The first speakers have now been confirmed for this year's SCHOOLS NorthEast Summit, which will provide the opportunity for you to come together with colleagues, leading educationalists and decision makers to discuss and debate the key issues.

We are delighted to announce that Maggie Farrar (Strategic Director of Policy, National College), Sarah Monk (Place Group), Douglas Archibald (Whole Education), Prof Jane Turner (Newcastle Business School), Dr Christine Merrell (Durham University CEM Centre), Prof David Leat (Newcastle University) and James Nottingham (JN Partnership) have all been confirmed as speakers, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The Summit website is now online, where you can find out more detail about the event and the venue, view the programme, and book your place. Delegates who book before the end of this term will receive a 20% Early Bird discount on the booking fee. Just click here for all of the information and to book your place online.

Once again being held at Wynyard Hall on 14 October 2010, this year the Summit will be based around the theme "What Next?', and will look at how sweeping changes in education will affect our schools, and explore innovative ideas and practice to help you meet the challenges in the coming months and years. Topics that will be covered include:

Social mobility and aspiration
School leadership
The North East economy
Community cohesion
Creative and innovative teaching
Managing schools in tough economic times
Business and parental engagement
Student voice
Home/school links
Recruiting top talent
And much, much more!

The format of the Summit will be similar to last year's event, offering a mixture of key note speeches, case-study led workshops, surgery-style sessions and networking opportunities based around the key themes of Empower, Provoke, Inspire and Connect.

In light of the many changes that have been announced not only today but over the last two weeks, SCHOOLS NorthEast is holding a seminar to discuss the implications of the new Government's policies for schools in the North East.

This will be an opportunity to discuss the changes with your peers and figures from within education throughout the region.

The seminar will take place at The Creativity Space at Cobalt Business Exchange in North Tyneside on Thursday 10 June 2010. Refreshments will be served from 8:00am, and the event itself will begin at 8:30am and finish no later than 12:00pm.

Places are very limited and will be allocated on a "first come first served' basis. The seminar is free, but due to the limited space a £30 administration fee will apply to anybody who books a place and subsequently does not attend, unless we receive 48 hours notice. If you would like to book a place, or if you would like any further information, please email a.morris@schoolsnortheast.com.

This week's news has been dominated by questions of leadership. As David Cameron begins his new job as Prime Minister, closer to home many schools across the region are still faced with uncertainty over their future leadership. With the jobs pages of the TES full of vacancies, schools searching for a new Head Teacher are competing to attract a strong field and make the right appointment and prospective Head Teachers are gearing up for gruelling interviews.

But getting the job is only the first part of the challenge. The pressures of becoming a Head for the first time or joining a new school are immense – building relationships with your team, understanding the school's culture and ethos, working out priorities and setting out your stall. Wrong moves in those early days can haunt you for months and years to come. But these can also be the most exciting times of your career and with the right support, good judgement and a strategic approach you can inject energy, momentum and new ideas into your school whilst maintaining the successes of the past.

Recognising the importance of these first days of Headship, SCHOOLS NorthEast has brought together a group of Head Teachers from across the region to draw on their experiences. Some have been Heads for many years whilst others have recently embarked on their first Headship. All have stories to tell about what they did in their first days at their new school and what they wished they hadn't!

This group of serving Heads have devised a series of workshops to help aspiring secondary school Heads to think through some of the scenarios they may face when joining a school and the strategies and tools they might use to address common issues. These will be "warts and all' discussions about dealing with difficult practical issues. The course aims to reach the issues other training programmes don't reach and all session include one to one follow up mentoring and support.

• The first of these sessions will be on the subject of "Myth busting: the psychology of school leadership', and will be held on 23 June at Greencroft Business and Enterprise College, Stanley 08:30am to 12:30pm
• The second session will be on the subject of "Getting to grips with the performance of your new team' and will be held on 8 July at Park View Community School, Chester le Street, 08:30am to 12:30pm.

Each session has a small admin fee of £35 or you can book all six sessions for a total cost of £200. For booking info and more details email newheads@schoolsnortheast.com.

Further sessions will be held in Autumn 2010 and a primary programme will be launched in the next academic year. We will also be publishing a booklet of anecdotes and case studies for new Heads to turn to in their first 100 days, and we would love to hear your tips and advice. Share your dos, don'ts, triumphs and horror stories by emailing think@schoolsnortheast.com.

SCHOOLS NorthEast are supporting Whole Education, a new organisation bringing together a group of leading non-political education organisations to promote practices that ensure every young person has access to an education that will equip them with the skills and knowledge to succeed.

The organisation's active partners include RSA, Innovation Unit, Human Scale Education, Oxfam, UK Youth, Futurelab, Young Foundation, ASDAN, Co-Operative College, Flow Foundation and Campaign for Learning. Whole Education is chaired by John Dunford, and more information about the organisation can be found on their website at www.wholeeducation.org.

