This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with FED Ambassador, Barry Cockcroft CBE. Barry qualified as a dentist in 1973 and spent the first twenty-five years of his career working in mainly NHS general practice and becoming involved in dental politics at professional representative level locally and nationally. He moved to the Department of Health in 2002 as Deputy Chief Dental Officer. He became Chief Dental Officer for England in 2006 and oversaw many changes in the dental world including the opening of two new dental schools and a school for dental therapists. He worked with both Labour and Conservative led administrations. Barry joined the board of the Diocese of Coventry Multi Academy Trust in 2021 and became chair in October 2023.

In this fascinating conversation, Barry and Carl discuss a wide range of issues related to the role of Chief Education Officer. From Barry’s experience as Chief Dental Officer, Barry talks about the importance of this role in acting as a conduit between the government and the profession. Within the role, Barry highlighted the tensions that politicians face in addressing short-term issues, whilst the role of a Chief Education Office was also about identifying and addressing long-term issues. Barry indicated that the role of a Chief Dental Officer was important in building relationships across the system.

This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with FED Trustee, Patrick Wall. Patrick is the founder of edpol.net, a research project to support better and more enduring policy change. Patrick set up the first Oxford University access programme, Target Schools, in 1982 and first became a school governor in 1988. For the last ten years he has been chair of governors at Ark Academy in Wembley. Patrick is a long standing Sutton Trust Fellow. He has spent thirty five years in business, working in Europe, USA and China. He is founder, and ex-CEO, of a successful European tech company and NED for a tech business, building ethical and sustainable supply chains.

In this fascinating conversation, Patrick and Carl discuss a wide range of issues surrounding policy creation, concerns about the current system of policy creation in England, most notable, instability, constant change made upon schools and colleges and policy churn. They discuss possible causes to this short term thinking, including the revolving door of ministers at the top, the rotation of the civil service, institutional memory, before looking to some possible solutions to help move towards greater stability in the system, whilst looking at international examples.

This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with FED Council Member Al Kingsley. Al has over 30 years’ experience in the technology sector predominantly with his work on educational technology and digital safeguarding. For the last 25 years he has been the Group Managing Director of NetSupport, an international software company developing software solutions designed to support the effective use of instructional technology both in classrooms and remotely. , From his experiences at NetSupport working with Ministries of Education around the globe and with his additional responsibilities outside of the company, Al has a unique mix of technical and educational knowledge which allows him to speak nationally and internationally on the effective use of technology in supporting educational outcomes. Al is also Chair of Two Multi Academy Trusts and an RSC Board member.

Carl discusses with Al why he thinks the work of the FED in promoting a long-term plan for education is so important and his personal passion for building a world-class education system. Al outlines his thoughts on the future of edtech and its role in underpinning great teaching and learning. They discuss how the pandemic has accelerated a ‘digital vision’ and how the skills agenda is of key importance as the world changes.

This week we are delighted to present this timely instalment with David Gallagher, FED Council Member and CEO of NCFE, a leading educational charity, with business operations in Awarding, Assessment and Learning Technologies and Resources. 

David talks about his own experience of education and how these formative years drive him to ensure that education works for everybody. David talks about a range of issues including apprenticeships, privilege, and knowledge and skills, with a fantastic example of a doctor to help us see this topic more clearly. David is passionate about the role education has at all stages in someone’s life and that it is ‘never too late to make someone’s life the best it can be’. David also thinks back to the advice he wished he had received earlier in his education, not about ‘what he wanted to do, but who he wanted to be’. 

This week we are delighted to present this timely instalment with Sir Anthony Seldon, FED Ambassador, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Buckingham and a commissioner on the Times Education Commission, a commission that was initially proposed by Sir Anthony. 

In this important conversation, you will hear Sir Anthony talks about the work of the Times Education Commission, a year long project expected to inform government policy and to lead to radical change across schools, colleges and universities. Sir Anthony talks about the key areas of focus, the process of evidence gathering and his hopes and aspirations for the work of the commission. For Anthony talks about how he hopes the outcomes of the commission will inform the work of the Foundation for Education Development to help shape a long term vision and plan for education.

