We need to talk about what EDUCATION is REALLY FOR

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Three schoolgirls, young, holding onto eachother. One of them is pulling a funny face.

We have a chance to rethink education

England’s education system has been built to get as many kids as possible learning a fixed set of things in a fixed way. And then to prove it through tests and exams. But is this big schooling machine delivering what anyone really wants, or what society needs?

What are your views on the purpose of education? Add your opinion and see what others think.

Jaiden, age 19

"I want to see our young people do more than just survive in this system, I want them to thrive.”

Jaiden, age 19

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Across the country people are talking about education

Wherever and whoever you are, why not take time to have a chat about what education is really for, and the big changes you and your friends, family, colleagues, or students, want to see.

To help you get started, we've create a simple conversation guide and some top tips for facilitators. Use the resources to spark a conversation about the future of education and get curious about what others think.

54.78603320

-1.56818160

Ella

51.27870750

0.52172540

Big Change

vanessa

51.56350010

-0.13947360

Yes Futures

Sorca Davis

54.43543440

-2.96456180

Cumbria Development Education Centre

Debbie

53.63832080

-2.62570710

John

53.39406850

-2.96969270

Liverpool World Centre

Pablo

51.77109680

-1.30765580

Family Links the Centre for Emotional Health

50.85730670

0.47213780

Community Supporters

55.00956010

-1.61820160

Alex Maughan

51.74933510

-0.49703030

Lisa

53.81451210

-1.62462740

Christina

50.87387200

0.00878000

Pat

51.53733460

-0.57434480

Jean Cardoe

52.44948030

-1.82931860

SafetySmart

Kevin McGrath

51.76586710

-2.23277360

Anna

52.41471860

-1.79693100

Digital Innovators

Mick

52.32923050

-2.03096150

The Real Executive Coaching Co.

