North of England Education Conference
The North of England Education Conference (NEEC) is the UK’s biggest annual education conference and has been a key date in the UK’s education calendar in the UK for over 100 years. The first Conference took place in Manchester in 1903.[1] In recent years the scope of the conference has expanded to encompass the broader children’s services agenda.
The Conference, a 'not for profit' event, attracts renowned speakers, both nationally and internationally. Despite the conference name, delegates attend from across the UK and beyond. In recent years the conference has taken place outside of the North of England, including Belfast and Cardiff.
The NEEC is a fixture in the diary of the Secretary of State and the shadow spokesperson from the main opposition parties.
Traditionally the event takes place from Wednesday to Friday in the first week of January and will next be hosted in Blackpool from 5 to 7 January 2011, followed by Leeds in 2012.
Conference Details
Delegates
Within recent years the focus of the conference has expanded. Whilst still having education at its core, a broader children’s agenda is now embraced. As a consequence, attendees are drawn from all professions within Children’s Services. Attendees include Directors of Education, key elected members, Headteachers, school governors, those engaged in research in Higher Education and partners from Health, Police and Voluntary Sector organisations.
Speakers
The conference attracts high profile speakers and notably the appropriate Secretary of State. This has included in recent years the current incumbent, Ed Balls and predecesssors including Ruth Kelly, David Milliband, David Blunkett and Estelle Morris. In 1971 the conference was addressed by the then Secretary of State for Education and Science, Margaret Thatcher.[2] The conference is often used as a platform to launch or 'sound out' changes in policy or legislation. Hosting authorities often work in collaboration with local universities and colleges to tap into national and international expertise and research.
Venues
Historically the Conference has taken place each January and has alternated in venue between the east and west of the Pennines. On occasion however, the Conference has been held outside the North of England. In 2004 the NEEC was held in Northern Ireland in Belfast and in 2008, the NEEC paid its first visit to Wales and Cardiff.
Development
Reflecting changes in recent years in the delivery of services to children, young people and families the conference focus has begun to reflect the wider children’s agenda encapsulated in Every Child Matters: Change for Children.[3] Whilst the conference has continued to provide high profile speakers with an education focus, it has recently included speakers from other areas of the children’s workforce such as health, the police, business and the Third Sector. A reflection of this is that the conference is now marketed as the ‘NEEC Conference’ rather than the ‘North of England Education Conference’.
Governance
The NEEC operates under the governance formed by its membership as part of the North of England Education Conference Association. This is defined as "Those English Local Authorities within the Government Office areas for the North West, the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber, and also the higher education institutions lying in this area". Representatives from the host authority, their predecessor and the following years host are represented in the governance.
Involvement of Children and Young People
A strong feature of the conference is the involvement of children and young people. Traditionally involved in artistic, musical and dramatic performance they have begun to play a wider role in the content of the programme. The incumbent host, Blackpool will be having a young person co-preside over the conference for the first time and promises to have significant input from young people in content and delivery of the programme.
Since 2004
2004 The five Northern Ireland Education and Libraries Boards in Belfast
The Conference in Belfast was attended by almost 1,000 delegates and was considered one of the most successful NEECs; (the typical attendance in England is 500 delegates). Amongst the speakers was David Milliband MP who gave a speech on Personalised Learning.[4]
2005 Manchester
The Centre for Educational Leadership at The University of Manchester hosted the Conference in 2005. The conference included a speech by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke. The theme was 'Leading Together' and the aim, to demonstrate how schools, Higher Education and Local Authorities could collaborate to develop leadership potential and to lead education improvement. Speakers included Benjamin Zander, Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and Dr Peter Senge, author of the 'The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organisation'.
2006 Gateshead and Newcastle Councils
The 2006 North of England Education Conference was held in Gateshead and consisted of three days of speakers, workshops and receptions. Speakers included Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Ruth Kelly MP[5] the Secretary of State for Education, Professor Al Aynsley-Green, the Children’s Commissioner for England and Dr Michael Fullan, the former Dean of the Ontario Institute for Studies for Education. There was also a formal Civic Reception and a Gala Dinner.
2007 Lancashire County Council
The Conference took place from 3-5 January 2007 at the Guildhall, Preston in Lancashire with the theme of ‘Investing for Achievement’. Jonathan Jansen, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Jude Kelly, Artistic Director, South Bank Centre and Leader of the 2012 Olympics Education and Culture Programme; Juan Manuel Moreno, Senior Education Specialist, The World Bank. The ministerial Address was given by Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and 14 - 19 Learners
2008 The Welsh Assembly and Welsh LGA
In January 2008 the NEEC once again left the North West and was held in the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, with workshops being hosted in various locations across the city and beyond.
The programme include presentations from Professor John Field from the University of Stirling and Professor David Hopkins from the Institute of Education at London University. In addition there were speeches from the journalist Fiona Millar and the former General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, Lord Bill Morris of Handsworth. A civic reception was held in the Senedd Building; the home of the National Assembly hosted by the First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM.
2009 Wirral CC and Chester City Council
The theme for the conference held in Wirral and Chester was ‘Growing People – Growing Minds’. The conference was notable in its embracing the wider children’s workforce in the programme. The conference president was Baroness Estelle Morris and speakers included Peter Fahy, Chief Contable Greater Manchester, Liz Railton CBE, Professor Sir David Watson, Dame Gillian Pugh, and with the new broader emphasis Dr David Colin Thomé giving a GPs perspective. The conference included the traditional political spot with input from David Willetts MP and Secretary of State Ed Balls who attended following a Cabinet Meeting in Liverpool. All schools in Wirral were involved in a ‘Performance Extravaganza’ held throughout Weather Head High School Media College.
2010 York City Council
The theme for York’s conference was ‘Unlocking Children’s Potential’ and had Sir Michael Bichard as conference president. Speakers included Sir Roger Singleton, Sir John Sorrell, Sir Andrew Motion, Dylan Wiliam and Beeban Kidron, British Television and Film Director. The political slot was filled by Vernon Coaker MP, Michael Gove MP and David Laws MP. An input by York’s Member of the UK Youth Parliament was well received by delegates. Delegates attended a civic reception at York Minster with a performance by a large children’s choir. The gala dinner made innovative use of the York Railway Museum. The conference in York went ahead successfully despite falling during a period of heavy snow which caused transport problems nationally for a number of days.
NEEC 2011 Blackpool Council
As hosts of the next NEEC, Blackpool’s conference theme is, ‘Our World, Our Future’. The conference will follow the development of previous events in opening the theme out to include aspects of the wider Children’s Services agenda. According to initial publicity, "The Conference puts the spotlight on the challenges and expectations being made to us by our children and young people and our accountability to them. At the same time we will focus on areas that young people consider important and have the opportunity to reflect upon these issues in depth by sharing national and international good practice".[6]
The conference presidency will be shared between Anne Widdecombe MP and a young person from the town. Conference speakers include Martin Bell, Baroness Estelle Morris and Jonathan Edwards. The conference will take place between the neighbouring hotels Blackpool Hilton and The Imperial. The Gala Dinner is to be hosted in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
References
- ^ http://openlibrary.org/b/OL20289314M/North_of_England_education_conference_1902-1992
- ^ http://www.margaretthatcher.org/speeches/displaydocument.asp?docid=102083
- ^ http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/
- ^ http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/speeches/search_detail.cfm?ID=95
- ^ http://www.gateshead.gov.uk/Council%20and%20Democracy/news/News%20Articles/Education%20Secretary%20Ruth%20Kelly%20speaks%20at%20Gateshead%20conference(1).aspx
- ^ http://www.neec2011.co.uk/whatsnew.aspx