We have secured an exclusive early bird discount for SCHOOLS NorthEast members to attend Whole Education's North East Expo event at St James' Park in Newcastle on Tuesday 8 June, 10:00am to 4:30pm. The event will allow school leaders to learn about the innovative projects and programmes run by Whole Education's partners. All of Whole Education projects are free and adaptable, and focused on supporting development of the competencies, skills and knowledge young people will need in the future.

For full information on the Expo event visit the Whole Education website, and to take advantage of the discount and book your place for just £70 go to www.wholeeducationnewcastle.eventbrite.com quoting the discount code SNE080610 before 14 May. If you would like any further information email Charlotte at info@wholeeducation.org.

If you would like to hold a mock election in your school, you can register for free on The Hansard Society's "Y Vote' Mock Election website. You will then be placed onto the "mock election map' and will receive support and additional resources, as well as being included in their national results after the General Election.

The website offers step by step instructions on how to run different types of mock election, as well as more resources and both pre- and post-election assembly plans. Go to www.mockelections.co.uk for more information.

Google have also produced a UK School Elections site, which offers a step by step guide to running a mock election either in one class or as a whole school activity, as well as detailed lesson plans on democracy and the General Election. Like the Y Vote site, Google also have an election map where you can upload your results and be part of their national survey into how young people would vote. The Google site is available at www.google.co.uk/intl/en/landing/schoolelection2010.

Once you are ready for your mock election, the major parties have produced support and advice on how your students can stand as a candidate.

The Labour Party pack contains "Being a Labour Party Candidate' - a guide for students in mock elections, a "Vote Labour' poster and rosette, and a simple to understand summary of the Labour manifesto. You can download a free pack from www.labourcampaignshop.org.uk.

Local Conservative Party candidates from each constituency have mock election packs available for schools in their area, containing rosettes, badges, posters, a guide to running as a candidate and more. If you would like a pack, get in touch with your candidate. You can find out who this is and how to contact them by clicking at www.conservatives.com/people.

The Liberal Democrats pack includes flyers, rosettes, stickers, posters, manifestos, bunting, whistles and balloons for your potential candidates to use. To request a pack email liberalyouthadmin@libdems.org.uk with the name and address of a contact at your school.

Nominations are now open for the North East School Awards 2010, covering both community and curriculum based projects, as well as individual excellence, and honouring whole schools, classes and individuals.

Categories include Inspirational Primary Teacher, Inspirational Secondary Teacher, School Support Staff of the Year, the Sustainable School Award and the brand new Change4Life Award.

A full list of award categories as well as further information on how to nominate somebody from your school is available on the Journal website, or contact Jennifer Cook on 0191 204 3310 or jennifer.cook@ncjmedia.co.uk.

The Journal, alongside Barclays Money Skills, is giving away £20,000 to North East schools in this year's Tokens for Schools campaign, with the prize money to be spent on educational projects including school trips, improving school grounds and bringing the school library up to date.

To be included in the scheme, your school will have to register at www.journallive.co.uk/schools by Friday 19 March, then it's up to your pupils, teachers and their friends and families to collect as many tokens as possible from The Journal for the chance to win the top prize for your school!

Tokens will be printed in The Journal from Monday to Saturday from Monday 29 March until Saturday 8 May, with additional bonus tokens appearing on certain days during the campaign, and the competition is open to all maintained schools within the circulation area of The Journal. Good Luck!

SCHOOLS NorthEast are pleased to support Building Schools for the Future - a meeting of minds, a one day conference bringing together stakeholders in the Building Schools for the Future programme, including Governors and Head Teachers.

The event will take place at Newcastle Civic Centre on 26 March 2010.

The morning will provide a forum for participants in the BSF programme to take stock of their experience, exchange good practice in the design and procurement of facilities and make recommendations to enhance the progress of the BSF scheme. The day will include speakers considering aspects of the BSF process, school specifications and bid appraisal, school design and specification from the viewpoint of the design consortium and perspectives on post-occupation facilities management.

In the afternoon there will be an opportunity to visit Kenton School in Newcastle, a recently completed BSF project incorporating a biomass boiler.

The keynote address will be by Lord Bates, Shadow Minister for Schools and Families, and other speakers include Peter Udall (Head of design, Gateshead Council), Gordon Hudson (Mott McDonald), Ian Kennedy (Ryder Architecture), Barry Morrell (Deputy Head Teacher, Kenton School)and Allen Dryden (Robertson).

Places are £60, including refreshments, lunch and transport to Kenton School. To book your place, please contact Amanda McManus on (0191) 261 7441 or email riba.northeast@inst.riba.org.

