EMPOWER
Free 3-Day Challenge
For founders of start-up schools and learning communities
18-20 November 2025
Are you thinking of setting up your own school or learning community? Or perhaps you've been running for a while and would like to connect with others on the same journey and learn from other trailblazing pioneers...
In celebration of the first birthday of our membership for start-up schools and learning communities, you are invited to join fellow education changemakers in a three-day challenge. This FREE event will give you a boost of support and help you move further forwards in your mission.
Join us from 18-20th November to:
Connect with others on a similar journey;
Take practical steps to take your education project to the next level;
Access expert tips and advice from founders who have been there and done it;
Meet a graduate who experienced an alternative to mainstream education;
Feel empowered to realise your dreams!
What to Expect
FREE 3-Day Facebook Challenge
Limitless podcast host, Alex O’Neill, will be joining us live at 10am GMT in the Progressive Education Group on Facebook on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th November. On each of the three days, Alex will offer practical action tasks and accountability to help move you forward in creating your dream school or learning community.
The recordings will stay in the group permanently if you can’t make them live.
FREE Empowerment Webinar
Your 3-day challenge will culminate in a live webinar on Thursday 20th November at 7.30-9.30pm GMT.
We will welcome presentations from three innovative education founders and a graduate, after which there will be a Q&A facilitated by Alex O'Neill. This will be followed by an inspirational session with ‘What’s Your Dream?’ author and entrepreneur, Simon Squibb, who will guide aspiring education start-ups towards success. There will then be an invitation to join our Education Start-Ups membership community, should you be looking for further support.
The webinar recording will be emailed out after the session to everyone who has registered.
Our Guests
'Ask the Expert' Panel
Our guest speakers are joining us from Lumiar UK (Wiltshire), Lumiar International and Spectrum Gaming Learning Community (Greater Manchester, England):
Lumiar is an award-winning educational approach that reimagines schooling around student agency, real-world relevance and collaborative learning. Founded by Ricardo Semler in Brazil in 2003, Lumiar combines a flexible curriculum with participatory school culture to make learning authentic, inclusive and future-ready. Recognized by UNESCO, Stanford University, OECD and Microsoft as one of the world’s most innovative school models, Lumiar continues to inspire schools globally.
Primarily funded through EOTIS (Education Other than in School) as a form of AP ("Alternative Provision"), Spectrum Gaming Learning Community, founded by Andy Smith, aims to provide a place of emotional and sensory safety for autistic young people who are struggling to reclaim their natural desire to learn, by offering a non-judgemental, non-coercive, democratic, self-directed learning space.
Claire Walker has worked in education for nearly two decades and has spent the past six years as Director of Education at Lumiar UK.
She is passionate about reimagining education - influencing and changing our current system. Claire believes it is essential that children and young people take charge of their own learning, develop autonomy, adopt a growth mindset and discover the joy, curiosity and resilience needed to challenge themselves.
The project-based, child-led approach at Lumiar UK is rooted in self-advocacy: supporting children to recognise their own needs, express their voices and shape their learning journeys with confidence.
Through this, they learn to lead themselves well, understand their world and their place in it, and realise their true unique purpose, while developing the skills, attributes, and self-belief to fulfil their dreams and make a meaningful impact in our world.
Ricardo Semler is a renowned Brazilian entrepreneur, author and education innovator.
A Harvard Business School case-study figure and author of best-selling books such as Maverick and The Seven-Day Weekend, Ricardo founded Lumiar Schools to bring participatory management and learner-driven principles into education.
Throughout his career, he has been recognised by numerous institutions - including the World Economic Forum - for his profound contributions to leadership, organisational culture, and the future of learning.
You can watch his TED Talk, 'Radical wisdom for a company, a school, a life' to find out more about his vision for education.
Alice Donatti Mondin is a graduate of Lumiar Porto Alegre, where she found a creative and freeing space to complete her senior year.
After high school, she joined Baret Scholars, a nine-month gap-year program, traveling across seven world regions with 100 peers from 45+ nationalities.
Passionate about storytelling and photography, Alice has exhibited her work in Shenzhen and Beijing and is currently contributing to COP30 campaign projects before beginning her Visual Communications studies at CENTRO in Mexico City.
Andy Smith is an autistic adult and the founder of Spectrum Gaming, a community which supports over 1,800 autistic young people across the UK.
He is also the Lead Facilitator of the part-time Spectrum Gaming Learning Community, which provides self-directed education for autistic young people.
Prior to setting up Spectrum Gaming, Andy worked for two years as the advocate for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities at Bury Council, in addition to co-chairing the North West SEND Young people’s Co Production Steering Group and the Greater Manchester Selective Mutism Network.
Most recently, he created the new BarriersToEducation.co.uk website, which is dedicated to understanding and removing barriers to education so every young person can thrive.
'What's Your Dream?' With Simon Squibb
Simon Squibb, founder of HelpBnk.com, is all about helping people help people. Not your typical entrepreneur, Simon started his first business while homeless at just 15 and later sold his agency, Fluid to PwC for more money than he’ll ever need.
Known for his Sunday Times bestseller ‘What’s Your Dream?’ and his viral move of buying a staircase in London and slapping a doorbell on it where folks can pitch their dreams, Simon is on a mission to help 10 million people kickstart their businesses.
With over 17 million followers on social media, he’s spreading the word through his #GiveWithoutTake movement and inspirational street interviews.
This is a unique opportunity to share your dream with Simon, any business challenges you are having getting your school or learning community off the ground, and tap into his knowledge and expertise.
About Us
This event is brought to you by Jo Symes at Progressive Education and Alex O’Neill from Limitless. We are education activists who have a shared passion for raising awareness of alternatives to mainstream school.
For the past few years, Alex and Jo have been creating events and resources for start-ups, in response to the growing number of children and young people leaving mainstream education, and the urgency that parents/carers/educators feel to build new learning environments where young people can thrive.
Together we run a membership community where you can access ongoing support and guidance on your journey to create a school or learning community.
Introducing Alex O’Neill
Alex is the driving force behind Limitless, an organisation dedicated to igniting social change with a special emphasis on revolutionising the education sector.
Through the Limitless podcast, she shares expert insights and neuroscience tips to empower changemakers to tackle the world's most pressing issues.
Alex is committed to uniting individuals who are driven to advance education and supporting them in overcoming obstacles that stand in their way.
Introducing Jo Symes
Jo is the founder of the social enterprise, Progressive Education, which raises awareness of alternatives to conventional schooling and campaigns for change within mainstream education. She is building a global directory of jobs, events and progressive schools and learning communities.
It began with the launch of the Progressive Education Group on Facebook in 2019, which is an international community of over 11k parents/carers, educators, academics, researchers, psychologists, education innovators, changemakers and young people.
