A critical contribution to government education policy — helping the system collaborate to raise standards for every child.
The Challenge
The British Government set out an ambition for every child: an education that prepares them for the challenges of the 21st century. Realising it meant improving how the education system in England is structured and how its schools collaborate — drawing on the people who understand it best.
The Bridge Institute’s Role
The Bridge Institute designed and executed the Fellowship Commission in partnership with the Department for Education — a dedicated policy commission for an elite group of National Leaders of Education (NLEs): highly successful head teachers who had driven transformative change in their own schools. The Commission supported them to undertake a real-time policy review focused on improving the structure and collaboration of England’s education system.
Our Approach
The Commission’s advice was generated from three distinct sources of insight:
- Expert witnesses from across fields — senior policy makers, education advisors, business leaders, and international education practitioners.
- Research, both national and international, on education transformation programmes and their impact.
- The deep, frontline expertise of the National Leaders of Education themselves.
It culminated in a presentation to the Secretary of State, the Minister of State for Schools, and senior Department for Education policy makers — who accepted and approved the Commission’s recommendations.
“The proposals from the Fellowship Commission were really helpful in thinking through how to ensure a greater collective focus on outcomes for children in the local area. Spreading the influence of people like yourselves further around the system is incredibly exciting.” — Senior Policy Maker, Department for Education
“Our best school leaders are the people really driving education reform, and I want them working with other schools in their areas to help drive up standards — for learning, for the curriculum, and for sport, drama and cultural activities too.” — Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Education
The Impact
The recommendations were adopted directly into a Bill — a foundation of the government’s strategy for continued improvement of the education system — which passed both the House of Commons and the House of Lords within 12 months. An Ofsted study later found that collaboration improved teaching standards, pupil happiness, and academic outcomes, concluding that “pupils were more confident because of the greater opportunities open to them and a larger circle of friends,” with improved achievement for those with special educational needs and disabilities.