Kenton School and Beech Hill Primary School in Newcastle, and Harton Technology College in South Shields have been named as National Support Schools by the National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services.

In addition, Head Teachers David Pearmain, Nicola Nelson-Taylor and Ken Gibson have been named as National Leaders in Education.

The Government-backed scheme will see staff from the schools supporting other schools in challenging circumstances, as well as advising the Government on education policy.

Nicola Nelson-Taylor said: “The staff and I are honoured to be recognised for the high quality of work which takes place in Beech Hill Primary school. I strongly believe schools should work together to improve the life chances of all our children. Every child in England deserves a first-class education.�

Toby Salt, Deputy Chief Executive of the National College, said: “I am so proud that outstanding school leaders like are being honoured in this way. This scheme is about great Head Teachers and their teams helping others and making a big difference. Many of the schools in the scheme see improvements in exam results at both the support and client schools with progress achieved in excess of the improvements nationally. This is thanks to the hard work and dedication of all those involved.�

The latest expansion of the scheme brings the total number available for deployment nationally to 377. The overall expansion will see the number of NLEs increase by up to 500 by 2012 leading ultimately to 300 primary and 200 secondary National Support Schools. It is estimated that up to half a million children have so far benefited from the scheme.

SCHOOLS NorthEast is currently working with the Department for Children Schools and Families on the development of a programme called Great North Schools. The North East's strength depends more than ever on its education system; Great North Schools aims to establish the North East as a leader in education, a world class region for learning and creativity. Great North Schools is a partnership between all those who seek more for the North Easts young people, building on the energy and excellence existing in the education system in our region so that the very best of what is happening now in North East schools becomes the norm. If agreed, Great North Schools would bring significant additional funding to our regions schools.

Great North Schools represents a fantastic opportunity for schools to take a lead in responding to the local and unique challenges of the region, and to realise our ambitions for the education of our young people. However, it will only succeed with your support and involvement. We have therefore organised four engagement events in January so you can find out more about the Great North Schools proposal and, more importantly, share your ideas, views and expertise to shape the content and management of the programme.

Details of events
13 January - Stadium of Light, Sunderland, 8:30 to 12:00 midday (networking lunch to follow)
15 January - Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle upon Tyne, 12:00 to 3:30pm (networking lunch to start)
21 January - Radisson Hotel, Durham, 8:30 to 12:00 midday (networking lunch to follow)
22 January - The Wynyard Rooms, Tees Valley, 12:00 to 3:30pm (networking lunch to start)

If you would like any further information about the events or to register your interest contact Anthony Morris at a.morris@schoolsnortheast.com.

Out of Site is a unique and engaging educational resource. Open to anybody working with young people or who has an interest in GRT issues, this event will:

Provide participants with knowledge and accessible resources to educate and empower themselves and young people to challenge racism towards Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Help educators promote equality and tackle discrimination in line with the new OFSTED framework.

Speakers at the event include Dr Colin Clark, senior lecturer in Sociology, University of Strathclyde, Dr Pauline Padfield, Scottish Traveller Education Programme, Patricia Knight, National Coordinator, Gypsy, Roma Traveller History Month, and young people from Fyndoune Community College and DCBC.

All participants will receive a goody bag of Show Racism the Red Card resources and a copy of the Out of Site education pack.

For more information or to book your place contact Lizz Bennett by emailing Lizz@theredcard.org or telephone 0191 257 8519.

Please note, visitor parking at County Hall is limited, parking will be available at the DLI Museum and Art Gallery opposite the venue.

Key stage tests are going, teacher assessment is being promoted, computerised assessment is becoming a reality and computer adaptive assessment is now a real possibility. CEM (the Centre for Evaluation & Monitoring), part of Durham University, has been working to rise to these new challenges. CEM works closely with schools, colleges, education authorities and government agencies to provide high quality information through scientifically grounded research. This special one day conference, supported by SCHOOLS NorthEast, will focus on key developments and research from CEM, linking to the changing assessment needs of schools.

The event will take place on 10 November at the Radisson SAS hotel in Durham between 9:30am and 4:30pm.

All SCHOOLS NorthEast members are eligible for an exclusive discounted rate of £165 (normal rate is £195 per delegate). To qualify for this exclusive offer simply complete a booking form quoting the promotional code SNE-091110.

Booking forms and programme details for this event and other CEM events are available to download from www.cemcentre.org/conferences. For more information, email: conferences@cem.dur.ac.uk, or contact Amanda Weir or Hannah Roberts, Tel: (0191) 334 4200/4210.

Our weekly news updates are the perfect way to keep up to date with all the latest regional and national education news.

Every Monday we round up the stories that have been making the headlines throughout the last week, bring you up to speed with news and events from around the North East, outline resources available to schools and one Head Teacher from the region tells us about their week.

