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School Leadership Development

North East Combined Authority

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

12 Aug 2026 at 12:07

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

North East Combined Authority commissioned a school leadership development service for schools across Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The appointed partner is expected to design and deliver a programme supporting at least 110 school leaders, covering strategic leadership competencies, primary-school leadership, middle leadership, early years leadership and support for special educational needs and disabilities coordinators. The service includes access to current education research, methods for sharing best practice, leadership networking, ongoing one-to-one support and activities addressing teacher wellbeing, professional development and retention. It must be distinct from existing provision such as National Professional Qualifications. Delivery includes an introductory session and further in-person events, an impact study and participation in the authority’s evaluation of its Excellence in Education programme.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded through a below-threshold direct award without competition. NEAT Academy Trust was selected to deliver the single completed lot. The award value is £95,000 gross, in GBP. The contract period runs from 1 September 2026 to 30 July 2027, with a maximum extent date of 30 July 2028. The arrangement includes one 12-month extension option. The service is classified as education and training services and is below the applicable threshold. The award identifies a scheduled signature milestone due on 1 September 2026. The evaluation basis is therefore reflected in the direct-award route rather than a competitive scoring process. The contracting authority is North East Combined Authority.

This award indicates demand for a substantial, region-wide education leadership service combining programme design with practical delivery. A credible future provider would need experience developing school leaders across primary, middle-leadership, early-years and SEND settings, with the capacity to support a large cohort consistently across the North East. Relevant capability includes evidence-led professional development, access to current education research, structured communities of practice, best-practice sharing and sustained one-to-one coaching. Providers should also be able to organise in-person launch and networking activity, measure programme impact and contribute to a wider public-sector evaluation. Strong knowledge of teacher wellbeing, professional development and retention priorities would be important, as would the ability to complement rather than duplicate national qualifications and other established leadership provision.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

School Leadership Development

Notice Description

The North East MSA seeks to appoint a partner to design and deliver a leadership programme to support a minimum of 110 school leaders from across Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. This will include a dedicated approach to leadership development and additional support specially designed to meet local priorities and provide networking and best practice sharing opportunities. The work we intend to commission will support the professional development of school leaders across the North East, including the provision of access to the latest education research, and high-quality methodologies to facilitate the sharing of best practice. This service should be distinct from, and not duplicate, existing provision e.g. National Professional Qualifications. This proposed work should therefore include activities that meet Priority 3 within the Excellence in Education Programme, which focus on improving teacher wellbeing, professional development and teacher retention. Delivery partners will be expected to: * Deliver a strategic approach to leadership development across a range of key competencies. * Provide professional development for school leadership staff in primary schools. * Provide professional development for middle leadership staff in primary schools. * Provide professional development for early years leaders. * Provide professional development for SENDCos * Provide opportunities for leaders to engage in communities of research and best practice. * Provide ongoing 1:1 support for each participating leader. * Have capacity to deliver to a minimum of 110 school leaders across the North East over a one-year period. * Provide an in-person introductory session to bring together leaders from participating schools to launch the initiative, and subsequent additional in-person events. * Provide an impact study to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. * Participate in North East MSA's ongoing evaluation of the Excellence in Education programme as required.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e275
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/076687-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£95,000 Under £100K
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
12 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Contract Period
1 Sep 2026 - 30 Jul 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
North East Combined Authority
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
Postcode
NE4 5BZ
Postcode Area
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC43 Tyneside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Newcastle upon Tyne
Electoral Ward
Arthur's Hill
Westminster Constituency
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

NEAT Academy Trust

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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