Inclusion is often discussed in terms of classroom strategies and curriculum design, but what if inclusion could happen in a competitive arena? At Discovery Schools Trust, we’ve discovered a powerful way to unite pupils from primary, secondary, and special schools: Esports. This innovative programme has…
Tag: Education
Meeting Children at Their Point of Need
Real Inclusion, Real Partnership, Real Purpose Celebrating the opening of a new classroom block at Birch Wood Special School got me thinking about the relationship between buildings and a culture of inclusion. Physical spaces are never neutral; they send powerful…
“This Is Going to Hurt”: Leadership Lessons for Trusts in the Hardest Moments
Prologue: On the Touchline It was one of those crisp, bright weekends, parents lined the rugby pitch, coffees steaming, conversations ebbing and flowing between phases of play, my firstborn was playing. He found space, cut inside, and then, feet pumping; shoulders set dived over the line.…
Discovery’s Journey towards Inclusion
After 30 years in education, I thought I had a good grasp on inclusion. I was wrong. A few years ago, our Trust (Discovery) made a deliberate decision to bring special schools into our fold. This move has transformed how we think…
‘How do we define success in a world obsessed with performance?’
An Explanation with Help from Two Famous Dylan’s (Dylan Wiliam & Dylan Thomas) At our recent Golden Thread-Inclusion & SEND conference, keynote speaker Phil Leaney grappled with the topic of inclusive leadership in a meritocratic system, posing the question: ‘How…
‘We’ve done everything on the list. Can we have some support now?’
This is my first test post on the new blog