Speaking at the Teesside University conference, Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, said: “Success is not what happens while children are with us – success is who they become because of us.”
Mr Brown cited the example of Middlesbrough-born footballer Robbie Blake who he taught in the 80s and went on to be a Premier League footballer.
He said: “Regularly, I had pressure. as the PE lead, to ban him from school football matches because of the difficulties he had managing the school day. I felt differently, football was his outlet, his means to being successful, why take that away from him?
“I could see football gave him something many children need – a place to belong and a reason to believe in himself. I could see football was a way out for him. Somebody believed in him before the rest of the world did.”
Mr Brown added: “Like every trust, we face challenges – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) reform, attendance and funding pressures. Yet our response remains the same: we support one another, we innovate together, and we keep children at the centre of every decision. Our strength has never been individual schools. Our strength has always been and always will be what happens when schools work together. Great schools don’t just create successful pupils – they create successful adults.”
Mr Brown went on to give several examples across the trust’s schools where excellence has been achieved over the last year.
During the day-long event there were keynote speakers, including Chris Zarraga of Schools North East, and several workshops covering a range of education issues.
Funds were also raised for Tom’s Trust, a UK charity with substantial presence in The Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, where former West Park Primary School pupil Alex Bell received treatment before he sadly passed away in 2026, aged just 11.
Anyone wanting more information about Tom’s Trust or who wishes to donate, should please visit www.tomstrust.org.uk/donate/
The event was closed by well-known local musician Mike McGrother and the Infant Hercules Pub Choir.
