The two-day conference was attended by a total of 250 people including Sir James Hill - Chairman of the Schools and Specialist Academies Trust and a number of well-known UK Children's Book authors including G P Taylor, Theresa Breslin, Justin Richards, Peter J Murray, Susan Brewer, Chris Higgins and Chris Bradford, plus Renaissance UK staff.

Forty nine sessions were presented throughout the two days and included:
Supporting Literacy and Numeracy Development with NEO 2, Innovation to bring about real improvement, Developing a Whole School Reading Community, Raising Standards in Maths through Regular Targeted Practice, plus many others.

A Gala Dinner was held on the Thursday evening and was attended by all. A raffle took place with proceeds of £301 going to the National Literacy Trust. The prizes were well received and included an iPod nano and over £1,300 worth of book vouchers. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves dancing the night away. The conference was a huge success and the feedback has been extremely positive.

If you were fortunate enough to attend the National Conference 2008, but have not yet filled in our Feedback Form, please do so and you will be in with a chance to win an iPod nano!

Key Note Speakers: Theresa Breslin and G P Taylor

		G P Taylor was a guest speaker at the National Conference 2008 - back by popular demand. His book Shadowmancer became a number one best-seller on both sides of the Atlantic. Read more about G P Taylor »

		Theresa Breslin is a Carnegie Medal winning writer and librarian living in Scotland who is committed to promoting reading and writing to young people and will talk about this to anyone who will listen! Read more about Theresa Breslin »

Sir James Hill Bt OBE DL, Chairman of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, opeed the National Conference on 9 Oct 2008.

Sir James Hill has been a member of the SSAT's Council since 2003, and previously held the role of Deputy Chairman. He is also Chair of the Board of Governors at Dixons City Academy, Bradford, and Co-Chair of the Academies and Colleges Association. He has held a variety of roles in further and higher education in West Yorkshire.

Sir James has had an extensive and successful career in textiles, travel, transport, and energy related companies, but now devotes much of his time to voluntary and charitable activities, in particular in the health, disability and education sectors in the Bradford and West Yorkshire area.

Sir James is a 4th Baronet and was awarded an OBE in 2000 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Bradford in 1997. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

Sessions

Full list of sessions that were delivered at the conference

Authors

Information on authors who appeared at the conference