Charles Leadbeater Forum

25 September 2009

In this forum Charles focussed on personalisation and relationships for learning that embrace family, workplace and community, themes which resonated strongly with the Victorian context.

He asked thought-provoking questions to help participants reflect on issues facing the system;

• Is the current approach to educational reform running out of steam?
• Have improvement results reached a plateau?
• Why is educational inequality still stubbornly high?
• How can we build on the most radical innovations in today's schools to create a new approach to learning fit for the century to come?
• What are the ‘next practices' in innovative schools that are energising learners and teachers alike

Participants canvassed these issues and learnt about emergent innovations that are opening up new ways of working.

About the presenter

Charles Leadbeater is recognised internationally as an expert in “we-think” social innovation – the power of mass creativity, which charts the rise of participative approaches to innovation from science and open source software, to computer games and political campaigning.

Charles has worked extensively as a senior adviser to governments over the past decade, particularly in the UK Innovation Unit where he has advised on future strategies for more networked and personalised approaches to learning and education.

His observations in the UK give an intriguing insight into how innovative schools are developing new and successful approaches to adjust to the conditions of the 21st century.