Excitement is building for the inaugural Emmanuel Schools Foundation Conference and 20 year celebration at The Sage Gateshead next month.

 

The event - 20:20 Vision: 20 Years of Success, 20 Years of Vision - marks two decades of achievement in building schools, raising standards and providing outstanding education.

 

It will also cast a vision for the future development of ESF in front of 800 members of staff from the schools and support services, and invited guests.

 

The first ESF awards recognising talent, hard work and achievement among colleagues will be presented on the day.

 

The prestigious awards include ESF's teacher of the year and leader of the year as well as rewarding innovation and dedication outside the classroom.

 

Nominees from each school have made it through to a final shortlist, with the winners presented with trophies at the conference.

 

Chairman David Vardy said: "This year is a significantly important year for the Emmanuel Schools Foundation. Clearly we have much to celebrate as we mark 20 years of outstanding success.

 

"The conference will also look forward to 20 years of real opportunity for the Foundation to impact on the future of the educational landscape of the North of England and beyond into the national agenda.

 

"It promises to be an exciting day that will be full of inspiration, and a rare opportunity for all our staff to come together, to network and share experiences."

The audience on April 1 - a training day for staff - will be welcomed by Sir Peter Vardy, founder of ESF. 

 

Former schools inspector and best-selling author and broadcaster Gervase Phinn will compere the event and introduce the keynote speakers who include:

• Lord Michael Bates, Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Children Schools & Families and Communities & Local Government;
• The Reverend Professor Norman Drummond, a former Headmaster of Loretto school in Scotland, founder of Columba 1400, the Community and International Leadership Centre on the Isle of Skye, and a chaplain to Her Majesty The Queen in Scotland;
• The Reverend Dr David Wilkinson, Principal of St John's College and a Lecturer in the Department of Theology and Religion at the University of Durham;
• Dr Patrick Dixon, who is described as Europe's leading futurist and has been ranked as one of the 20 most influential business thinkers alive today.

David Vardy will speak about ESF's 20 years of success while new Chief Executive David Wootton will set out the future vision.

 

Students from ESF's four schools - Bede Academy in Blyth, Emmanuel College, Gateshead, The King's Academy, Middlesbrough, and Trinity Academy, at Thorne near Doncaster - will perform on stage throughout the day.

 

A choir bringing together all the young singers will close the conference with a special performance.