AoEA School Improvement Conference 2027

Main conference sponsor:

A Decade of Connecting Educators, Improving Schools and Strengthening Systems.

Date: 29 and 30 April 2027 | Newcastle upon Tyne

Join education leaders, advisers and school improvement professionals from across the UK and beyond for two days of practical learning, shared practice and professional connection.

The conference will explore how effective practice can be identified, shared and adapted to strengthen schools and education systems.

Venue to be announced soon.

Why Attend?

You will hear from leading voices in education, learn from real examples of effective practice and connect with colleagues working across schools, trusts, local authorities and education systems.

You will leave with:

practical ideas to use in your own context;
new thinking on school and system improvement;
examples of accredited professional practice; and
valuable connections with colleagues across education.

Register your interest now!

What to Expect

Keynote speakers

Hear fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing education.

Sharing Great Practice

Learn from AoEA Associates, Senior Associates and education professionals who will share what worked, what changed and what others can learn from their experience.

Practical discussion

Take part in workshops and conversations focused on real school improvement priorities.

Professional connection

Meet colleagues from different sectors, phases and regions, and build relationships that continue beyond the conference.

Who should attend?

The AoEA School Improvement Conference is for:

school and trust leaders;
education advisers and consultants;
local authority and government teams;
inspectors and quality assurance professionals;
leadership and professional learning leads; and
anyone responsible for supporting improvement across schools.

Celebrating ten years of Connecting Educators

For ten years, the AoEA has brought education professionals together to share ideas, challenge thinking and learn from one another.

In 2027, we will celebrate that history while looking ahead to the future of school and system improvement.

Connecting Educators remains at the heart of the conference, because stronger connections lead to stronger practice.

Previous Speakers

Discover the education leaders, advisers and practitioners who contributed to the AoEA Summit 2026.

Meet Our Previous Speakers

Watch Previous Conference Recordings

AoEA members can access keynote presentations, panel discussions and selected session recordings from previous conferences through the AoEA Hub.

Watch Conference Recordings

Main conference sponsor

Summit Programme

29th April 2026

18:30 - 19:30

Drinks Reception and Networking

19:30 - 20:30

3-Course Dinner starts

20:30 - 21:15

Panel Discussion: featuring Baroness Estelle Morris, Les Walton CBE and Rory File, exploring the question: if we were designing the education system now, what major shifts would we prioritise?

30th April 2026

8:15 - 9:00

Registration, Networking and Meet our Exhibitors

9:00 - 9:10

Welcome and Sponsor Address
Les Walton CBE

9:10 - 10:05

Keynote: Empowering Schools to Build Inclusive Attendance Cultures
Wayne Harris

10:05 - 10:30

Break and Networking: Chat to our exhibitors

10:30 - 11:10

Sharing Great Practice with AoEA Senior Associates
Organisational Development, Change Management, Quality Systems

11:15 - 12:15

Expert Panel: Beyond Compliance: Values-Driven Leadership for Sustainable Improvement
Panel: Colin Diamond CBE with Charlotte Harding, Rebecca Jackson and Mairéad Mhig Uaid

12:15 - 13:30

Lunch and Networking: Chat to our exhibitors

13:30 - 14:30

Sharing Great Practice with AoEA Associates
Effective Curriculum, Effective Professional Development, Effective Leadership

14:35 - 15:30

Keynote: Governance Matters
Felicity Gillespie

15:30 - 16:25

Keynote: Be More Toddler: A Leadership Education from Our Little Learners
Emma Turner

16:25 - 16:30

Closing Remarks

10:35 - 11:10

Sharing Great Practice with AoEA Senior Associates

Quality Systems

Manchester Suite

Conversations That Connect: Listening, Belonging, and Compassionate Leadership in Action

Narinder Gill, DFE Rise Adviser and Director of Leadership and Transformation

Organisational Development

Milano Suite

From Access to Agency: Human‑Centred AI for Every Learner

Clare Evans, Principal, St Teresa’s Nursery School

Change Management

Dublin Suite

Evaluation: From Accountability to Improvement

Louise Muteham, Head of School Improvement, Dysgu

13:30- 14:30

Sharing Great Practice with AoEA Associates

Effective Curriculum

Manchester Suite

Designing Curriculum for Real School Contexts

James Bewsey, Quality Improvement Officer, Scottish Borders Council

The Best Thinking is Rethinking

Corinne Latham, Principal, Seaview Primary School

Designing and Embedding a Semi-Formal Curriculum in Pilot Schools

Adele Tong, SEND School Improvement Officer, Together for Children

Effective Professional Development

Milano Suite

Translating Theory into Practice: Embedding Cognitive Science and Metacognition

Gareth McQuillan, School Improvement Adviser, Education North Tyneside

The Certainty Effect

Louise Hall, Regional Director, WISE Academies

Supporting a School Leader in a Period of Leadership Transition

David Godfrey, Headteacher, Valley Gardens Middle School

Effective Leadership

Dublin Suite

Collaborative School Improvement in Wales

Siân Rowles, School Improvement Adviser, Pembrokeshire County Council

Squaring up to leadership challenges and people politics to strengthen accountability at all levels