If you don't yet subscribe to the weekly news update and you would like to please email a.morris@schoolsnortheast.com.

Responding to last week’s ‘A’ level results, David Pearmain, Chair of SCHOOLS NorthEast said:

“Today is a day to celebrate the achievements of our region’s young people and there is much to celebrate. This year shows the North East making the greatest improvement of any region in the percentage of young people receiving the top grade, and we are second only to London in the improvement of the overall pass rate over the last seven years. We also have more young people than ever staying on at school and progressing to further and higher education.

“As ‘A’ level pass rates improve again, the annual chorus of ‘easier exams and dumbing down of qualifications’ echoes round the media. The point has been made that Usain Bolt’s smashing of the 100 metres world record this week does not signal that the event is getting easier; rather that athletes are getting better, sports science has improved and that preparation, coaching and training techniques are more effective than ever before. Today’s results deserve our warmest congratulations as they reflect the hard work and dedication of our students and the expertise, commitment and support of schools, teacher and parents."

Responding to today’s GCSE results, Beccy Earnshaw, Director of SCHOOLS NorthEast said:

“SCHOOLS NorthEast would like to offer our warmest congratulations to all of our students, teachers and parents for the hard work, support and determination which has seen the region maintain the continuing trend of improvement at GCSE.

It is particularly encouraging to see that the North East has the greatest overall rate of improvement in the country over the last seven years.

The young people opening their results today are the future of our region, and we must make sure that they are all given the encouragement, advice and opportunity to achieve their ambitions and develop the skills needed for both themselves and the North East to succeed in this uncertain economic climate”

Prof Peter Tymms, Prof Sugata Mitra, Ken McMeikan, Les Walton OBE and Paul Collard are among the names that will be presenting at beautiful Wynyard Hall on October 8th.

Prof Peter Tymms, Prof Sugata Mitra, Ken McMeikan, Les Walton OBE, Paul Collard Kim Inglis are among the names that will be presenting at beautiful Wynyard Hall on October 8th.

The summit will be a unique chance to debate, advance and promote innovation, best practice and pragmatic solutions with a view to achieving real and long-lasting change in our schools and for our region.

Revolving around the four key EPIC themes of Empower, Provoke, Inspire and Connect, the summit is designed to allow delegates to contribute to the exchange of knowledge and experience, working together to transform the lives and life chances of children and young people in the North East.

The line-up includes:

Empower
Expert surgery sessions including:
• PR and marketing
• HR and legal advice
• Engaging with business, parents and universities
• Saving and generating money for your school
• And free one on one media training session with TV Presenter Kim Inglis (offered on a first come, first served basis)

Provoke
Latest thinking from national and regional figures from the worlds of politics, education, and business on issues including:
• Creativity in education
• Primary learning
• 14-19 reforms
• raising aspirations
• tackling child poverty
• education in the new economy
• accountability and testing
• and much more....

Inspire
Case studies, research and best practice from the frontline including:
• Making an impact
• Realising your vision
• Leading your community
• Being an ambassador for your school
• Promoting good relations
• Building great schools

Connect
Delegates will have the chance to network with colleagues from across the region, and make valuable contacts from both within and outside the world of education in the designated 'Connect Zone’, while an exhibition of specially selected organizations will give delegates access to new ideas and resources.

For more information on the SCHOOLS NorthEast EPIC summit or to book a place, visit www.schoolsnortheast.com/summit, email summit@schoolsnortheast.com or call Sam Fairless on (0191) 244 2826.

SCHOOLS NorthEast have joined the Great North Revolution - a campaign launched by The Journal which will see the region transform itself and get its economy fit for the future.

Across the North East employers, businesses leaders, regeneration groups and Journal readers will be handed the chance to have their say on how the region uses its unique strengths to bring about another industrial revolution.

SCHOOLS NorthEast Director, Beccy Earnshaw, told The Journal, "teachers have their role to play in providing the skilled workforce of the future."

She said: “The future of our region is in schools. The pupils of today will be responsible for delivering on the vision that we generate now; it is their skills and ambitions, and those of their children, which will define the North East’s success in 2109."

“For us to be a world leader in these exciting new sectors and technologies we need to grow and nurture the skills and talents required to compete on the global stage and fast.”

To read the complete Great North Revolution article in The Journal, go to - www.journallive.co.uk.

Year 6 pupils in the region will soon be racing for pole positions for the fifth year at the North East Solar Car Challenge.

Schools across the North East are now invited to enter teams of four at the popular event held at Nissan Sports and Social Club in Sunderland on Thursday 9 July. Each participating school is given two solar car kits and pupils taking part will gain valuable experience in engineering, science and graphic design. The challenge also aims to promote renewable energy, sustainability, and wider environmental issues in schools.

