North of England Education Conference
Encyclopedia
The North of England Education Conference (NEEC) is the UK’s biggest annual education conference. The first Conference took place in Manchester
in 1903. The event provides an opportunity for senior decision makers in education, Children’s Services, the public sector, associated agencies and organisations to meet and consider the latest thinking and legislation affecting children and young people. In recent years the scope of the conference has expanded to encompass the broader children’s services agenda.
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 Leeds
in January 2012.
and predecessors including Ruth Kelly
, David Miliband
, David Blunkett
and Estelle Morris
. 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.
. 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
.
. 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’.
.
In 1924 the political dimension was added and the Secretary of the State of the day has usually been in attendance ever since, the conference often serving as a platform for announcement to changes in legislation or educational approaches. Over the course of its history this has included: Anthony Crosland
, Kenneth Baker
, Kenneth Clarke
, Shirley Williams and Margaret Thatcher
. Kenneth Clarke, on assuming his post as Secretary of State, is reported to have been told it was the one conference he could not afford to miss.
who gave a speech on Personalised Learning.
, appointed just three weeks earlier following Charles Clarke
's promotion to Home Secretary. 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 Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organisation
'.
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
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.
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
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
.
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.
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.
The conference presidency was shared between Ann Widdecombe
and a young person from the town. Conference speakers included Nick Gibb MP
, Andy Burnham MP, Martin Bell
, Baroness Estelle Morris
, Dr Margaret Atkinson
, Sir Paul Ennals
, Steve Munby
, Sharon Shoesmith, Sir Ian Kennedy
, Saul Nasse, Professor Barry Carpenter, Sir Charles Pollard
and Tanni Grey-Thompson. The conference took place between the neighbouring hotels Blackpool Hilton and The Imperial. The Gala Dinner was hosted in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and featured dancing, circus skills and a performance on the world famous Wurlitzer.
City Council will host the next NEEC from 4-6 January 2012 under the title of, "Passion, Potential, Performance. The conference president will be Mick Waters, former Director of Curriculum at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The venue for the event is the Royal Armouries Museum.
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in 1903. The event provides an opportunity for senior decision makers in education, Children’s Services, the public sector, associated agencies and organisations to meet and consider the latest thinking and legislation affecting children and young people. In recent years the scope of the conference has expanded to encompass the broader children’s services agenda.
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
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
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 Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in January 2012.
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 BallsEd Balls
Edward Michael Balls, known as Ed Balls, is a British Labour politician, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2005, currently for Morley and Outwood, and is the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer....
and predecessors including Ruth Kelly
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
, David Miliband
David Miliband
David Wright Miliband is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for South Shields since 2001, and was the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He is the elder son of the late Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband...
, David Blunkett
David Blunkett
David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, having represented Sheffield Brightside from 1987 to 2010...
and Estelle Morris
Estelle Morris
Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, PC was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley from 1992 to 2005, and served briefly in the Cabinet as Education Secretary.-Early life:...
. 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 PenninesPennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
. On occasion however, the Conference has been held outside the North of England. In 2004 the NEEC was held in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and in 2008, the NEEC paid its first visit to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
.
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 ChildrenEvery Child Matters
Every Child Matters is a UK government initiative that was launched in 2003, at least partly in response to the death of Victoria Climbié...
. 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. In January 2012 Blackpool had a young person co-preside over the conference for the first time along with President, Ann WiddecombeAnn Widdecombe
Ann Noreen Widdecombe is a former British Conservative Party politician and has been a novelist since 2000. She is a Privy Councillor and was the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 1997 and for Maidstone and The Weald from 1997 to 2010. She was a social conservative and a member of...
.
History of the Conference
In 1902, having seen the success of a conference for science teachers in London, JH Reynolds, Manchester City Council's Director of Technical Instruction, decided to replicate the conference in his home town. The conference, also with a science theme, was arranged for 2 and 3 January 1903 and attended by 3,200 teachers, lecturers, inspectors and local government employees. Built on this success the conference widened the agenda to cover all areas of the curriculum. With short input from a range of professionals the, conference has remained true to the original template and remained a fixture in the first week of the year.In 1924 the political dimension was added and the Secretary of the State of the day has usually been in attendance ever since, the conference often serving as a platform for announcement to changes in legislation or educational approaches. Over the course of its history this has included: Anthony Crosland
Anthony Crosland
Charles Anthony Raven Crosland , otherwise Tony Crosland or C.A.R. Crosland, was a British Labour Party politician and author. He served as Member of Parliament for South Gloucestershire and later for Great Grimsby...
, Kenneth Baker
Kenneth Baker
Kenneth Wilfred Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking, CH, PC , is a British politician, a former Conservative MP and a Life Member of the Tory Reform Group.-Early life:...
, Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Clarke
Kenneth Harry "Ken" Clarke, QC, MP is a British Conservative politician, currently Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970; and appointed a minister in Edward Heath's government, in 1972, and is one of...
