Teachers and Advisers Conference Programme

Keynote Speakers

UCAS Insights: What’s Changed and What You Need to Know, delivered by Sarah Gordon

Sarah Gordon is Regional Advisor Lead for the North East, working to support schools, colleges and advisers in guiding their students through their post-16 and higher education choices. By equipping teachers, advisers and leaders with the latest tools, insight and guidance, Sarah aims to help their students make confident, informed decisions that lead to fulfilling futures.

Connecting Courses to Careers: The Importance of Graduate Outcomes in Student Decision Making, delivered by Lydia Derbyshire and Danielle Hogg

As a HE Partnerships Manager, Lydia works closely with universities to ensure students on the platform have access to the information and opportunities they need to make informed decisions about their next steps. Lydia is particularly passionate about supporting students to make confident choices about their futures and has previously worked for a widening access charity, as well as within a university’s Schools and Colleges Engagement team.

Danielle is an Account Manager at Unifrog, supporting schools and colleges across the North East to maximise the use of the platform within the careers programme and the wider curriculum. Working closely with Careers Leads, Danielle provides guidance and shares best practice to help partners meet the Gatsby Benchmarks and ensure their students have access to the tools and opportunities they need to make informed decisions about their next steps.

Having previously worked in the Student Recruitment and Access team at Northumbria University, Danielle is delighted to return and be part of this year’s Teachers Conference.

Programme

Morning Keynote - UCAS Insights: What’s Changed and What You Need to Know

Join UCAS for this essential update packed with insights, trends, and practical guidance. Discover what’s changed, what’s ahead, and how you can best support your students with confidence and clarity.

Interactive Breakout Sessions – Delegates will have the chance to attend two of the sessions below. Once registered, we will send you a link to select your breakout sessions.

Space is Closer Than You Think: Aerospace and Satellite Engineering at Northumbria

This session highlights the real-world impact of satellite technology and why now is a compelling time for students to consider a career in space. Join us to explore what studying Aerospace and Satellite Engineering really looks like, and how you can encourage your students to reach for more than they imagined.

A Work of Heart: Discover how nurses, midwives and ODPs save lives every day

Led by Dominic Simpson, Assistant Professor and Programme Leader at Northumbria University, this session offers teachers and advisers a vivid introduction to careers in Nursing, Midwifery and Operating Department Practice. Explore the four fields of nursing, what life looks like as a midwife or ODP, and the incredible range of careers these courses unlock. Then put your hands to work — because every delegate will leave having practised CPR and used a defibrillator. Perfect for anyone supporting students considering a career in health. 

The Breadth of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation

Our School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation is made up of several distinct disciplines including science, nutrition, coaching, management, and physiotherapy. The purpose of this session is to outline the shared objective of these disciplines to support human health and performance, while at the same time highlighting the unique contribution each discipline can make, and future career opportunities in these areas for your learners.

Studying Psychology at Northumbria

Find out what Psychology programmes are available at Northumbria; gain knowledge of existing facilities and be involved in a lab experience.

Order in the Court: A Mock Trial Experience

Step into Northumbria's Mock Magistrates' Court and experience the law in action. This hands-on session gives delegates a first-hand glimpse of how students develop real advocacy and critical thinking skills in one of our specialist legal facilities.

Business, But Not As Usual: Studying at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University

Discover what sets Northumbria's Newcastle Business School apart and why it could be the right destination for your students with an eye on a career in business. With teaching grounded in real-world problem-solving and a subject ranking of 8th in the UK (Daily Mail University Guide 2026), this session will give you a feel for our programmes across business management, marketing, finance, and logistics.

Building a Health T-Level: A Partnership in Practice

Delivered by academics from Northumbria's health faculty alongside colleagues at Bede Academy, this session explores the development of a T-Level in Health through the lens of real institutional collaboration. Hear directly from those involved about how the partnership was established, how the T-Level was set up in practice, and what other schools and colleges can take from their experience.

Afternoon Keynote - Connecting Courses to Careers: The Importance of Graduate Outcomes in Student Decision Making

With 87% of votes, ‘graduate employment rate’ was the second most important factor for 2026 leavers when choosing a university and course. So how can you, as teachers and advisors, support students in understanding graduate career pathways? And what influence is this having on the way they research universities and the subjects they choose?

Through this session we’ll explore the significance of graduate outcomes and consider how we can help students make informed decisions about higher education pathways. The aim is for you to leave feeling more confident and equipped to support students in thinking beyond entry requirements, helping them connect their subject choices to future opportunities, and guiding meaningful conversations about their next steps.

Afternoon Session - Northumbria University Admissions & Supported Entry

Demystify the admissions process and make sure you're giving your students the best possible guidance. Our admissions team will walk you through how we consider applications, including our contextual offer scheme and supported entry routes, helping you identify which of your students could benefit and how to have informed conversations with them before they apply.