model is now recognised nationally for its impact on access, equity and school readiness.

Sally’s leadership is driven by a clear moral purpose to break the link between poverty and educational outcomes. She has brought coherence and pace to the Trust through the Shared Services Team, aligning strategy, delivery and accountability. Her focus on high-quality teaching, digital inclusion and early intervention continues to improve life chances for thousands of children and young people across the North East.