Heather

53.69585380

-2.47316960

Polly

40.71277530

-74.00597280

Christopher Matesic

51.40958820

-0.30579790

Partnership for Children

Liz Bowles

51.81919160

-0.03425450

Bounce Forward

42.29948480

-71.06485290

Rob Hattersley

52.38507370

-1.83441520

TechWizard IT Services Ltd

Richard

51.71817000

-0.19949800

Bounce Forward

52.14632360

1.10601180

Forum for the Future of Education

52.68807120

-1.81195510

Oliver Woodman

53.54185680

-2.53703150

Jade Hadi

53.69932300

-2.30443270

Dominic

53.55831240

-2.46462820

Abdul

52.63550520

-0.33694690

Ruth Hutton-Smith

53.53670700

-2.41758760

Sara Stanczyk

53.34296470

-2.12818350

Angela

53.40546620

-2.63380590

The Difference

Jamie

51.34559970

0.99981500

Claire Oliver

40.71277530

-74.00597280

Big Change

Freddie

50.61475400

-3.45072420

Cockwood School

Alison

53.47290310

-2.29959750

Youth Leads UK

Saeed

52.40508610

0.26346560

Restart-ed

Ben

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Educate & Celebrate

Caroline

7.36972200

12.35472200

DNA Africa

51.55933300

-0.12850630

Meet the Parents

51.49899480

-0.08294410

Big Change

Freddie

51.49469290

-0.14146100

Big Education

Ellie Lister

54.52228360

-1.56309270

Zoe

53.58443190

-2.39479610

Little Bats Learning

Elanor Gordon

50.92801430

-0.46170750

VotesforSchools

Lizzy

50.83157440

-0.18059980

Square Peg

52.98156630

-1.12303270

Inspiring Leaders

James Brown

51.18193840

0.38179100

Nathan

52.49481350

-0.91701590

Pen Green Children's Centre

Fliss dewsbery

53.85560350

-3.03768100

Big Change

Heena Goenka

53.81089620

-3.05203670

Angel kaur

53.47290310

-2.29959750

Youth Leads UK

Abeer

51.51698530

-0.19376150

BC Project Partners

51.27870750

0.52172540

Parentkind

Louisa Mcnally

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Big Change

Eloise

53.58150340

-2.65785530

Emma Appleton

53.37315180

-2.13336960

Moorfield Primary School

Kathryn Bickerstaffe

51.16155060

0.73983060

Laura

51.39834770

0.49249320

Evulve Productions

Esme Michaela

51.74769110

-1.14548640

Samantha

53.19583100

-0.46798800

Branston Community Academy

Karen Stevenson

51.60181740

-0.11471700

Haringey Learning Partnership

53.82164330

-1.56923210

The Den

Chris

52.90552190

-1.45083790

YMCA Derbyshire

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Whole Education

Douglas

51.59039690

-0.09577270

The Grove

53.81594910

-3.05494290

Right to Succeed

Sarah Keating

50.43202330

-3.68369770

Eliza and Jae

50.51658980

-3.75267880

Eliza and Jae

53.49519000

-2.27856350

Beacon Youth Centre

53.76447450

-0.38666340

Kelvin Hall School

51.41778280

-2.35883000

House of Imagination

Penny Hay

51.50754770

-0.14564450

Big Change

Imogen Morrall

51.51374630

-0.14150520

Amar

41.87811360

-87.62979820

Amanda

53.47530620

-2.24210800

Youth Leads UK

Saeed Atcha

50.43088870

-3.69123270

Big Change

Jae Spencer Keyse

52.20160550

0.11488990

Pupil Power

Aliyah Irabor York

53.47117220

-2.23727880

The Proud Trust

Georgie Brooke

53.41422630

-2.90854060

Tracey

51.46109570

-0.11932700

Big Change

Eloise

52.97814890

-1.15893520

The Ethereal Learning Foundation

Deborah Haddon

50.37545170

-4.13791090

University of Plymouth

Harriet Dismore

-27.52241910

152.68536490

Raising Changemaker Teens

Heidi Conway

48.22489560

16.35696500

Teach For Austria

Eva Keiffenheim

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Aquayemi-Claude Garnett Akinsanya

48.28916950

15.89415570

Alexandra

-8.81465560

13.23017560

Emanuel Catumbela

56.13036600

-106.34677100

Alberta

43.16515640

-80.30111420

Wellness for All

Patricia Gough

43.68174480

-79.42704830

People for Education

Robin

43.66187290

-79.39283650

Vicky

4.67864330

-74.05179140

Corporación Colombiana de Padres y Madres Red PaPaz

30.04441960

31.23571160

Nadia

60.16985570

24.93837900

HundrED

67.65073240

24.91581970

Big Change

Imogen

60.17179120

24.92318340

One Step Ahead (OSA)

51.33952870

-1.99284450

Keith

5.60371680

-0.18696440

Peter Nana Darko

9.50909450

-13.71193120

Camara N'Faly Kalil

22.31930390

114.16936110

Vivian

41.70990550

44.74185940

IREX

SHE's GREAT! participants

18.52043030

73.85674370

PES B.ed College

Sana Sohoni

23.02250500

72.57136210

Nitin

15.29932650

74.12399600

Jerry

12.90372540

77.53763890

Dream a Dream

Sanju RJ

8.44021200

77.91429610

johnmansingh

-0.78927500

113.92132700

Tika

52.63687780

-1.13975920

IPPR

Kike

50.43501540

-4.17171590

Elsa Kent

40.34167650

-76.80289330

Okky Teguh Ariyanto

41.87194000

12.56738000

DSchola Association

Eleonora Panto

41.87194000

12.56738000

Elena Radaelli

-1.29206590

36.82194620

Metis Collective

Rose

-0.02355900

37.90619300

Grace

-0.02355900

37.90619300

Grace

-1.29206590

36.82194620

Branson&Branson Pharmacies

Lily Shiro

33.85472100

35.86228500

Dina

-0.02355900

37.90619300

Big Change

Eva

51.08519740

-1.79730260

Emma lawson

-1.29206590

36.82194620

Liberal Africa Leadership Dev. Initiatives

19.39912100

-99.14146430

Marina Pardo

52.13263300

5.29126600

Aflatoun

Roeland Monasch

9.08199900

8.67527700

Paul

-9.18996700

-75.01515200

Luminario

Laura Camacho

52.32999940

20.96082190

Kate

38.72225240

-9.13933660

CTL ACADEMY

Mara Simmons

-1.94407270

30.06188510

Clemence UMUHOZA

-1.94027800

29.87388800

Ubuntu Education

Jess

-26.20410280

28.04730510

Mduduzi Ntuli

53.48499110

-2.22611390

Children's University

Helen O'Donnell

40.53127460

-3.65725420

Silviu

41.38739740

2.16856800

Dominica Parravano

-1.94407270

30.06188510

Ndinde Kizito

15.57546230

32.56878540

Ithar Ahmed

13.86584920

100.49412850

Edusfere

Grant

37.76182420

-122.39858710

En Kelly

-6.36902800

34.88882200

NEEMA KAWEDI MGHASE

37.09024000

-95.71289100

Boston Public Schools

Alexandra Carroll

40.71277530

-74.00597280

Big Education Conversation

Caireen

-33.84626110

151.09080860

Grad Student HGSE

30.35424090

-97.77427020

Taleau

Dan Smillie

51.50721780

-0.12758620

The Edge foundation

Elena Wilson

36.48979340

-105.66471420

Social Emotional Learning Alliance

Amy McConnell Franklin

41.36387100

-70.55029160

LEARNMV

Sidney Morris

40.35729760

-74.66722260

Educational Testing Service (ETS)

