Ambition with Impact: How Bolton is Rethinking School Improvement
We asked Philip Britton MBE, Bolton Learning Partnership Founding Member and Head of Foundation at Bolton School, and Dominic McKeon, Bolton Learning Partnership Member and Principal of Little Lever, to share the work they are undertaking as part of The Bolton Learning Partnership (BLP). The BLP is a unique collaboration of secondary schools, further education […]
SATs and the Anxiety They Cause: We Need a Braver, Fairer System
In this powerful reflection, James Searjeant, Headteacher at Wyborne Primary and member of the FED National Education Leaders Council, calls for urgent reform of the current SATs and accountability structures, arguing they place undue pressure on children, staff, and families while failing to capture the full breadth of a child’s development. He advocates for a […]
Should We Be Able to Predict GCSE Results at the Age of 5?
We are delighted to share the reflections of Dave Marsh, Executive Headteacher of Featherby Infant and Junior Schools and Barnsole Primary School. The thinkpiece argues against predicting GCSE outcomes at age five, emphasizing that early disadvantage should not define a child’s future. Maritime Academy Trust champions a proactive, hopeful approach – investing in early intervention, […]
Strategy, Ethics & Action: Leading the Digital Shift in Education
Date: Wednesday 25th JuneTime: 8:30am to 10:30am, Registration/Breakfast from 8:00amVenue: HAYS, 4th Floor, 107 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6DN 🥐 8:00am–8:30am: Registration & Light Breakfast💡 8:30am–10:00am: Thought Leadership Sessions❓ 10:00am–10:30am: Q&A Join Professor Wayne Holmes and Alison Gellett for a thought-provoking deep dive into the current digital transformation situation within the education sector, to examine successes […]
From Exclusions to Belonging: The Radical Shift Powering Empower Trust
We are delighted to share a thinkpiece by Carla Whelan, Chief Executive Officer at Empower MAT. Empower Multi-Academy Trust has established a sector-leading model for inclusive education by prioritising collaboration, rights-respecting culture, and innovative practice across its Shropshire schools. Through targeted SEND interventions, strategic leadership, and staff development, the Trust has significantly reduced exclusions, secured […]
Embedding cultural inclusion — through curriculum design and/or creating cultures of belonging
We are delighted to share the reflections of Stacey Postle, Headteacher at Beaumont Primary School, that explores how Beaumont Primary School have embedded cultural inclusion and belonging at the heart of their curriculum through their “My Beaumont Journey,” offering all pupils diverse, meaningful experiences such as cultural visits, performances, and enterprise activities. This inclusive, research-led […]
Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not: It’s time young people help design the system that fails them
In February of this year, we gathered at St. George’s House for 24 hours of discussion, debate and reflection to create a Blueprint for the Future on Skills, Careers and Collaboration. A partnership with The Inspirational Learning Group, this consultation brought business leaders together with education professionals and learners to shine a light on the […]
The meal deal we didn’t make
We are delighted to share the reflections of Fiona Fearon, Head of Policy & Research at The National Governance Association, on our recent virtual policy roundtable where we explored the relationship between food, wellbeing and academic success, and the equity issues which go hand-in-hand with this. Fiona has 16 years of frontline education experience, including leadership roles in […]
The Next Generation of School Estate
We are delighted to share the reflections of Ian Denison, Director of Inscyte. In this thought-provoking thinkpiece, Ian explores the future of school buildings in an era of rapid technological change, particularly the impact of AI on learning environments. He critiques the government’s standardised “flat-pack” approach to school design, arguing that it risks repeating past mistakes […]
Power in Place – Driving Effective Education Partnerships for Flourishing Learners and Communities
Date: Tuesday 25th MarchTime: 16.00 – 17.30Online Event: Zoom We know that strong local partnerships are key to ensuring that every learner, regardless of background, has access to high-quality education and opportunities that help them thrive. Yet, across the country, collaboration between schools, colleges, and communities often happens despite the system, rather than because of […]