Our History

Established in 2007, SCHOOLS NorthEast is the first, and only, schools-led regional network in the UK representing the views of all the region's schools. Bringing together the 1,300 maintained & independent primary, secondary & special schools in the North East, we aim to strengthen the link between the region's schools and the North East's economic development.

Our
Patron

Our Patron: Lord Putnam

Following his retirement from film production in 1998, Lord Puttnam now focuses his work on the field of education. He was the first chancellor of the University of Sunderland from 1997 until 2007 and is now an Honorary Doctor of Education in the School of Education and Lifelong Learning.

In addition, he founded the National Teaching Awards, served as inaugural Chair of the General Teaching Council for England and is currently the Chancellor of the Open University. He is President of UNICEF UK and Chair of FutureLab.

Lord Puttnam was awarded a CBE in 1982, received a knighthood in 1995 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997.

We believe that the North East is uniquely positioned to demonstrate the potential of schools working collaboratively to transform opportunities and outcomes for the benefit of young people, schools, communities and our region.

About Us

Get In Contact With Us

Beccy Earnshaw

Director

After nine years in exile in London, Beccy was delighted to return to her native North East to join SCHOOLS NorthEast in April 2008. Her previous roles include heading up the Communications Team for the Children's Commissioner for England and leading on voter participation at The Electoral Commission. Beccy has also enjoyed working at the Hansard Society and BBC Parliament. She is a trained journalist with a Master's Degree in Political Communication.

Chris Zarraga

Development Manager

Prior to joining SCHOOLS NorthEast, Chris worked with over 165 schools in the North East and various education organisations including local authorities, Excellence Partnerships, 14-19 Groups, the Specialist Schools & Academies Trust, and School Improvement Officers. He led a large scale culture change project in education across the North East and was the development consultant for the LEGI funded Wansbeck Enterprise Education Network. Chris has 12 years of strategic and business development, consultancy and client-management experience at a ‘Big Four' accountancy firm and various financial institutions and an MBA from Durham University Business School.

Rebecca Clegg

Communications Officer

Born in Burnley, Rebecca has made the North East her home after completing a BSc in Marketing at Newcastle University. With a range of successful marketing, public relations and sales internships under her belt, working for organisations such as E-Achieve and CiA Training, Rebecca is now enthusiastic about advancing into the world of education having joined the team at SCHOOLS NorthEast.

The Team

Our Vision

Our young people are confident, enterprising, skilled and aspiring; learning and developing within well-resourced, nurturing and purposeful school environments.

Our school leaders, governors and staff demonstrate exceptional professionalism enjoying the resounding confidence of students, parents, communities, employers and decision-makers.

Our Head Teachers have a powerful voice regionally and nationally. By working collaboratively and creatively with their peers and external partners, they develop expertise, shape policy and drive change. We are recognised as a centre for innovation and the bench-mark of excellence.

Our region is vibrant, self reliant and outward looking, featuring a dynamic economy, healthy environment and distinctive culture.

Our Mission

Empower

Empowering schools to meet current and emerging challenges, and discover and exploit opportunities.

Provoke

Provoking discussion and debate of key issues to influence regional and national agenda.

Inspire

Inspiring new approaches, celebrating good practice and supporting innovation.

Connect

Connecting schools to each other and the people, sectors, strategies, resources and ideas that shape our region's future.

Our Trustees

David Pearmain (Chair)

Kenton School

David was educated at Collyers School in Sussex and studied English at Lincoln College, Oxford. He began teaching in an urban comprehensive school in 1974, at a time when it was unusual for an Oxbridge graduate to choose this path. He has worked in challenging schools in: Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Bradford, Doncaster and Newcastle, as an English teacher, Head of English, Deputy Head and Headteacher (twice), but his current role, at Kenton School, where he arrived in 1998, is both the most challenging and the most rewarding.

David is Chair of SCHOOLS NorthEast, an invited member of the National Secondary Heads’ Reference Group and of the national YPLA (Young People’s Learning Agency) Committee, and is Chair of the Newcastle Specialised Diploma Strategy Executive. He is also listed among the North East Most Influential 2009, published by The Journal.

Ken Fraser

MacMillan Academy

Ken is Principal of MacMillan Academy in Middlesbrough. In their last Ofsted inspection the school was graded as ‘outstanding’, and described the progress made at both Key Stage 3 and 4 as ‘exceptional and impressive in equal measures’. As well as recognising that they are in the top 5% of schools nationally, the report also emphasised that students feel valued as individuals, feel safe and have very positive attitudes and relationships.