The 10 key areas of focus of the Times Education Commission are:

1. The purpose of education.
2. Social mobility (to include the attainment gap, early-years).
3. What children learn (the curriculum).
4. How children learn (teaching and pedagogy).
5. Assessment.
6. Education in the community (to include family, lifelong learning, classroom of the future, faith schools and the environment).
7. Mental health and wellbeing (to include character, brain development, food and fitness).
8. The role of AI and technology.
9. Exclusion, alternative provision and special educational needs.
10. Further education and higher education

This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with Lord Jim Knight of Weymouth, FED Ambassador and Council Member, who works in education, digital technology, and as a legislator. Jim is passionate about sustainability, the environment and giving greater agency to our people.

In this important and timely conversation, you will hear Jim talk about his private member’s bill, Education (Environment and Sustainable Citizenship) Bill, currently working its way through the House of Lords to enable young people to make the link to really understand that they too can do something about climate change and that we all have a role to play. Jim describes how the bill, developed with Sustainable and Environment Education and Teach the Future, reinvigorates the citizenship curriculum by adding a third core aim to the National Curriculum ‘for schools to nurture in young people, the ethos and ability to care for oneself, for one another and the natural environment, for present and future generations’.

This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the world-leading authority on the effectiveness of government, Sir Michael Barber. Michael is the founder and chairman of Delivery Associates, a global advisory firm focussed on working with governments and other public and social impact organisations to help them deliver improved outcomes for people around the world.

In this important conversation, Michael talks about the release of his new book titled ‘Accomplishment’. He delves into the way that accomplishing ambitious and challenging things is a process that can lend itself to Government, elite sport and of course the education system. Bringing together examples from his personal experience to support his ideas, including numerous stories from his time in education, he references an interview with Gareth Southgate after the 2018 Wold Cup on the process behind a successful penalty shoot out, a relevant anecdote to current circumstances. Michael argues that accomplishment is achievable for all through a deep belief that it is possible, but that it will never be easy – a core message to take away from his discussions.

You can purchase Michael’s newly released book here.

This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the ever-passionate David Harkin. David is a FED Council Member, an entrepreneur and the CEO of the award-winning education company 8billionideas which exists to give every student the skills and belief to change the world.

In this fascinating conversation, David talks about the need for a long-term vision and plan for education and references Winston Churchill who suggested that all decisions should be made with a 25 year lens and worked back from that end point. David reflects on the need for an evolution of the system, through accelerating incremental change and how there are great examples of innovation across the system. David reflects on some of the barriers to the evolution of the system and identifies three areas to help support this.

This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the incredible Lord John Bird MBE, a FED National Ambassador and Founder of the Big Issue, which is celebrating it’s 30th Birthday this year.

In this fascinating conversation you can hear Lord Bird talk passionately about his Wellbeing and Future Generations Bill, currently working its way through Parliament, that in his words ‘is a simple device that ensures that any legislation has to pass through the prism of ‘how will this affect future generations’’. Lord Bird also talks passionately about ‘turning everyone green’ through their environment, education and socialisation. Lord Bird highlights the damage caused by poverty and that this bill hopes to tackle the issues of poverty, education and the environment. Watch this fascinating conversation here.

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This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the inspiring Dr Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Co-Director, Centre for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution (DC). Rebecca’s research focuses on education globally, with special attention to the skills young people need to thrive in work, life, and as constructive citizens. Rebecca works to promote quality and relevant education, including exploring how educational innovations can leapfrog progress, particularly for the most marginalized children and youth.

In this far-reaching conversation, Rebecca helps us to consider what needs to be considered by all actors to help move education towards a long-term vision. Rebecca’s international insights are invaluable, she highlights how teachers and school leaders need to be at the table, and although dialogue can be difficult, it is essential for change, otherwise ‘teachers wait out’ until the next election cycle. Rebecca’s current international research project, focussing on parental perspectives to what makes good quality education, provides interesting insights, but also an important reminder that a robust public conversation on education is important in moving towards a long term vision and plan. Rebecca also discusses the scaling of change in education, ‘flexible adaptation’ and how we have an opportunity to reshape and rethink our education system as a result of the pandemic and so much more.