Zoubiya Ahmed, Educational Strategist and Adviser, Highbright Education / Verdant & Co

Developing Middle Leaders: The Key to Sustainable School Improvement

Tony Young, Principal, Crumlin Integrated Primary School

Effective Curriculum

Manchester Suite

Effective Professional Development

Milano
Suite

Effective Leadership

Dublin
Suite

Designing Curriculum for Real School Contexts

James Bewsey, Quality Improvement Officer, Scottish Borders Council

Translating Theory into Practice: Embedding Cognitive Science and Metacognition

Gareth McQuillan, School Improvement Adviser, Education North Tyneside

Collaborative School Improvement in Wales

Siân Rowles, School Improvement Adviser, Pembrokeshire County Council

The Best Thinking is Rethinking

Corinne Latham, Principal, Seaview Primary School

The Certainty Effect

Louise Hall, Regional Director, WISE Academies

Squaring up to leadership challenges and people politics to strengthen accountability at all levels

Zoubiya Ahmed, Educational Strategist and Adviser, Highbright Education / Verdant & Co

Designing and Embedding a Semi-Formal Curriculum in Pilot Schools

Adele Tong, SEND School Improvement Officer, Together for Children

Supporting a School Leader in a Period of Leadership Transition

David Godfrey, Headteacher, Valley Gardens Middle School

Developing Middle Leaders: The Key to Sustainable School Improvement

Tony Young, Principal, Crumlin Integrated Primary School

Book Your Tickets!

Member Pricing

B&B Package Rate - Pre-Summit Dinner, Stay and Conference SOLD OUT

Member, Accredited or Accreditation in progress rate: DBB rate (includes arrival drink, wine with 3-course meal, overnight accommodation and conference day ticket)
Package Rate - Pre-Summit Dinner and Conference SOLD OUT

Member, Accredited or Accreditation in progress rate: Dinner and conference day ticket (includes arrival drink, wine with 3-course meal and conference day ticket)
Conference day ticket only Book Now - £125

Accredited or Accreditation in Progress Rate

Non-Member Pricing

B&B Package Rate - Pre-Summit Dinner, Stay and Conference SOLD OUT

Non-member rate: DBB rate (includes arrival drink, wine with 3-course meal, overnight accommodation and conference day ticket)
Package Rate - Pre-Summit Dinner and Conference SOLD OUT

Non-member rate: Dinner and conference day ticket (includes arrival drink, wine with 3-course meal and conference day ticket)
Conference day ticket only Book Now - £150

Non-member rate

What do our delegates think?

"An inspirational day that left me excited about the future of education"

"The 2024 Association of Education Advisors (AoEA) Summit, held in York, was a powerful convergence of educators, fostering insightful dialogues and innovative strategies for advancing education"

"A brilliant day to connect with and learn from other leaders from across the UK and beyond."

A thought-provoking, career-affirming day with excellent speakers and networking opportunities.

Truly inspiring and provided valuable time to think and reflect.

Our Sponsors

Sponsor our Conference

The AoEA School Improvement Summit is the premier gathering for education improvement leaders across the UK and beyond. Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to showcase your organisation, connect with a highly engaged audience, and demonstrate your commitment to raising the quality of education advice.

2025 attendees:

If you are interested in sponsoring the AoEA tenth School Improvement Summit at 2027, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please get in touch with us at info@aoea.co.uk to discuss sponsorship packages and opportunities.

Join Us in Newcastle

Register your Interest

Be part of AoEA’s tenth annual conference and help shape the next decade of school improvement.

29 and 30 April 2027
Newcastle upon Tyne
Venue to be announced

Fill the form below to be the first one to be notified of updates.

Keynotes and Panels

See who is headlining the ninth annual Connecting Educators Summit.

Discover More

Sharing Great Practice

See which AoEA associates are sharing their great practice this year.

Discover More

Overview

Membership overview

Professional Learning Overview

Upcoming Events