As soon as I heard about the NB10 I knew I wanted Alexandra to join and have the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from innovative and successful schools who are leading change in the system. As head, it’s exciting and motivating to belong to a group of courageous and creative school leaders and work towards the vision of a Big Education for all our pupils.

We joined Rethinking Schools because we wanted to link with like minded school leaders and learn from each other about creative approaches to educating our learners.

As a pioneering school aiming to change one million children’s lives to start, we are passionate about exploring the reality gap between what traditional schools offer in relation to the future skills young people need to thrive. Being a part of The Next Big 10 is a great opportunity for us to be a part of changing education to make it fit for our children’s futures, not our past!

We believe that having access to a high-quality education is a birth-right, and in order to achieve this for every child, schools need to be uncompromisingly innovative and forward thinking, in order that teachers can easily make a difference. The Next Big 10 means that we are surrounded by like-minded educators who wish to challenge the norms in education. It is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate and share.

The opportunity to collaborate with and learn alongside colleagues from across the country in order to research, trial and develop new practices was too good to pass up! Life in school can feel like such a hamster wheel, that often the operational ends up taking precedence. However, being part of the Next Big 10 allows us protected time to think deeply and move slowly in order to steer away from the reactive towards building sustainable change that positively impacts both children and staff.

This exciting opportunity will allow us to share our expertise and connect with other schools committed to innovative learner engagement. We look forward to exchanging ideas and learning best practices. A particular area of interest for us is exploring methods for recognizing and representing the diverse range of skills and abilities demonstrated by our students. As a key component of our school development plan, we are committed to collaborating with other schools to strengthen the signature practices of Waldorf education.

I increasingly felt that recent education policy was causing pupils to feel negative about school, and that their natural desire to learn was being destroyed. It was also driving great teachers out of the system. We knew that there had to be a better way! So we’re really excited to be joining the Next Big Ten to help develop an alternative pathway through the school system which allows children to enjoy their education, learn enthusiastically, and also better meets their varying needs.

We have been considering what a ‘21st century education’ should be for some time now. Thinking differently can be lonely. We were excited to join a group of educators who are all thinking differently and sharing their experiences of what is working in their trusts and schools.

We joined the NB10 to learn with and from other educators who believe that it’s possible to provide an exciting, engaging education that prepares young people for life. Within the constraints of the current education system schools can be fearful of doing things differently. We are keen to collaborate with schools that are curious and confident enough to provide more than the narrow band of knowledge that is required for success in examinations.

We hadn’t reached out to look at practice in other schools for some time, and wanted to be more innovative and cutting-edge; Rethinking School offered what we were after.

Latymer is very excited to be working with like-minded schools on the Rethinking Schools project. We already have very exciting plans for significant change in our school which we hope will ultimately benefit many more pupils than just those that attend Latymer. We hope that by working with other schools we can refine our ideas further but also gain from their expertise in enacting and implementing change.

At Matthew Moss we believe that everything starts with the learner and that education should prepare learners for a life of learning that is both satisfying to themselves and of significant value to society. Being part of NB10, a wider community that wants to make a difference, provides opportunities for collaboration, shared learning and improving practices to make a positive impact on our young people.

Next Big 10 offers us the opportunity to work with other schools who see the school curriculum as a way to help children find something they love to do alongside teaching the basics we all need to succeed in life.

Joining the rethinking school programme has provided invaluable opportunities to learn from other schools and to share practice and thinking about creative approaches to education. It’s been a great way to develop leadership potential and has helped us to shape the direction of the school by looking beyond our own immediate context.

We have been working with Big Education for a number of years and shared their driving vision for a bigger education for all children. It has been exciting to work with like-minded schools, sharing fabulous, innovative ideas that can support children in today’s ever changing world. We have been able to involve teachers across the school and at different points in their careers. We have collaborated on a number of projects that will benefit not only our school, but education across all the Big 10 schools, and developed leaders in our school to continue to bring about our own vision.

We wanted to innovate in a safe and collaborative space. Having read the case studies of the previous cohorts and having heard the excitement of members of our team when they spoke of the changes taking place on the ground in real schools, we knew we had to try and be a part of this.

"We believe in doing things differently and challenging the status quo. We are committed to innovating with rigour and are relishing working with other schools in the Big 10 coalition - a group of schools that are curious and brave enough to approach things from different angles and to think outside of the box."

We know there’s another way to approach education - we are doing things differently and it’s making a difference. We wanted to work with schools like us to learn from them and to continue to develop our practices in the way we know is right for pupils, parents and staff and Next Big 10 has enabled us to to just that.

We are very excited to be a part of the Rethinking School project. We are looking forward to sharing our educational approach and learning from other schools. We are seeking to deliver a strong Waldorf education that meets the needs of children and young learners in today’s world. Our dynamic leadership team is developing and learning to lead with heart felt integrity. We hope this project is exactly what we need to strengthen our practice, deliver change and tell our story

The Next Big 10 provides challenge, inspiration and support; giving us the opportunity to work alongside other schools who share our commitment to developing an offer for pupils that is more fit for purpose.

We are excited at the prospect of learning and discovering new ways to improve education. By having the opportunity to work with other like minded individuals, we believe we can provide our children with experiences that they deserve.

Being part of the Next Big 10 gives us the opportunity to learn from, share with, and develop alongside other amazing schools. Being part of this network definitely enriches our staff and school, and beyond this, gives a powerful voice to those of us who want to see a more enlightened education system in this country.

As a school, part of our culture is always to strive to be our best, along with staff being drivers of their own learning. We seek to provide a curriculum that not only is knowledge rich but is also experience and development rich, where children can thrive and develop as ‘whole’ people. The NB10 is a wonderful opportunity to combine these aims and values, along with sharing with, and learning from, other like minded colleagues at the cutting edge of education.

We have been working with Big Education very closely for several years now and many colleagues/leaders have benefited from a range of programs so far offered. The attraction of Next Big 10 has been working with a group of like-minded schools who can share what they feel is their USP. Colleagues, including me, are finding it hugely beneficial being a part of a range of working groups that will fundamentally improve the education of the children we serve as well as driving forward real and meaningful change in the sector.

We admire Big Education and the work that is happening. We too want to be forward thinking. We want to learn from others and collaborate with schools and educationalists that are also innovative and not afraid to try new things and take risks.