Registration and Inspection
A Webinar for Start-Up Schools and Learning Communities
Wednesday 11 March
7.30-9.30pm GMT
Are you thinking about setting up your own school or learning community? Are you exploring the pros and cons of school registration? Or are you planning on opening part-time but want to know what to expect should you be inspected unexpectedly?
This session aims to give you an overview of the school registration and inspection process (primarily focusing on the Ofsted* framework). We will be joined by former Ofsted HMI, Meena Wood, the founder of Atelier 21 Future Schools, Hayley Peacock (who has been through the process of full-time school registration and subsequent inspections), and the co-founder of Hawthorn Learning, a part-time (non-registered) learning community in Hampshire, Maz Wilberforce (who was recently unexpectedly visited by Ofsted and will share her learnings with us).
What is Ofsted?
*Ofsted is the ‘Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills’ in England.
Is this Relevant to Me?
While our guests this month are based in England, Meena and Hayley both have a fair amount of experience internationally (see more below), so please feel free to join from wherever you are in the world, as there will no doubt be elements which will be useful to all, and Hayley and Maz's stories of setting up their own learning provisions are sure to be inspiring wherever you are located.
Our Expert Panel
In the UK, Meena Wood works with academies and multi-academy trusts (MATs), including Alternative Provision (AP) providers, conducting peer reviews and reviews of curriculum and assessment; the quality of education, instructional coaching, inspection and governance.
She also supports British and International Schools in the Middle East (Dubai) and India. She is currently a registered KHDA inspector in Dubai and is a former HMI Ofsted.
Meena is the author of ‘Secondary Curriculum Transformed; Enabling All to Achieve’, which has led to a series of training webinars in UK, Dubai and India and features on the core reading list for the MEd in Educational Leadership (University of Birmingham).
Hayley Peacock is the founder of Atelier 21 Future School, which is a pioneering independent school for pupils aged 4-16 in West Sussex, England. Her Reggio Emilia-inspired school integrates mainstream education with a research centre and democratic practice. Key aspects of the school's approach include:
- Student Agency and Voice: Empowering pupils to have a say in how the school operates through school ambassadors and proposal systems;
- Peer Mediation Programs: Encouraging pupils to resolve conflicts amongst themselves, fostering a culture of empathy, understanding and independence;
- Project-Based Learning: Incorporating cross-curricular projects driven by pupils' interests, enhancing engagement and relevance in learning.
Hayley’s model has now been adopted in a large London state school and a new Atelier 21 Future School has opened in Poland.
Maz Wilberforce has been in education for over 20 years, and now leads Hawthorne Learning, an alternative provision in the New Forest (Hampshire, England).
At Hawthorn Learning, she has co-created a high autonomy learning environment for primary and secondary aged children, where each person's unique interests, needs, and strengths are placed at the very centre of their educational journey.
Hawthorn Learning is a nurturing space where children feel safe, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential; academically, socially, and emotionally in an environment where they can flourish and develop the confidence to make a positive impact on the world.
Maz's approach is grounded in the belief that child-centred education is the most effective way to unlock learning and enable each child to thrive and achieve their ambitions. Her work is built on strong partnerships with parents and families, with kindness at it's cornerstone and an understanding that in order to be able to learn, children must first feel safe and understood.
Event Format, Recording and Ticket Price
This event takes place online via Zoom at 7.30-9.30pm GMT on Wednesday 11th March. You will have the chance to hear a short presentation from each of panellists, and then you are invited to ask any questions you might have. Everyone who registers will be sent the recording after the event.
If you have questions but can't make the date, you are still welcome to register for the event. Simply send your questions through to us at [email protected] and they will get asked in the session on your behalf.
This webinar is £20 for non-members, and FREE for members.
Become a Member for Further Support
Join Us!
Would you like to join the Education Start-Ups membership community to access further support? Our membership offers:
Monthly expert webinars (like this one);
Monthly group coaching for peer support and collaborative problem solving;
Online platform for sharing resources/ideas and supporting each other between sessions.
Some extra bonuses too!
You can find out more at EducationStartUps.org/community.
Note to Members
If you are a member, you do not need to register for this event. You will automatically receive the Zoom link in your online community portal.
About Us
This webinar series 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.
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 members including parents/carers, educators, academics, researchers, psychologists, education innovators and changemakers.