There are exciting prizes for first, second and third places in both competition categories – speed and design.

This year’s event is being sponsored by One North East and supported by a partnership involving the Energy Saving Trust, Nissan, Hartlepool Borough Council and the North East Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Schools.

Any schools taking part should contact: k.stonehouse@schoolsnortheast.com to register an interest.

On Friday the 24 April, around 400 female sixth-form students from schools across the region descended on Newcastle Business School Northumbria University to be inspired by the region’s leading ladies.

The north east women leaders conference part organised
by SCHOOLS NorthEast, proved a huge success, with speakers including Margaret Fay, Chair of ONE NorthEast, Sarah Green, Regional Director of the CBI and Lorna Moran MBE of NRG leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

The day attracted great attention from the Media with The Journal producing a six-page supplement on the conference. The Entrepreneurs Forum carried out Parkinson-style interviews with female entrepreneurs and leaders, and ‘New’ women leaders were created by the students in workshops. SCHOOLS NorthEast received wonderful feedback from the schools who took part and we look forward to next year’s conference.

SCHOOLS NorthEast held a very successful ‘Educational Excellence: making it happen in the North East’ event on Friday 13 February in Newcastle. The working lunch brought together Leaders in Business and Education from across the North East to discuss how closer ties between business and schools can deliver educational excellence in our region.

An action plan will be developed following on from the event and picking up on the many points raised by the attendees.

In 2007, Gordon Brown appointed the National Council for Educational Excellence, a grouping of business experts, university chancellors, school, college and early years' leaders. Together they developed a set of recommendations designed to make it easier for business, university, schools and the voluntary sector to contribute to raising standards and achieving educational excellence.

Whilst the focus of business will be on coming through the economic downturn in good shape, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the future prosperity of the UK is in our schools. The statistics illustrate the enormity of the challenge: 50% of our workforce today is educated to A level standard, by 2020 75% of jobs will require at least this level. The UK’s spending per-student on secondary education remains below the OECD average and last year we were ranked 17th (out of 57) in literacy, 24th in mathematics and 14th in science.

It is in all our interests to ensure that our young people are confident, skilled, enterprising and aspiring – well-prepared to succeed in their personal lives and in an increasingly competitive labour market. Stronger partnerships between employers and schools are central to this.

The National Council’s recommendations, accepted by Government, are the start of a process. This year Council members will be working to mobilise business, universities and educational institutions around these priorities.

Educational Excellence: Making it happen in the North East is an event organised on behalf of SCHOOLS NorthEast, CBI North East, Universities for the NorthEast and Business in the Community. It will bring together leading members of North East business and education with the aim to create momentum behind a collaborative approach to education in the North East and develop practical initiatives to help achieve the educational outcomes necessary for the future success of the North East and its people.

Julia Cleverdon, Vice-President of Business in the Community and member of the National Council, will attend the lunch to challenge delegates to consider how they can take a lead in generating mutually beneficial sustainable partnerships between school and business.

This event will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the many innovative and impressive examples of good practice already evident across the North East region.

The event will be held on the 13 February in Newcastle.

SCHOOLS NorthEast is working with the CBI as part of their Future Leaders programme and we are now seeking schools to participate in this project.

The scheme aims to increase the region’s leadership stock through developing a forum for future business leaders to gain an understanding of the policy framework impacting on the economic development of the region and a network of contacts across all sectors.
Participants in this year’s programme include Partners in the region’s major law firms, Directors of PR, marketing and recruitment agencies, Senior Managers from manufacturing and service industries and leaders from the cultural and heritage sector.

There are five projects that you could get your school involved in:

Project one
My school has changed; how can we change the perceptions of our community?

Project two
Is there a business in my school?

Project three
How can my school inspire, motivate and guide young people to make informed choices about their career that fulfil their potential and meet the needs of the UK economy in the future?

Project four
How do we attract the best talent to work in our school and how do we keep them?

Project five
How can we bring the best of business into our school?

This project is open to all schools in the region - primary, secondary, independent and special. You will need to be available to meet with your Future Leaders team at some point during February/March and ideally you or a colleague will be able to attend a briefing session with all of the Future Leaders and participating school representatives at 4:30pm on the 10 February at Kenton School, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

For more details on each project and how you can get involved, click here

The deadline for expressions of interest is Wednesday 28 January 2009.

To find out more about this year’s Future Leaders visit: http://www.cbi.org.uk/pdf/CBI-NorthEast-FutureLeaders.pdf

SCHOOLS NorthEast have enlisted the expert knowledge of School Fund Finder to run two free surgeries that will offer funding advice for your school.

