ASCL Conference 2025

Director for Secondary Education and Executive Principal at Wade Deacon High School, Simon Corner, and Executive Principal at Hillside High School, Amanda Ryan, presented a workshop at the Association for School and College Leaders' Annual Conference in Liverpool on 14th March.

The annual conference is a prestigious event in the Education calendar, with keynote addresses from policymakers, including the Secretary of State for Education, educationalists and inspirational leaders from other sectors.

The workshop was titled:

'RISE-ing to the challenge of regional school improvement: What can we learn from powerful collaboration across the North West?'

Feedback from Simon and Amanda's workshop was extremely positive, with Dr Kate Chhatawal OBE, CEO at Challenge Partners, stating that both Simon and Amanda "absolutely did Wade Deacon Trust proud. It was an honour to present alongside them."

Everyone at Wade Deacon Trust is proud of Simon and Amanda for their incredibly valuable contribution to the national conversation around education.

Amanda Ryan commented:

“On behalf of Hillside High School and the Wade Deacon Trust, it was a huge honour to be asked to speak at the ASCL conference. Having the opportunity to talk to other school leaders about improving attendance in a school with over 50% PP and 30% SEND is so important. Leaders hearing from other practitioners who are doing the job in challenging circumstances has to be the way forward!

“Not only did we speak to school leaders, we were delighted that Dame Alison Peacock, CEO of the Chartered College, was in the audience and would now like to visit Hillside High School. This will be a great opportunity for the leader of a national organisation to see our work at school and trust level. This is a huge compliment for all of us in the Trust.

“It was great to have the opportunity to reflect on the support we have received from the Trust and through our membership of Challenge Partners. The opportunities this has presented have been numerous, including visits to other schools, attendance at national, regional and local conferences and sharing of best practice events. These events have challenged our thinking, allowed us to learn from others and undoubtedly supported us in our school improvement journey.”