The Education Exchange West Midlands celebrates its inaugural conference
The Education Exchange West Midlands celebrated its inaugural conference last month, with headteachers, trust leaders and educators from across the Midlands coming together to freely support each other and exchange best practice.
The Education Exchange West Midlands is a place where people can come together and exchange effective school, college and trust improvement strategies. It is a collection of highly successful educators that are invested in improving outcomes and opportunities for all students. It unites educators in sustainable professional friendships, ensuring all children can enjoy success irrespective of their starting points. The group promotes professional generosity and friendship and prioritises free collaboration between educators and care givers to enhance opportunities and outcomes for all children and young people.
The conference itself spanned across two thought provoking and productive days, with sessions for Headteachers and esteemed leaders and educators on a variety of key topics including:
- The input of many local and national Education Exchange projects
- AI and its purpose to advance education
- Inclusion at Scale: The SEND Exchange Model
- Youth engagement through the coveted Invictus Games
- Student leadership and its role in bringing about positive change
- The new Ofsted framework
Representatives from maintained and trust schools, colleges, trusts, local authorities, school support providers, the Department for Education and Ofsted were in attendance, as well as learners themselves.
As a direct result of the conference, steering groups were established around areas of operations and finance, safeguarding, the Invictus Games, Digital Strategy and The SEND Exchange.
Educators from across the West Midlands had the opportunity to hear from Captain Lee Hazard MBE MStJ KHP Royal Navy, Deputy Director of Programmes & Impact Delivery for the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027. Captain Hazard shared insights into the vision for the Games, with a particular focus on strategies to increase youth engagement. He also introduced the concept of an education syndicate—a collaborative approach to involving schools and educators in the Games’ legacy. In response, educators committed to working together through the Education Exchange West Midlands to drive this initiative forward, fostering regional collaboration and inspiring young people through the power of sport and service.
Educators heard from multiple speakers, including Sir Michael Wilkins on the power of systems, and Dr Sue Morris-King HMI, Deputy Director of Ofsted, on details around the new Ofsted framework. They also heard from Vince Green, CEO of the Summit Learning Trust, on the Summit Base Camp initiative, which provides structured support and Early Help for disadvantaged and working families.
Andy Barnett, CEO of the Delta Academies Trust, welcomed educators and spoke about the importance of The Education Exchange in bringing together everyone involved in education across the West Midlands. Finally, attendees also heard from Agnes Fitzpatrick, Regional Director at TEP, about key national research about pupil engagement across the country and the possible next steps to consider to reconnect children and young people with their journey and purpose in education
The Education Exchange West Midlands ensures exciting times ahead. By prioritising collaboration and innovation, the initiative will continue to grow as a powerful platform for regional leaders to support one another and champion better outcomes for children.
Through projects already in motion and new partnerships forming, The Education Exchange West Midlands will leave a lasting impact on schools, colleges, communities, and future generations.