, Shirley Williams and Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
. Kenneth Clarke, on assuming his post as Secretary of State, is reported to have been told it was the one conference he could not afford to miss.
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 Miliband MPDavid Miliband
David Wright Miliband is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for South Shields since 2001, and was the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He is the elder son of the late Marxist theorist Ralph Miliband...
who gave a speech on Personalised Learning.
2005 Manchester
The Centre for Educational Leadership at The University of Manchester hosted the Conference in 2005. The conference included the first public speech by the new Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Ruth KellyRuth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
, appointed just three weeks earlier following Charles Clarke
Charles Clarke
Charles Rodway Clarke is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 until 2010, and served as Home Secretary from December 2004 until May 2006.-Early life:...
's promotion to Home Secretary. 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
Benjamin Zander
Benjamin Zander is an American conductor from the United Kingdom.-External links:* *-Interviews:* * * *...
, Conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and Dr Peter Senge
Peter Senge
Peter Michael Senge is an American scientist and director of the Center for Organizational Learning at the MIT Sloan School of Management. He is known as author of the book The Fifth Discipline: The art and practice of the learning organization from 1990...
, author of 'The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of The Learning Organisation
The Fifth Discipline
The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization is a book by Peter Senge focusing on group problem solving using the systems thinking method in order to convert companies into learning organizations...
'.
2006 Gateshead and Newcastle Councils
The 2006 North of England Education Conference was held in GatesheadGateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
and consisted of three days of speakers, workshops and receptions. Speakers included Jane Davidson AM
Jane Davidson
Jane Davidson, AM was the Labour Assembly Member for Pontypridd and the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing in the Welsh Assembly Government. She lives in Gwaelod-y-Garth with her husband and three children...
, the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Ruth Kelly MP
Ruth Kelly
Ruth Maria Kelly is a British Labour Party politician of Irish descent who was the Member of Parliament for Bolton West from 1997 until she stood down in 2010...
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 LancashireLancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
with the theme of ‘Investing for Achievement’. Jonathan Jansen, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Jude Kelly
Jude Kelly
Judith Pamela Kelly OBE is a theatre director and producer from Liverpool, England.Kelly founded Solent People's Theatre, a touring company in 1976, and was artistic director of the Battersea Arts Centre from 1980 to 1985. In 1986, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company...
, 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
Jim Knight
James Philip Knight, Baron Knight of Weymouth is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for South Dorset from 2001 until 2010, when he lost his seat. Knight held several ministerial posts during his time as an MP including Minister for the South West and Minister for...
, 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
Fiona Millar
Fiona Millar is a British journalist and campaigner on education and parenting issues. She was a former adviser to Cherie Blair. She writes a blog, The Truth About Our Schools, on education issues.-Early life:...
and the former General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, Lord Bill Morris of Handsworth
Bill Morris
William Manuel Morris, Baron Morris of Handsworth, OJ , generally known as Bill Morris, was general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1992 to 2003, and the first black leader of a British trade union....
. A civic reception was held in the Senedd Building
Senedd
The Senedd , also known as the National Assembly building, houses the debating chamber and three committee rooms for the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff. The Senedd building was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 March 2006 and the total cost was £69.6 million, which included £49.7M in...
; the home of the National Assembly hosted by the First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM
Rhodri Morgan
Hywel Rhodri Morgan is a Welsh Labour politician who, as First Secretary for Wales, and subsequently First Minister, was leader of the Welsh Assembly Government from 2000 to 2009. A former leader of Welsh Labour, he was the Assembly Member for Cardiff West from 1999 to 2011...
.
2009 Wirral CC and Chester City Council
The theme for the conference held in WirralMetropolitan Borough of Wirral
The Metropolitan Borough of Wirral is a metropolitan borough of Merseyside, in North West England. It has a population of 311,200, and encompasses of the northern part of the Wirral Peninsula. Major settlements include Birkenhead, Wallasey, Bebington, Heswall, Hoylake and West Kirby. The city of...
and Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
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
Estelle Morris
Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, PC was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley from 1992 to 2005, and served briefly in the Cabinet as Education Secretary.-Early life:...
and speakers included Peter Fahy
Peter Fahy
Peter Fahy QPM is the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police , the United Kingdom's third largest police force.-Personal life:Fahy holds a degree in French and Spanish from the University of Hull, and a Masters degree from the University of East Anglia.-Police career:He joined the police in...
, Chief Contable Greater Manchester, Liz Railton CBE, Professor Sir David Watson, Dame Gillian Pugh
Gillian Pugh
Dame Gillian Pugh, DBE was Chief Executive of Coram Family, England’s oldest children’s charity, until her retirement on 25 April 2005, after eight years of service....