National and regional funding organisations will be on hand with information on how to access trusts, grants and foundations, and get funding. You will also receive tips on how to complete funding application forms and write bidding
letters. There are two dates to choose from:
29 January – Burnside Business and Enterprise College, North Tyneside. Time: 8.00am for 8.30am start – 11.00am
12 February – Carmel RC College, Darlington. Time: 8.00am for 8.30am start – 11.00am
We will send you further information about these events later in the week. Please pass on to your school Business Manager or other relevant staff.

To reserve a place/s on one of the surgeries, contact us on – 0191 2805037 or email - info@schoolsnortheast.com.

Testing times: are schools made to measure of fit for purpose?
Professor Peter Tymms, director of Durham University’s Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring, tackled the changing environment of testing and monitoring in the UK’s schools at the SCHOOLS NorthEast Heads Up event on Wednesday 26 November.

The event prompted a lively discussion of the abolition of the KS3 SATs, the proposed report card system and the future of testing. Professor Tymms called for increased diversity in both the curriculum and testing arrangements in the UK, and stressed the importance of a establishing a solid evidence base before the introduction of new initiatives and further reforms.
Highlighting the potential of recent advances in technology, Professor Tymms outlined a future for testing based on an individualised approach exploiting computer adaptive assessments.
Participants raised concerns over the simplicity of the report card model, the perverse incentives of high stake tests and the need to depoliticise education.

SCHOOLS North East are interested to hear your opinions on the subject of testing and monitoring, and if you would like to contribute to a response we will make to the government considerations on report cards, please contact us at – info@schoolsnortheast.com or call – 0191 2805037. Click here for a copy of Professor Peter Tymms presentation or to read the article in the Northern Echo featuring Professor Tymms and Jonathan Morris, Head Teacher of Moorside Community Technology College, both of whom were interviewed at the event, click here

SCHOOLS NorthEast is co-ordinating a response to the recommendations of the National Council for Educational Excellence. In the new year we will be holding an event to develop an action plan for the implementation of the Council’s ideas in the North East, working with Universities for the North East and regional business leaders.

Throughout this work, we want to showcase the fantastic activities already
happening in our region’s schools so please let us know if your school has any interesting case studies on how your school has:

• Worked with business or industry
• Worked with universities
• Worked with other providers, schools and/or colleges
• Demonstrated an innovative approach to engaging parents

Email us at info@schoolsnortheast.com or call 0191 2805037 if you want to shout about your success! (and make sure that lots of others hear about it too).

SCHOOLS NorthEast is delighted to be working in partnership with the CBI as part of the Future Leaders programme. The scheme identifies forty high fliers in business who are tipped for the top in the coming years.
The participants spend a year undertaking a range of activities to help them to develop their leadership skills and gain an understand about how they can best contribute to the North East’s development.
Last year’s Future Leaders came from many of the North East’s most successful businesses including Northumbrian Water, Arriva, Dickinson Dees, Barclays and Price Water House Coopers. This year, participants will be tasked with applying their business knowledge and leadership skills to helping schools across the region in the SCHOOLS North Lead to Learn challenge.
If you have a issue that you would like the Future Leader’s to apply their brain power and skills to tackling or would like to find out more about how you can get involved contact Beccy – r.earnshaw@schoolsnortheast.com or call 0191 280 5037

Topping the tables of childhood wellbeing and achievement, in the last few years there has been a growing trend for policy makers to aspire to Scandanvian models of education.

Never wanting to be out of fashion, SCHOOLS NorthEast has also been inspired by ideas from our friends over the North Sea. Learning about your localities heritage, culture and development is a key element of the curriculum in Norway each area regionalising content.
Research has shown that increasing people’s sense of place and understanding of their region can have significant impacts on economic development. With the need to raise aspirations of young people and the pressure to retain talented young people in the North East, well documented in the region’s economic strategy SCHOOLS Northeast is investigating the development of a North East curriculum.
The scope of this project is huge, so to stimulate thinking we will be holding a symposium in the late autumn to gather a wide range of ideas from across education, business, government, the cultural and creative sector and community leaders.

If you are interested in being involved please get in touch and please send us your examples of local learning resources and lesson ideas. Email info@schoolsnortheast.com

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is in the process of sharing the information it currently has about the new Vacancy Matching Service (which will be live in April 2009) and how it will help to truly engage young people, their influencers and employers in Apprenticeships. For more information see the apprenticeships website.

At the first Heads Up event, Mike Gibbons, Chief Executive of the Innovation Unit called on NorthEast Head Teachers to take a disciplined approach to imagination. Mike stressed that innovation is a non-negotiable priority for education to meet the challenges of the 21 Century and adapt to students who now inhabit a learner demand led, multicast, personalised and co-produced world. However, the discussion recognised the great pressure of balancing progress and change with meeting the pressing demands of testing, league tables and targets. Mike called on education professionals in the region to use their collective voice through SCHOOLS NorthEast to reframe the education debate and unleash their insight and imagination to enable us to collaboratively punch above our weight.

