NAHT North East and Yorkshire Conference 2025

Well-being, accountability and exploring an approach to tackling the SEND crisis.

Our school was fortunate to be selected for a pilot project in Gateshead, which saw schools receiving training from Trauma Informed Schools UK.  We found it both informative and transformative.  This training is helping us understand our pupils and enabled us to better help them.  We believe all schools should have access to this research and to this practice.  That is why Gateshead took a motion to Annual Conference to ensure that;
·        Every school has access to trauma-informed training,
·        Every school is equipped to support children affected by trauma,
·        Every school is trauma responsive.

The North-East and Yorkshire joint conference provides a great opportunity for school leaders to find out more.  

Whether you are just beginning your Trauma Informed journey, or whether you want to learn some practical tips that can support your school in developing its Relational Practice, I am confident that you will find this conference both informative and transformative.
Andy Ramanandi – Head Teacher and NAHT North East Regional President

Book for 5 December 2025

Click here for booking terms, conditions and code of conduct.

Time: 8:45am - 3.30pm
Venue: The Hospitium, Museum Gardens, York, YO30 7DR

Members:  £60.00
Non-members:  £75.00

Lunch and refreshments are included within the ticket price.

Trauma and Pace Modeling Workshop with Dr Aisling Martin and Adele Brown
This session will explore how developmental trauma impacts on young people’s brain, body, and behaviour, and what this might look like within an education environment. 

Interactive activities will provide an opportunity for attendees to think about relational approaches within the education setting, and applying Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity & Empathy (PACE) in practice. 

We will consider how leaders can apply PACE not only in their interactions with pupils and colleagues but also in their relationship with themselves—promoting self-compassion and resilience.
 

Welcome to our Speakers

Dr Aisling Martin - Consultant Clinical Psychologist

Dr Aisling Martin is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in attachment and developmental trauma and a passion for promoting relational approaches. Aisling leads Trusting Hands Gateshead, an integrated trauma-informed care team within children’s services. She has over 20 years NHS experience working psychologically with children and young people, families, and systems across varying levels of complexity in both clinical and forensic settings. Aisling is trained in several trauma-specific therapeutic approaches and particularly enjoys working therapeutically with parents and systems around young people, recognising the parallel processes of trauma that they can experience. 

Adele Brown - Head Teacher

Adele Brown is the Virtual School Head teacher for Gateshead Council and is a passionate advocate for children and young people in care.  She has 20 years of experience in education across both mainstream secondary and middle school settings alongside significant experience in the realm of Alternative Provision. Adele was Head Teacher at the Pupil Referral Unit for 3 years and enjoyed 10 wonderful years in this environment, where her interest in understanding complex behaviour and the impact of trauma really developed.   Adele is a Thrive Approach Trainer, as well as a passionate advocate of the arts in education; a drama teacher by trade, she knows all too well the huge impact an enriching and varied arts curriculum can bring to children, especially those with additional needs. 

Angi Gibson - NAHT president (Sept 2025 – Sept 2026)

Angi Gibson is head teacher of Hadrian Park Primary School in North Tyneside and president of NAHT from September 2025.  Throughout her career, Angi has been driven by a simple, powerful belief: every child matters, every day. Inclusion is the foundation of her work — in her school, in the wider community, and now on the national stage.

Originally from a working-class background, Angi’s values of hard work, honesty and determination were shaped by her family and community. After beginning her career in engineering, she moved into teaching out of a desire to make a difference where it matters most. She believes passionately that education must help children see beyond their circumstances — and that opportunity must never depend on a postcode.

Under Angi’s leadership, Hadrian Park has become known for its commitment to equity, kindness, and inclusion. She has championed bicycles as a symbol of equality — helping children connect with their community, stay active, and experience freedom regardless of their background.

As NAHT president, Angi leads with heart and fire, focused on meaningful action rather than titles or photo opportunities. Her priorities are clear: to reform inspection and accountability, improve pay and funding, address recruitment and retention challenges, secure investment in safe school buildings, strengthen SEND support, and tackle workload so that staff and children can thrive. As she says: “These aren’t wish lists — these are non-negotiables.”
Angi’s presidency is a call to action — to fight for the best for every child, and to ensure that no child is left behind.

 Paul Whiteman – NAHT General Secretary 

Paul Whiteman took over as General Secretary of NAHT in September 2017.  NAHT represents the majority of school leaders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Paul leads all of NAHT’s campaigns to improve schools for everyone, including the campaigns to achieve a fair funding settlement for schools, improving the systems of accountability and improving the recruitment and retention of teachers and leaders.  

Prior to taking over as general secretary, Paul was NAHT’s director of representation and advice, a post he held for five years. The representation and advice team includes regional officers, organisers, the advice team and the legal team, helping to promote NAHT’s voice across the country while providing highly-regarded assistance and protection to members when needed.

Before joining NAHT, Paul spent a decade as a national official at the FDA, the union for civil servants. He has a first-class grasp of education issues as well as many years’ experience in the wider trade union movement.
 

 Rob Kelsall - NAHT Assistant General Secretary

Robert Kelsall is a senior trade union leader dedicated to improving the lives of school leaders, the communities they serve, and the children and young people at the heart of education. As Assistant General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), Robert has been at the forefront of national campaigns on school funding, Ofsted reform, and SEND provision, ensuring that the voices of educators are heard where decisions are made.
With more than two decades of experience in organising, bargaining, and public advocacy, Robert has led NAHT’s growth from 26,000 to over 39,000 members and delivered successful industrial action across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey and the Isle of Man, winning improved pay, professional respect, and support for school leaders.
Robert has played a key role in supporting members through some of the most challenging moments in recent education history, including the Trojan Horse and extremism in schools investigations, and the rise in protests targeting LGBT+ inclusion in schools. His commitment to standing up for members, protecting children’s rights, and defending inclusive education has made him a trusted and respected voice across the education sector.
 

Programme*

*Programme subject to change

Book for 5 December 2025

Click here for booking terms, conditions and code of conduct.