Start up Schools

Start-up Schools brings together people interested in starting new schools. School founders tell their stories and answer your questions. About this event ‘Start-up Schools' is a network for people interested in starting or working in a brand new school. Our shared belief is that new schools provide an opportunity to push the boundaries for what schools can achieve for all children. In Start-up Schools 5, we meet Sir Nick Weller and Luke Sparks, the founders of Dixons Trinity Academy. Dixons Trinity was the first secondary free school to be judged Outstanding by OFSTED and is a top 3 performer nationally for Progress 8. Come and hear how they achieved this! Some Start-up Schools attendees want to push their thinking about what schools can achieve; some are keen to be part of the founding teams of new schools; others are actively preparing to submit free school applications.

In Start-up Schools 4, we meet Siobhan Meredith and Claire Jones, the founders of Marine Academy Primary in Plymouth - the first ‘marine' primary school and the first free school in the south west to be graded as ‘Outstanding' by Ofsted.

In Start-up Schools 3 we meet Oli de Botton, Ed Fidoe and Peter Hyman the founders of School 21, a pioneering 4 - 18 school in east London. We will explore why they wanted to open a new school, why they went for an all-through school and explore their conviction that a re-balancing of education is required.

In Start-up Schools 2 we meet Aidan Sadgrove founder and Principal of One Degree Trust, an outstanding school that opened in Enfield in 2016. We will explore why Aidan wanted to open a new school, his belief in the profound effect of tiny changes and his biggest learnings from the last 10 years.

In Start-up Schools 1 we meet Rebecca Cramer, Ed Vainker and Jon McGoh the founders of Reach Academy Feltham, an outstanding all-through school and children's hub that opened in 2012. We will explore why they wanted to open a new school, why they went for an all-through school, the evolution of the Reach Children's Hub and their biggest lessons so far.