To see Mike Gibbons' presentation click here

Deliver more timely, personalised and schools-led programmes tailored to the specific requirements of the region, was the challenge set to NCSL from the SCHOOLS NorthEast Leadership Insight Seminar held on Tuesday 16th September.

The event was the first part of an ongoing project to increase the National College of School Leadership’s awareness and understanding of the needs and views the North East’s schools.

At the meeting, Head Teachers, Deputies and
Business Managers from the across the region came together to share experiences and shape the work of the NCSL for the future. Participants were particular keen for more opportunities for peer to peer collaboration and
greater flexibility in the design and delivery of activities.

A full report of the seminar will be available here shortly and if you have and if you have your own views and innovative ideas on ways to enable current and future school leaders to access appropriate support, we want to hear from you. email: insight@schoolsnortheast.com.

National figures for improvements in the number of young people achieving A and C grades show that the North East is making greater progress than other regions.

North East schools topped the league tables nationally in terms of the percentage increase in the number of young people achieving grade C at GCSE and were second in the percentage increase of those achieving grade As.

Commenting on the results David Pearmain, Chair of SCHOOLS NorthEast said

“The level of improvement in the region’s results over the last five years demonstrates the hard work and commitment of our schools and is great news for the North East. The future of our region is in schools; the nervous recipients of GCSE results today are the decision-makers, business leaders, workforce and parents of tomorrow. It is their skills, creativity and aspirations that will shape our success in achieving the vision of a vibrant, self reliant, ambitious and outward looking North East. Education should be everyone’s business. SCHOOLS NorthEast is working to enable schools across the North East to share their experience and expertise and to strengthen relationships with employers and decision makers to ensure that our young people have the greatest opportunity to realise their potential.”

Malcolm Page, One NorthEast Assistant Chief Executive (Resources), said: “These results are very encouraging for the North East’s future as the talent within our schools will drive the North East’s economy in the years to come.”

The region’s results also see a significant proportion of the 36 schools in the Government’s National Challenge exceed the 30% target of A*-Cs (incl. English and Maths) before the initiative has even started. The announcement in June that these schools were to improve or close was met with anger from Heads, Teachers, parents and pupils.

David Pearmain said

“The announcement of the National Challenge stuck a label of failure on some of our most dedicated teachers working in the region’s most challenging schools. In less than two months since the announcement many of these schools have risen above the arbitrary floor target set by the Government. The naming and shaming of these schools was unnecessary, avoidable and deeply damaging for the teachers, students and wider communities they serve. Whilst some schools have quickly moved beyond the target unfortunately the detrimental effects of the announcement may take longer to shake off.”

Notes to editors

1. Figures taken from the Joint Council for Qualifications data on improvement in GCSE pass rates by English region which can be found at: www.jcq.org.uk

2. SCHOOLS NorthEast is the regions network of Head Teachers. The organisation is led by a board of 26 Head Teachers representing primary, secondary, independent and special schools across the region and is chaired by David Pearmain, Head Teacher of Kenton School in Newcastle upon Tyne. Further information can be found at www.schoolsnortheast.com

3. SCHOOLS NorthEast can field Head Teachers for interviews or arrange media opportunities in schools – contact Beccy Earnshaw on 0191 280 5027 or 07789228957

For further information

Contact SCHOOLS NorthEast on 0191 280 5037/out of hours on 07789228957 or
email r.earnshaw@schoolsnortheast.com

SCHOOLS NorthEast is currently researching employer engagement in our schools. We have so far discovered some fantastic examples of innovative and sustained employer engagement. We will be showcasing some of these case studies on our website in the coming weeks.

If your school is doing interesting work with employers in your area please let us know – visit Get Involved.

We would also welcome your views on the barriers to effective employer engagement and ideas on how we can best meet these challenges.

Explore Renewables is an innovative new project working to bring renewable energy to life in schools across North East England. The ambitious project will give children a hands-on way of understanding renewable energy and encourages the real-life application of maths, science, engineering and geography.

Every public-funded middle and secondary school in the region has the opportunity to join the scheme which will be officially launched in April 2008. Explore Renewables which will provide all participating schools with their own specially designed renewable energy technology, complete with curriculum support materials and access to an interactive website.

The three-year project will build up a unique interactive network of children and teachers in schools across the North East who will be able to exchange and compare data and information gathered from their identical renewable energy units via the dedicated website.

Visit the Explore Renewables website.

Newly appointed Rebecca Earnshaw, is delighted at becoming SCHOOLS NorthEast's first Director. She will take up her new post on April 7th.

