NET Inspire

Welcome to NET
Inspire

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to NET Inspire, the professional development arm of Northern Education Trust.

Building upon our strong reputation and established track record of success, NET Inspire has been created to provide outstanding training and professional development opportunities across a wide range of disciplines within the educational sector. Our aim is to realise the full potential of all educational staff by providing them with the very best professional development, enabling them to deliver exceptional outcomes for our children and young people.

We are incredibly proud of the diverse range of programmes we have on offer. Our courses support professionals across the education sector; whether you are in the classroom, leading a team, or working in a vital support role, NET Inspire is here to guide your professional pathway.

At the heart of NET Inspire is a clear purpose: our aim is to inspire through values-driven professional development, empowering individuals to deliver excellence for the young people and communities that we serve.

We look forward to supporting your journey, unlocking your potential, and making a difference together.

Jane WilsonChief Executive Officer

Mark Sanders OBEChair of Trust

Testimonials

Dr Kendra Brownless Principal, Thornaby

Delivering NPQs with Northern Education Trust has been incredibly rewarding, particularly through the opportunity to share evidence-based research that provokes valuable and insightful reflection among leaders. The programmes create meaningful professional dialogue and encourage participants to think deeply about leadership practice and decision-making. Facilitating these programmes has also contributed significantly to my own professional growth. I have found it especially rewarding to coach leaders working in a range of educational settings, including primary and post-16 contexts. Supporting participants to problem-solve, reflect, and evaluate leadership challenges has further developed my own coaching skills and strengthened my ability to guide reflective practice in others. Being able to see the impact on participants and their schools has been wonderful. Many leaders grow noticeably in confidence throughout the programme, while also developing a stronger understanding of the strategic and operational aspects of school leadership. The realistic scenarios and data-focused tasks help participants engage with authentic leadership challenges and consider how effective leadership can be applied within their own settings. I would strongly encourage colleagues considering involvement in NPQ delivery with NET to take the opportunity. School leaders make thousands of decisions every day, and often our reasoning becomes instinctive — we simply know what feels like the right thing to do. Delivering NPQs gives you the chance to slow down that thinking process, reflect alongside other leaders, and articulate the reasoning behind effective leadership decisions. It enables you to model critical thinking, encourage deeper consideration, and support others in navigating the fast-paced and dynamic terrain of educational leadership.

Lewis Hunter Science Teacher, Walbottle

I have been involved with the Northern Education Trust for just under three years. In my time working for the trust, I have grown as a practitioner. Starting off as a teaching assistant and helping students with SEN access the curriculum at Thorp, I then ventured into the world of teaching. Training with the trust was a delight as I gained some great skills whilst being supported by a great team around me. Now, as an ECT for 10 months, I couldn’t be happier to be part of a fantastic science department in Walbottle Academy.

Jordan Richards Teacher, Thornaby

My experience with NET through my teacher training has been rewarding and positive, the training was well structured, engaging and provided strategies that I can apply within a classroom. The biggest strength of the course has been the support that has been given from Richard and Meriem as it is outstanding, they have made this year memorable and helped not only myself but everyone on the course, they are a massive credit to NET Inspire. The course has had a significant impact on my professional development, equipping me with valuable tools and techniques that will enhance my teaching practice. I would highly recommend NET to anyone looking to develop their skills and start their teaching journey with.

Jessica Carr Teacher

My training year with NET has been one of the most challenging but equally rewarding years of my life. The ITT programme provided me with the opportunity to grow from my role as a Cover Supervisor into a qualified teacher, securing a full time teaching position at a school within the Trust by the end of my training year. The mentors and support team were invaluable throughout and their guidance, kindness, and encouragement curated a learning environment that supported all trainees and allowed me to feel a sense of belonging from the first day. NET training is an extension of the wonderful culture created throughout every school within the Trust and it has been a privilege to experience this first hand and begin my teaching career in such a supportive, progressive, and welcoming environment. I couldn’t recommend it more.

Sarah Moody Vice Principal, Walbottle

Being Vice Principal DEEP Learning is the best job in the academy. Teaching is a brilliant job because you get to gift children your knowledge and you lose nothing in giving that knowledge away. In fact, you gain from it. It is the same with leading a team of staff. Being able to support staff to be the best they can be in the classroom. so they can gift their knowledge to hundreds of children in our academy is a privilege.

View all testimonials