It's party conference season again...

Edge held a very well-attended reception with the New Statesman last night for the opening of the Labour conference and we will be co-hosting a similar event on Sunday for the Conservatives. We are also working with the New Statesman on fringe events at all three main party conferences. Please do come along!

The fringe debate include a preview screening of the fabulous film ‘We Are The People We’ve Been Waiting For’ produced by New Moon Films and inspired and supported by Lord Puttnam and Sir Michael Barber. It is an independent feature-length documentary that explores education in the UK and asks whether the current system provides all young people with the opportunity to develop their talents. High-profile figures sharing their personal experiences and views include Sir Richard Branson, Germaine Greer, Henry Winkler, Bill Bryson, Sir Ken Robinson and a wide range of education experts from around the world. As with all the best movies, the November premier will be in London’s Leicester Square, with a Q&A led by Lord Puttnam.

There was a select crowd (!) for the Lib-Dem fringe last Monday – but a very well informed one, with two fantastic speakers. Leading the debate was Baroness Margaret Sharp (who is one of the best informed and most incisive of all the skills and education politicians, in my view),and Dr Annetta Minard, Head of local comprehensive Oakmead College of Technology. To quote its website, the school offers “a fully personalised curriculum covering a wide range of vocational and academic courses. The college has also developed a high reputation for its close links with local industry and commerce and has won several awards for this work.” Dr Minard was terrific and showed just what could be done if you stick to your beliefs and do what is right for your students, not what may be expected of you. There is enough flexibility in the system if you are sufficiently determined.

Meanwhile in the Independent Shirley Williams was saying "The abolition of the polytechnics is one of the reasons why the manufacturing industry has never held its own [in terms of recruitment] against the City, which takes from the traditional universities. I'd like to go back to the polytechnics. They were never second-rate universities." Hear! Hear! Actually, I already see a number of new Universities who are starting to see that their niche in a difficult market will be to become the top places for students interested in professional studies. You might call them Technical Universities – and they will be far more practical and linked to work-based learning. As the new Vice-Chancellor from London South Bank University, Martin Earwhicker, writes:
'Creating professional opportunity for all who can benefit'
Since 1892, we've been priding ourselves on creating professional opportunities for our students and equipping them to become highly successful in their chosen field. I believe that's why our graduates have consistently secured some of the highest starting salaries in the UK.

Two Big Conversations

The three main political parties are currently putting together their manifestos for the next general election. This means now is the time for everyone to voice their opinions on practical and vocational learning, and how it can prepare young people for successful futures. Since Edge called on the public to share their written and video messages for MPs through our website last week, I’ve been following the comments, from a wide range of people, with great interest. It’s crucial we don’t delay in ensuring the message is heard by those who matter in politics. Edge is dedicated to making that happen, but we can’t do it without input from you. To add your voice to the call for a revolution in education visit the Edge website to write a message, upload a video response or debate on the Edge forum.

I’ve been to plenty of big corporate events over the years announcing some new education-related initiative or other and all too many end up as a ‘launch, lunch and logo’. But Edge’s involvement in, and support for, the Big Conversation on ‘Turning Work Experience into Work Inspiration’ has been a great pleasure. If you are associated in any way with work experience, you should take a look.
I think this initiative has a real chance of leading to some positive action. Why do I say that? Because it is a ‘business to business’ campaign; it is asking employers to improve on what they do, not asking them to sort out education; because the underlying philosophy is about establishing a more effective marketplace rather than telling people from the centre what is best; because it is simple and focused; and because a wide range of organisations have come together, worked as a team and respected each other. Well done everyone and well done BITC.

The result was a terrific event in old Spitalfields market in London on Tuesday involving, more than 100 young people in discussions with over 100 corporate CEOs and chairmen. The highlight for me was, of course, the young people from the Edge Learner Forum who compered the whole day and facilitated many of the tables – brilliant job team, you do us proud!

Pride in the Edge Academies

What a pleasure and a privilege it was to be involved in the openings of our two Academies in Milton Keynes and Nottingham. They have done such a great job!

And it is so important to spend time on the classroom floor, talking to real students, teachers, parents and councillors. There are a lot of ‘knockers’ in education and some of them need to get out there and see how badly we are letting down some youngsters – and to smell and feel the change that can come about through a new school. In these two areas kids have not always been given the chance they deserve but there is now a real commitment to improve things and expectations are high. They are Challenge schools and there is a long way to go - as the MP for our Bulwell Academy, Graham Allen, put it (quoting Churchill), ‘this represents not the end, or even the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning’. However I am a betting man and having met the people involved, I would put money on both Principals and their teams turning things round.

On Tuesday I looked round the fabulous new building and facilities in Milton Keynes and spoke to the 186 staff – everyone seemed primed and ready to go for the arrival of all the pupils on Friday. By contrast in Bulwell the students were already in place and the new building is only just beginning. As with MK there had been a remarkable amount of hard work and commitment over the past few weeks, in Bulwell’s case to spruce up the existing two school sites, and to present a very positive and united front – it may be the same buildings and largely the same staff, but this is a totally new school, with a new ethos and new expectations. The new uniform was important symbolically - it was moving to hear how all the students were apparently turning up in good time (unheard of previously), wearing their uniform with pride, and how this was really lifting the local community. It lifted me too.

Also this week our latest media campaign went live with adverts appearing in the Times, Indie and Evening Standard. We are seeking people’s views on how they want to change the education system – and we will then feed these in to those actually writing the education sections of the various political manifestos (http://www.edge.co.uk/revolution).

Back to work

It is great upon return from holiday to be rejuvenated by hearing afresh about all the exciting things going on in Edge:

• As a premium sponsor and driver of Worldskills London 2011 some staff are over in Calgary at this moment watching this extraordinary biennial competition of world-class talent; I’m optimistic we’ll bring back a good haul of medals.
• Our two Academies (in Milton Keynes and Bulwell, north Nottingham) open their doors next week – I am really looking forward to meeting all the staff and students. The Times ; BBC
• Our next media campaign starts next week, encouraging and enabling parents and young people to start voicing their views on education and so influence political manifestos before the next election.
• Ten days time will see the launch of a very exciting employer campaign in which Edge is a major partner, led by Sir Stewart Rose of Business in the Community (and M&S of course). The aim is to help employers improve the work they already do with young people – turning work experience into work inspiration.
• The independent feature film “We are the people we have been waiting for”, produced and directed by New Moon Films, is now completed. I love it! It is very well produced, very provocative, and for me highlights the importance of there being many paths to success for young people – as well as a number of other key things such as the absolutely critical role of teachers. The Leicester Square premier will be in November.

It is also great to know the exam season is over! And there have even been some positive press articles this week: Lord Baker and the advent of University Technical Colleges (we are working closely with him on this) in the Daily Telegraph; good stuff on Diplomas in the Independent; and even this from Chris Woodhead in the Sunday Times; “We desperately need the more diverse system of public examinations that the Conservatives are apparently planning to introduce: a system in which those who have practical talents have the opportunity to achieve something worthwhile and those who have academic ability are genuinely challenged.”