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 nearly 1,300 maintained & independent primary, secondary & special schools in the North East, we work to create a unique culture of collaboration amongst our region's schools. SCHOOLS NorthEast aims to: • Empower schools to meet current and emerging challenges, and discover and exploit opportunities • Provoke discussion and debate of key issues to influence regional and national agenda • Inspire new approaches, celebrating good practice and supporting innovation • Connect schools to each other and the people, sectors, strategies, resources and ideas that shape our region’s future. SCHOOLS NorthEast believes: • Collaboration across schools is powerful and transformative. • Self confident, aspiring and collaborative schools can be agents of change at the centre of North East communities. • All schools have something to offer and something to gain from working in partnership and supporting others. • Schools have a moral responsibility for the outcomes of all young people in a community, not just though those that attend their school. • Localised solutions and innovation can lead to a step change in outcomes. • Collective effort is needed to tackle persistent educational issues. • Educational issues need to link to the broader social and economic agenda in the region.