The Foundation for Education Development: Recent Episodes
Strategi Solutions
To mark the 150th Anniversary of universal state education we hosted a unique gathering of former Secretaries of State for Education to reflect on past successes of education, the unintended consequences of past policy, and to envision what still remains to be done.
Hosted by Branwen Jefferys, education correspondent for BBC News, the groups discussed their ‘Lessons Learned – The reflections of 12 former Secretaries of State’, in what are important and candid reflections on their time in office.
In this session you hear Baroness Gillian Shephard, Charles Clarke, Baron David Blunkett and Justine Greening discussing:
‘As a starting point, we are asking why it seems so difficult for education policy to achieve social mobility and levelling up?’
To catch up on our other previous events, click here.
To mark the 150th Anniversary of universal state education we hosted a unique gathering of former Secretaries of State for Education to reflect on past successes of education, the unintended consequences of past policy, and to envision what still remains to be done.
Hosted by Branwen Jefferys, education correspondent for BBC News, the groups discussed their ‘Lessons Learned – The reflections of 12 former Secretaries of State’, in what are important and candid reflections on their time in office.
In this session you hear Baron Kenneth Clarke, Ruth Kelly, Baroness Nicky Morgan and The Rt Hon Damian Hinds discussing:
‘As a starting point, we are asking about purposes of education beyond employability, and whether education policy can really impact on developing character, values and wellbeing?’
To watch our other past events, click here.
To mark the 150th Anniversary of universal state education we hosted a unique gathering of former Secretaries of State for Education to reflect on past successes of education, the unintended consequences of past policy, and to envision what still remains to be done.
Hosted by Branwen Jefferys, education correspondent for BBC News, the groups discussed their ‘Lessons Learned – The reflections of 12 former Secretaries of State’, in what are important and candid reflections on their time in office.
In this session you hear Lord Kenneth Baker, Baroness Estelle Morris and Ed Balls discussing:
‘Looking back at education policy since The Education Reform Act 1988, and subsequent big changes in education policies, what do you think was missed and what have been the unintended consequences?’
Catch up on our other events here.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
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.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
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’.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
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’.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
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:
- The purpose of education.
- Social mobility (to include the attainment gap, early-years).
- What children learn (the curriculum).
- How children learn (teaching and pedagogy).
- Assessment.
- Education in the community (to include family, lifelong learning, classroom of the future, faith schools and the environment).
- Mental health and wellbeing (to include character, brain development, food and fitness).
- The role of AI and technology.
- Exclusion, alternative provision and special educational needs.
- Further education and higher education
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the ever-passionate Sir Michael Barber. Michael is British educationist and 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'. Delving 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 too. Bringing together numerous stories 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 belied that is is possible, but it is noted that it will never be easy, the core message to take away from his discussions
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
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.
On Monday 26th April 2021 the Foundation for Education Development (FED) launched the FED National Consultation Report at an all-party ‘virtual’ reception at the Houses of Parliament, hosted by Baroness Nicky Morgan of Cotes and Baron Jim Knight of Weymouth. We are delighted to also hear from Carl Ward, Chair of the FED, the Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, Chair Commons Select Committee for Education, the Rt Hon Wes Stressing MP, Shadow Schools Minister, the Rt Hon Daisy Cooper MP, Education spokesperson, Liberal Democrats and Sir Kevan Collins, Education Recovery Commissioner.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the incredible Alison Peacock CEO, Chartered College of Teaching. Alison is a passionate advocate for teachers and teaching and still feels that teaching is the best job in the world. In her role as CEO, Alison feels that she has ‘the whole profession on her shoulders’ and that she hopes that all teachers will be life long learners as well as life long teachers.
In this insightful conversation, Alison talks about her hopes for the future of teaching in the next ten years and that we move forward in a spirit of collaboration and kindness, united in a collective purpose. Alison reflects on how during the pandemic teachers have again stepped forward and keep stepping forward in these current challenging circumstances.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation with’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the amazing Ndidi Okezie CEO, UK Youth. Ndidi is a passionate advocate for youth engagement and ensuring that their voices are heard. This has been quite the year for Ndidi, not only did she become CEO of UK Youth during the pandemic, but was also awarded an OBE in the 2020 Queens Honours. This recognition comes off the back of her dedication to providing services to young people across the country following the outbreak of Covid-19.
Ndidi is a member of the FED’s Advisory Council and in this insightful conversation, you will hear Ndidi talk about how growth comes from when you move out of your comfort zone and that a state of discomfort is important as we as a society move towards a more an empathetic place of understanding. Ndidi also talks passionately about how we must stop calling this generation ‘lost’, as a result of the pandemic, and how we need to engage with those individuals most affected by change to create agency within these groups and meaningful change across society.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
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.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation With’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with the inspiring Kirstie Donnelly MBE, Chief Executive at the City & Guilds Group and a FED Council Member. Kirstie is accountable for the external influencing of the broader skills agenda across Government and Ministers. Their recent report ‘Act Now to get Britain Working Again’ highlights a recurring theme ‘the Government must give UK regional economies greater autonomy over skills and employment’. Their Act Now report was compiled following a series of in-depth roundtable discussions with a cross-section of Metropolitan Mayors and LEPs, regional business leaders and educators.
In this shrewd conversation, Kirstie outlines some of the key findings of their most recent ‘Building bridges towards future jobs’ which builds on the #ActNow report and that her hopes and aspirations of a long-term system focus on a lifelong learning entitlement. Kirstie speaks passionately about how learning needs to be ‘brought’ to adult learners, who may not know where to go and that flexible modular learning needs to fit around the lives of learners. Kirsty also talks about how at a system level there needs to be a move towards regional and local level, a grass routes movement, to be more responsive to their individual local needs.
To help us think about what is needed to create a long-term vision and plan for education in England, Carl Ward (FED Chair), hosts a series of ‘In Conversation with’ videos with significant influential individuals to help move our thinking forward.
This week we are delighted to present our latest instalment with one of the most influential voices in teacher education Professor Sam Twiselton OBE, Director of Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University.
Sam is a member of the FED’s Advisory Council and has been involved in a number of FED events. In this insightful conversation, you will hear Sam talk about how a long-term strategy is important, not only for the individual but for the system as a whole. Sam discusses how the right policy environment is important so that we don’t focus on ‘the bright and shiny’ fixes and much more.
In partnership with Browne Jacobson Carl Ward, founder and Chair of the Foundation for Education Development (FED) is joined by Nick MacKenzie, Education Lawyer at Browne Jacobson, to discuss how a long-term education vision and plan can best serve the needs of our country and its people.
Through providing a neutral space for experts from across education, business, politics and the community to come together, Carl outlines the thinking behind FED’s ambitious three-year objective to unify our country’s approach to life-long learning focus. Carl and Nick discuss:
- The need for, and process of undertaking research to underpin the robust principles on which a vision and plan can be developed;
- The ideas and voices of our young people; the leaders of the future, and
- The regionalisation of education and how this might impact the development of an education plan.