As a native of this region, Rebecca is passionate about the fantastic strengths it has to offer. She believes the aspirations and skills of the region's children and young people are central to ensuring the North East’s future success. "By facilitating the coordination and amplification of the voices of schools and educators, Schools North East can effectively influence and support economic and social development."

Read Rebecca's open letter to SCHOOLS NorthEast.

Rebecca looks forward to contacting schools and other organisations as soon as she is in post. If you would like to advance book her for events, please email Jane Mann at jane.mann01@googlemail.com

Lord Puttnam has agreed to be the Patron of SCHOOLS NorthEast. The announcement follows the successful launch of the network at Ramside Hall, Durham on 13th November.

At a recent meeting to confirm his patronage, board members heard Lord Puttnam describe his own schooling as a fairly dismal experience. However, this did not stop him responding to a call, in 1997, to advise the new Labour government on education policy. This resulted in an ongoing commitment to education, including a period as Vice Chancellor of Sunderland University and the establishment of the Teaching Awards.

Lord Puttnam recalled being largely invisible at school except when he was nine years old and thrashed for not completing his arithmetic properly. Careers advice given to him later wasn't much better: the best that was predicted for him was a career as a rep or if not that, then a van driver.

Despite this unpromising start, he went on to five years of night school, entered the world of advertising and enjoyed an enormously successful and fulfilling career as a film producer and latterly as a high profile and hardworking advocate for education and the environment - a subject about which he is passionate.

Lord Puttnam believes that his work on the Climate Commission had led him to conclude that modern politicians make too many decisions based on short term imperatives. He added: “Major global issues are not tackled as most politicians are afraid to make unpopular decisions. It is important that education prepares today’s young people for a future of great uncertainty resulting from our failure to tackle climate change and other challenges."

All present were deeply impressed by Lord Puttnam’s passion, modesty and obvious sincerity. His final message, that society should recapture a sense of moral purpose, was one with which headteachers could heartily concur.

Lord Puttnam is expected to return to the region in the new year to address SCHOOLS NorthEast’s annual general meeting and conference.

SCHOOLS NorthEast got off to a brilliant start at its launch conference held at Durham’s Ramside Hall on Tuesday Nov 13th. A large gathering of headteachers, employers and other key players in the region heard how this new network will give a voice to schools and enable them to engage more directly with regional development and regeneration.

Four headteachers, representing the full range of primary, secondary, special and independent schools in the northeast, were joined on the platform by ONE's Pat Richie and Chris Roberts of the Learning and Skills Council.

Following a wide range of perspectives raised from the platform, delegates spent some time discussing the future for SCHOOLS NorhEast. It was clear from the buzz in the room and the feedback, that there was general agreement that the idea was a good one and long overdue.

David Pearmain, Headteacher of Kenton school, Newcastle and chairman of SCHOOLS NorthEast was mindful that in a large region with strong local loyalties it was important to be impartial. He went on: "Our strong regional identity will help schools work together to make change happen."

Helen Clegg from Shiremoor Primary school enthusiastically endorsed the idea that primary schools could also have a role to play in regional development. She added: "I believe the SCHOOLS NorthEast will guarantee primary headteachers a voice on a par with secondary colleagues."

John Appleyard, Holmwood Special School in Middlesbrough made the important point that in areas of economic disadvantage, young people with special needs are doubly disadvantaged. He commented: "It is imperative to ensure special schools have a voice when it comes to making decisions about regional development."

Pat Richie and Chris Roberts were both able to provide a picture of the wider context in which SCHOOLS NorthEast will operate. Chris Roberts reminded delegates: "Current changes at the highest levels in government will inevitably impact on schools. SCHOOLS NorhEast will need to determine what, how and who it plans to influence in a complex political environment."

Pat Richie also welcomed the opportunity for schools to work more closely with government agencies and employers. "It will help us to raise young peoples’ attainment and aspirations as a way of helping to create a world class workforce here in the northeast. The direct involvement of schools in regeneration could make a real difference."

If you would like to become part of the SCHOOLS NorthEast initiative, please contact us through this website.

Three North East Head Teachers have been nominated, for the first time, by SCHOOLS NorthEast to sit on the newly formed 14-19 Commission.

Our representatives are:

• Gerard Moran, Durham Leadership Centre
• Jim O’Neill, Carmel RC College
• David Pearmain, Kenton School.

The 14-19 Commission brings together all key sectors (schools, colleges, training providers, employers and universities) into a joint strategic partnership with One NorthEast, the Learning and Skills Council and Government Office North East. It is chaired by Estelle Morris and is the first of its kind in England.

The Commission is set to take forward the Aspire agenda which aimed to foster a long-term impact on the lives of young people in the North East.