Danny Eason

Fishburn Primary School

Danny is originally from Sheffield, but fell in love with the region when he came to the North East to study. His management experience started in inner city Sunderland where he was part of the leadership team in Quarry View Juniors, Pennywell. He gained deputy headship at New Brancepeth primary School, County Durham, before becoming Head Teacher after two years, where he stayed for six years. He has been Head Teacher of Fishburn Primary School, Stockton, for four years and is involved in leading an NCSL demonstrator project looking at the role of the school business manager in the primary sector.

John Hardy

St John Vianney Primary School

John is Head Teacher of St John Vianney Primary School in Hartlepool.

Lynn Watson

Percy Hedley School

Lynn Watson was appointed Head teacher at Percy Hedley School in 2005. She has experience of working with primary aged mainstream children and special needs children aged 2 to 19 years of age. Lynn has particular expertise in early years education and assessment of special needs and learning. She is part of, a national review of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and the Secondary Heads Reference Group, which advisers the Department of Education.

Gerard Moran

St John's Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre

Our Board

Name: Richard Gartland

Type: Primary

Region: Darlington

School: The Education Village

Name: Susan Johnson

Type: Secondary

Region: Darlington

School: Longfields School

Name: Danny Eason

Type: Primary

Region: Durham

School: Fishburn Primary School

Name: Gerard Moran

Type: Secondary

Region: Durham

School: St John's Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre

Name: Clive Wisby

Type: Primary

Region: Gateshead

School: Caedmon Primary School

Name: Jonathan Parkinson

Type: Secondary

Region: Gateshead

School: St Thomas More

Name: John Hardy

Type: Primary

Region: Hartlepool

School: St John Vianney RC Primary School

Name: Bill Jordon

Type: Secondary

Region: Hartlepool

School: Dyke House Comprehensive School

Name: Cherry Diemoz

Type: Primary

Region: Middlesbrough

School: Breckon Hill Primary School

Name: Ken Fraser

Type: Secondary

Region: Middlesbrough

School: MacMillan Academy

Name: Miles Wallis-Clarke

Type: Primary

Region: Newcastle upon Tyne

School: Hotspur Primary School

Name: David Pearmain

Type: Secondary

Region: Newcastle upon Tyne

School: Kenton School

Name: Alan Egdell

Type: Primary

Region: North Tyneside

School: St Bernadette's Primary

Name: Dave Stainthorpe

Type: Secondary

Region: North Tyneside

School: Marden High School

Name: Paul Frost

Type: Primary

Region: Northumberland

School: Cambois First School

Name: Kieran McGrane

Type: Secondary

Region: Northumberland

School: Bedlingtonshire High School

Name: Kinga Pusztai

Type: Primary

Region: Redcar and Cleveland

School: Newcomen Primary School

Name: Tony Hobbs

Type: Secondary

Region: Redcar and Cleveland

School: Bydales Secondary School

Name: Gemma Jeynes

Type: Primary

Region: South Tyneside

School: Valley View Primary School

Name: Liz Hayes

Type: Secondary

Region: South Tyneside

School: Boldon School

Name: Karen Norton

Type: Primary

Region: Stockton-on-Tees

School: Junction Farm Primary School

Name: Hilary Cooper

Type: Primary

Region: Sunderland

School: Barnes Junior School

Name: John Hallworth

Type: Secondary

Region: Sunderland

School: Thornhill School

Name: Caroline Pryer

Type: Middle Schools

Region: Middle schools

School: Ponteland Middle School

Name: Dr Bernard Trafford

Type: Independent schools

Region: Independent schools

School: Royal Grammar School

Name: Hugh Steele

Type: Maintained

Region: Special schools

School: The Dales

Name: Lynn Watson

Type: Non-maintained

Region: Special schools

School: Percy Hedley School

Name: Teresa Laybourne

Type: Primary

Region: Co-opted

School: Townend Farm Academy

Name: Jim O'Neill

Type: Alumni

Region: Alumni

School: Education Village

Contact Us

0191 204 8866 | info@schoolsnortheast.com

c/o Northumbria University, Room 208, Ellison Terrace, 1- 5 Ellison Place, Newcastle, NE1 8ST

About SCHOOLS NorthEast

We are the first and only school-led regional network in the UK.

Registered Charity Number: 1129594 Vat number: 127 9127 06

Our History

Our History

OurPatron

Our Patron: Lord Putnam

About Us

Beccy Earnshaw

Chris Zarraga

Rebecca Clegg

The Team

Empower

Provoke

Inspire

Connect

Our Trustees

David Pearmain (Chair)

Ken Fraser

Danny Eason

John Hardy

Lynn Watson

Gerard Moran

Our Board

Contact Us

About SCHOOLS NorthEast

Commercial Supporters

Our
Patron