FED Learners Council
Call out for applications
- Are you passionate about the role of education in improving the lives of young people, communities and wider society?
- Would you like to play a key role in developing the foundations for a long-term plan for education in England?
We’re looking for current learners in England to join the FED Learners Council in 2023-2024, specifically:
- Up to 10 young people aged 16-18
- Up to two learners aged 25+ who are in full-time or part-time education
The Council will focus on the English education system.
The FED Learners council aims to recruit learners with a diversity of voices, backgrounds and experiences.
About the FED.
What is the Foundation for Education Development (FED)?
The Foundation for Education Development (FED) aims to promote the benefits, importance and understanding of a long-term vision and plan for education in England. We were founded in December 2019 and are an independent body.
What are we trying to achieve?
The FED is dedicated to promoting a long-term vision and plan for education in England. In the spirit of partnership, we provide an independent and neutral space for policy influencers from education, business, politics and beyond to shape the future.
Why are we trying to achieve this?
The English education system has never had a long-term vision and plan. Instead it has been governed for too long via the 5-year political mandate. This has created a system that is inherently unstable. The FED national consultation highlighted frustrations and constraints which hold the system back from constant improvement and development. It also highlighted throughout, and increasingly as the pandemic progressed, that there is an urgent need to consider how we can break this cycle, and how education can become a catalyst for COVID-19 recovery for our children, young people and lifelong learners and ultimately for the success of our country. Children and young people have a 15-year journey in our formal education system – from 3 to 18. It is sensible we have a 15-year cycle of planning in our education system.
How have we gone about it?
We launched the FED in December 2019 with a 15-month consultation as an invitation to help shape our thinking from across the spectrum of education stakeholders – the first phase of a 3-year programme. The first FED National Education Consultation Report was published in April 2021. You can read the FED National Education Consultation Report here and view our all-party virtual launch of the report here.
You can also read our two subsequent National Education Reports here for 2022 and 2023.
What is the FED Learners Council?
The FED Learners Council is one of a series of Stakeholder Councils that will advise and respond to the work of the FED this year:
- We are convening key stakeholders from across sectors to advocate for long-term planning in education and with their support we are seeking to secure agreement across political parties to shift to a long-term planning cycle in education
- We are refining and socialising a long-term education planning framework so that it’s placed at the heart of national education planning
- We are working with key partners to develop long-term approaches that inform education policy and practice
The Learners Council is a group of young people and students, including learners later in life, representing a range of collective interests in the future of education in England. Members will contribute their specific areas of knowledge about issues that are relevant to the FED areas of focus, such as working with a number partners and stakeholders to develop long-term approaches that inform education policy and practice. The Learners Council provides representation for a key stakeholder group – young people and learners, ensuring their voices are a key force within the FED.
The Learners Council has achieved a significant amount since its beginning back in 2021. We visited 10 Downing Street in April 2022 to sit down with key education officials and create a direct dialogue between learners and the government. We also meet termly with Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner, to discuss ongoing issues within the education system and just how learner voices can be utilized to inform long term education policies. The Learners Council also has proactively contributed to the consultation pieces of several partners including University College London, Pearson and Ofsted.
The Learners’ Council has been co-chaired by #iwill Ambassador Claire Muhlawako Madzura and FED Ambassador Mohammed Alam Begi 2021 – 2022.
This year the Learners’ Council has been co-chaired by award-winning activist and PLAN international campaigner Penelope Harrison and programme management apprentice and TEDx speaker, Jonas Andrew-Phillip.
The Learners Council will:
- Contribute actively to the FED’s work
- Workshop ideas, concepts, and solutions that will support the establishment of a long-term plan in education that benefits all learners and broader society
- Partake in consultations brought to the Learners Council by a range of FED partners
- Have the option to play an active participatory role in FED events
- Ensure that the voices of young people and learners from across the country are represented
- Help build the profile of the FED and develop key relationships
- Actively support the FED and act as advocates for its work
Why join the Learners Council?
- Play a key role in shaping the future of Education in England
- Meet other young people and learners from across England who are passionate about education
- Extend and deepen your network across education and beyond
What is the time commitment?
- Three 90-minute online meetings per academic year (one per term). There will be some pre-reading before each meeting and some interaction with the Council between meetings
- There will be an opportunity to attend FED events or other relevant meetings and to take part in partner consultations
- Initial term is one year (December 2023 to November 2024) with potential to extend for a further year
If you’re interested, please complete this short application form by Friday 24th November 2023 at 5pm. We will then consider your application and strive to respond to you with an outcome within two weeks.
For more information, please contact [email protected]
The FED Learners council aims to recruit learners with a diversity of voices, backgrounds and experiences. If you’re interested, please complete this short application form by Friday 24th November 2023 at 5pm. We will then consider your application and strive to respond to you with an outcome within two weeks.