, 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
David Willetts
David Linsay Willetts is a British Conservative Party politician and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. He is the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Havant in Hampshire.-Education:...
and Secretary of State Ed Balls
Ed Balls
Edward Michael Balls, known as Ed Balls, is a British Labour politician, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2005, currently for Morley and Outwood, and is the current Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer....
who attended following a Cabinet Meeting in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. All schools in Wirral were involved in a ‘Performance Extravaganza’ held throughout Weather Head High School Media College.
2010 City of York Council
The theme for York’sYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
conference was ‘Unlocking Children’s Potential’ and had Sir Michael Bichard
Michael Bichard
Michael George Bichard, Baron Bichard, KCB, is a former public servant in the United Kingdom, first in local and then as a civil servant in central government. He currently serves as the Director of the Institute for Government and as Chair of the Design Council...
as conference president. Speakers included Sir Roger Singleton
Roger Singleton
Sir Roger Singleton CBE is chair of the Independent Safeguarding Authority and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.He was Chief Executive of Barnardos for 21 years and was awarded a knighthood for his services to children in 2005. He has served on public inquiries into child abuse in...
, Sir John Sorrell, Sir Andrew Motion
Andrew Motion
Sir Andrew Motion, FRSL is an English poet, novelist and biographer, who presided as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2009.- Life and career :...
, Dylan Wiliam and Beeban Kidron
Beeban Kidron
Beeban Kidron is an English Film Director known for her much-lauded adaptation of Jeanette Winterson's autobiographical novel Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit and for directing Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason...
, British Television and Film Director. The political slot was filled by Vernon Coaker MP
Vernon Coaker
Vernon Rodney Coaker is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Gedling since 1997; Coaker was appointed Minister of State for Schools and Learners in June 2009, a post he held until Gordon Brown resigned as Prime Minister on 11 May 2010...
, Michael Gove MP
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
and David Laws MP
David Laws
David Anthony Laws is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury....
. An input by York’s Member of the UK Youth Parliament
UK Youth Parliament
The UK Youth Parliament is a youth organisation in the United Kingdom, consisting of democratically elected members aged between 11 and 18....
was well received by delegates. Delegates attended a civic reception at York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
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.
2011 Blackpool Council
The theme for Blackpool’s conference theme was ‘Our World, Our Future’. The conference continued the development of previous events in opening the theme out to include aspects of the wider Children’s Services agenda.The conference presidency was shared between Ann Widdecombe
Ann Widdecombe
Ann Noreen Widdecombe is a former British Conservative Party politician and has been a novelist since 2000. She is a Privy Councillor and was the Member of Parliament for Maidstone from 1987 to 1997 and for Maidstone and The Weald from 1997 to 2010. She was a social conservative and a member of...
and a young person from the town. Conference speakers included Nick Gibb MP
Nick Gibb
Nicolas John "Nick" Gibb is a British Conservative Party politician. He is the Member of Parliament for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton...
, Andy Burnham MP, Martin Bell
Martin Bell
Martin Bell, OBE, is a British UNICEF Ambassador, a former broadcast war reporter and former independent politician...
, Baroness Estelle Morris
Estelle Morris
Estelle Morris, Baroness Morris of Yardley, PC was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley from 1992 to 2005, and served briefly in the Cabinet as Education Secretary.-Early life:...
, Dr Margaret Atkinson
Children's Commissioner for England
The post of Children's Commissioner for England was established under the Children Act 2004 . The Children's Commissioner has a duty to promote awareness of the views and interests of all children in England, in particular those whose voices are least likely to be heard, to the people who make...
, Sir Paul Ennals
Paul Ennals
The Honourable Sir Paul Martin Ennals, CBE is chief executive of the United Kingdom's National Children's Bureau, a post he took up in 1998, having previously been director of education and employment for the RNIB...
, Steve Munby
National College for School Leadership
The National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services is a British government-funded non-departmental public body which offers head teachers, school leaders and senior children's services leaders opportunities for professional leadership development.- History :Established in 2000...
, Sharon Shoesmith, Sir Ian Kennedy
Ian Kennedy (lawyer)
Sir Ian McColl Kennedy LLM LLD is a British academic lawyer who has specialised in the law and ethics of health. He was appointed to chair the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority in 2009...
, Saul Nasse, Professor Barry Carpenter, Sir Charles Pollard
Charles Pollard
Sir Charles Pollard, QPM was Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police from 1991 to 2001.Pollard was educated at Oundle School and began his career in the police force at the age of 19 as a constable in the Metropolitan Police. He then undertook the accelerated promotions course at Bramshill Police...
and Tanni Grey-Thompson. The conference took place between the neighbouring hotels Blackpool Hilton and The Imperial. The Gala Dinner was hosted in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom and featured dancing, circus skills and a performance on the world famous Wurlitzer.
NEEC 2012 - Leeds City Council
LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
City Council will host the next NEEC from 4-6 January 2012 under the title of, "Passion, Potential, Performance. The conference president will be Mick Waters, former Director of Curriculum at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. The venue for the event is the Royal Armouries Museum.