PEOPLE who make key decisions about the future of the country's schools and education system are meeting in the North-East over the next few days.

The North of England Education Conference 2006 got under way at The Sage Gateshead yesterday, and continues tomorrow.

More than 300 delegates from local authorities, schools and educational institutions are travelling to Gateshead to hear keynote speeches from Education Secretary Ruth Kelly, England's children's commissioner Al Aynsley-Green and new chief inspector of schools Maurice Smith, among others.

The conference is one of the most established events in the national education and children's services calendar.

It has been running since 1903 and was last hosted in the North-East in 1996.

It will showcase how schools, higher education institutions and Local Education Authorities can collaborate to develop leadership potential and lead improvements in education and children's services.

President of the conference, Mr Aynsley-Green said: "I am keen to see a holistic approach to children's services where children and young people participate in decisions which affect their lives.

"It is vital that we break down the silos and bunkers between education, social care and healthcare and ask ourselves what it is like to be a child or young person and what is in the best interest of children and young people."