We created this innovation because the world schools operate in is changing fast. Leaders, teachers, and learners face challenges they are not always prepared for, from shifting societal expectations to increasing pressures in schools. At Whole Education, we believe that a rigorous whole education equips everyone with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions they need to thrive in life, learning, and work. This innovation connects leaders, strengthens collaboration, and builds capability, so adults in schools can act with confidence and agency while learners experience education that is relevant, engaging, and empowering. By bringing people together, sharing expertise, and providing practical tools, we create the conditions for schools to flourish and for everyone to thrive in a transforming world.
In practice, the innovation brings together leadership development, peer networks, and evidence-informed practice to support meaningful improvement. Leaders engage in action learning, reflection, and collaborative problem-solving to explore challenges and test solutions in real contexts. Schools access frameworks and tools to evaluate their practice, set priorities, and create actionable plans that connect vision to day-to-day learning. The approach is rooted in a whole-education perspective: knowledge, skills, and dispositions are developed alongside learner agency and engagement. It supports learning across classrooms, communities, and online spaces, ensuring adults and learners alike are equipped to thrive. The approach is flexible, scaling from individual schools to multi-academy trusts while always centring the growth of people and communities.
Our innovation spreads through the Whole Education network, where leaders share a commitment to a rigorous whole education. Schools learn from each other through peer networks, action learning sets, and collaborative events, creating opportunities to see ideas in action. Case studies and demonstration projects showcase practical strategies, while regional partnerships and thematic sessions help schools apply them in local contexts. Word-of-mouth, programmes, and conferences have also expanded reach, connecting leaders who are new to the network. Over time, these networks of collaboration, reflection, and shared expertise have created a ripple effect, strengthening both leadership and learning across communities.
We continuously refine the innovation based on feedback and emerging needs. We have expanded action learning sets to support cross-school collaboration, introduced tools for monitoring improvement at school and network level, and embedded new strategies for curriculum, assessment, and disposition development. Training and workshops have been adapted to balance strategic leadership development with practical day-to-day application. Each iteration is informed by the experiences of schools and leaders, ensuring the approach remains relevant, adaptable, and effective while deepening the network’s capacity to drive meaningful improvement and support adults and learners alike.
Whole Education connects leaders and grows networks that enable schools to provide a rigorous whole education. Through our networks, programmes, and conferences, leaders can:
Think deeply and critically about their work and its impact
Learn with and from experts and peers across the sector
Develop the skills and dispositions needed to lead with agility, creativity, and care
Build the confidence to serve their communities in meaningful and sustainable ways
Ways to engage:
Join our network: https://wholeeducation.org/membership
Join one of our programmes: https://wholeeducation.org/programmes
Attend one of our conferences: https://wholeeducation.org/conferences
This approach ensures you are supported, connected, and able to take practical action that strengthens both leadership and learning.
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