“We are the system”: This is not a normal education event

An invitation to join our October 'unconference' - a story in three parts...

First up - thanks so much for the incredible response to my last post on ‘Making Sense’ lessons. In case this passed you by, you can catch up with the blog and the ensuing conversation here and/or on LinkedIn. There would appear to be a whole lotta love for this idea, and I’ve had some fascinating conversations in the last week or so off the back of that post. Watch this space - and drop me a line if you’d like to explore what Making Sense lessons might look like in practice.

In today’s post, I bring you news of a seriously exciting event that’s happening in Manchester on Saturday 11th October.

This is a story in 3 parts, but if you just want to cut to the chase, here’s the key info:

EVERYBODY THRIVING: What can we do to promote wellbeing and a love of learning?

A one-day gathering for people who believe there has to be a better way – to share what’s working and create a thriving future for all.

When?

9.30am-4pm, Sat 11th October

Where?

St. Ambrose Barlow RC High School, Salford

How much?

There are 4 tiers:

• Pay what you can (limited hardship places)

• £15 concession (young people / students)

• £25 Early Bird (book before June 30th)

• £35 Full Price

Are refreshments and a lovely lunch included?

Indeed they are.

Will there be a range of mainstream educators, alternative educators, parents and carers, young people etc?

That’s the plan, yes.

Is it easy to get to?

Well, that depends where you’re starting from. But there is free parking, and it’s a 12-minute walk from Moorside train station, which is 17 minutes from Manchester Victoria.

Will it fill my heart with hope - and my head with practical strategies for boosting wellbeing as we navigate this mysterious existence together?

Yes, my friends. Yes it will.

Where can I book my early bird ticket?

How can I tell all my friends and followers about this amazing event?

Thanks so much, that would actually be super helpful! By sharing these links:

• LinkedIn

• X

• Bluesky

• Threads

• Facebook

Why this event matters: A story in 3 parts

Part 1: Building on the Rethinking Education conferences

In 2022 and 2023, I organised two national Rethinking Education conferences. These were truly wonderful events, with around 80 speakers and 500 delegates at each. We had people from all walks of life running sessions - from mainstream teachers and leaders to avowed ‘unschoolers’, from 10-year-old homeschoolers to octogenarian educators - and everyone in-between!

And yet… something about these events bothered me.

Organising a conference is an enormous undertaking. Like, seriously. And while these events were hugely enjoyable - and highly valued by our delegates - afterwards, I found myself wondering… what did all that effort actually achieve?

I felt that there was something wrong with the format, which I had rather lazily copy-pasted from other conferences I’ve attended:

• Hosted in London

• Lots of preselected speakers running sessions in parallel, so that everybody misses out on the vast majority of content on offer

• Most sessions premised on the idea that one person would do most of the talking

• Little time for meaningful audience participation

• Panel discussions that barely scratch the surface

I don’t know about you, but I find all of this somewhat suboptimal. So, in 2024 I decided to pause the conference and take a year off while I thought about what I had done (and what I had failed to do).

Part 2: The Education Policy Alliance and Square Peg

For the last couple of years, I’ve been working behind the scenes with a really interesting group called the Education Policy Alliance. Like the Rethinking Ed conferences, the EPA is multidisciplinary in nature, comprising teachers and school leaders from primary, secondary and tertiary education; young people; parents and carers; educational psychologists; healthcare professionals; academics…

The EPA is a non-affiliated think tank which aims to provide policymakers with sensible ideas for education policy, informed by the lived experience of diverse people throughout the educational ecosystem. It’s still early days for this unfunded, grass-roots passion project, but we’re slowly starting to make our presence felt. For example, earlier this month we were referenced in an excellent report published by the UCL Centre for Educational Leadership called Workload, Wellbeing, and Retention: Do NPQs Make a Difference (see p14).

So far, the EPA has published two policy papers, each informed by public consultation - one on Ofsted and accountability (A New Accountability System for Schools), and one on mental health and wellbeing (Everybody Thriving: Creating a Culture of Wellbeing in Schools). Each report starts with a one-page theory of change, providing a snapshot of the problems we seek to address and our proposals for reform.

One member of the EPA is Ellie Costello, Executive Director of Square Peg, a wonderful organisation that advocates for children and young people with barriers to attending mainstream school. I’ve been speaking with Ellie for a long time about how we might increase participatory decision-making within education, and we’re both keen to see how this works in practice.

Ellie is a grassroots lobbyist who is passionate about participatory policy design and deliberative decision-making to deliver social design models which put those in the margins of services, with the most complex needs, at the centre of what happens around, about and for them.

The remarkable impact of Square Peg demonstrates that when we work inclusively and proactively in this way, delivering dignity and upholding equity by design, rather than as an add-on, we can build services with intentional humanity and integrity which are sustainable and fit for purpose. Context matters, collaboration is achievable, and we can create cohesive solutions and grow stronger communities where everyone thrives and flourishes.

Part 3: Everybody Thriving: A one-day gathering for people who believe there has to be a better way

To cut a long story short, these three organisations - Rethinking Education, Square Peg and the Education Policy Alliance - have come together to create a different kind of event - an ‘unconference’, if you will. Here’s a bit more detail on the Why and the What of this unique event.

Why?

Do you feel the education system isn’t serving young people, educators, or families?

Do you feel frustrated that many people seem to want "business as usual" when the evidence is mounting that our education system causes harm to children, young people and educators alike?

Do you believe it’s possible to reconfigure our system to prioritise human thriving?

You’re not alone.

Everybody Thriving is a one-day gathering for people who care deeply about education – teachers, leaders, support staff, health professionals, young people, parents, carers, and policymakers – to come together and ask: what can we do, where we are, to promote wellbeing and a love of learning?

This will be an 'unconference'. There will be no PowerPoints. No panels. No lectures. Just real people sharing what already works - and generating practical ideas for change.

Together, we’ll share positive case studies, imagine what thriving could look like at every level, and leave with concrete actions to take forward – both individually and collectively.

Whether you're already doing something inspiring, or simply looking for renewed energy, ideas and community – come and find your tribe.

We don’t need to wait for permission to act. We are the system. And change starts with us.

So let’s gather. Let’s share. Let’s build something better. Together.

#wearethesystem

What?

We’re aiming to bring together around 150 people. There will be no parallel sessions - instead, we will all be together for the whole day, with lots of group discussions and easy mingling. The day will be structured around 5 sessions:

1. Start with the end in mind: What does a thriving educational ecosystem look, sound and feel like…?

2. Understand barriers: What are the factors that prevent people from thriving?

3. Reclaim our power: What’s already within our control? Case stories and human library

4. Share, digest: What surprised you? What delighted you? What do you now wonder?

5. Take action: What are we going to do as individuals based on what we’ve heard today?

The day is also designed to boost the wellbeing of all in attendance through music, food, and serious silliness.

Where can I book my early bird ticket again?

How can I tell all my friends and followers about this amazing event?

Thanks so much, that would actually be super helpful! By sharing these links:

• LinkedIn

• X

• Bluesky

• Threads

• Facebook

We hope to see you in Manchester!