Catherine Millett

37.54642590

-77.46446070

Richmond Loose Play

39.04516630

-77.03917540

Global Education Destinations

34.13503230

-85.13756450

EOF Project

Diego Fontanive

55.37805100

-3.43597300

Lontum Charles

Lontum Charles

6.52437930

3.37920570

Eazy-Digi

Adebayo Alomaja

-19.01543800

29.15485700

Brook Of Knowledge Development Agency

51.50721780

-0.12758620

The Edge foundation

Elena Wilson

-12.07791480

-77.04781120

Enseña Perú

Franco Mosso Enseña Perú

51.36976320

-2.37975420

Joseph

51.78739850

-1.26989640

cora

52.13007740

1.41923480

Lewis

51.51887420

-0.13363320

Tortoise Media

Marian Brannelly

51.95340340

-1.54360410

Matilda Mantell

50.39020200

-3.92043100

Eleanor

51.53576400

-0.90289400

James

51.59829390

0.03332600

Oakdale

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Protection Approaches

Dilia Zwart

54.37312330

-2.81341130

Emily

53.32260100

-3.04684540

Ruby

51.57331940

-0.28463730

Yusra

51.57404490

0.14619650

Alise Lewis

52.62925670

1.29788020

Inspiration Trust

Lucy Austin

51.60857340

-0.18448180

Tuition Kit

Arti

50.11544370

-5.54509140

Isaac

50.90859550

0.24941660

Sam

50.91009220

-0.40945770

emma

50.82294020

-0.13626720

Square Peg / Rethinking Education

52.40589620

0.26904990

Emma

52.63687780

-1.13975920

Tortoise Media

Kikelomo

51.53227360

-0.89558690

Jon

51.68326720

-0.69852090

Jenny Impey

51.46103870

-0.35603300

Olivia

50.80936060

-1.87675560

Dylan

52.49986870

-1.86455580

Yumna

52.63550520

-0.33694690

Ruth Hutton-Smith

51.74573400

-2.21775800

University of the West of England

Natalie Rothwellwarn

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Shape History

Zoe

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Flourishing Education

Fabienne

-42.04090590

146.80873220

Kathleen

30.25350100

-81.88798840

Skip Pletcher

9.08199900

8.67527700

OHAJIWU KINGSLEY

50.11879800

-5.53759200

Homegrown Learning

Sarah

52.11596710

-0.26595810

RSPB

Suzanne Welch

53.47597320

-2.20769970

Jan

51.65952250

-4.72350830

Carmarthenshire County Council

JDessent

12.00217940

8.59195610

Hassan Salisu Adam

51.55633000

0.06550920

Pupil Power

Aliyah York

50.82294020

-0.13626720

Square Peg

Ellie

51.40935330

-0.21839600

Native Scientist

Sara Marques

51.51782440

-0.02010280

Sarah

6.42805500

-9.42949900

Felecia

51.52703270

-0.11563090

Khulisa

Nora

51.57578850

0.03054620

Big Change

Nadia

12.00217940

8.59195610

Hassan Salisu

52.35551770

-1.17431970

Whole Education

52.58631790

-1.10635390

Researchers in Schools

Kike Agunbiade

51.42818300

-0.85060130

Mike

51.50721780

-0.12758620

Aquayemi-Claude Garnett

51.53742920

-0.45400040

Chris

7.36972200

12.35472200

DNA Africa

53.54046400

-113.49971390

R O

52.18656450

0.14498200

National Extension College

Esther Chesterman

43.95282400

4.47837200

Pierre-Jean Arnaud

53.16752570

-4.20310290

Tybed

Nia Richards

52.53678410

-2.31049040

Sally Hawker

51.40122960

-0.29740900

James

51.47101450

0.05788510

Julie Maher

53.14745060

-0.21933540

Alessandro Agorini

50.43026440

-3.68839440

ThoughtBox Education

Rachel

51.42735390

-2.76336400

Abbey

53.51752440

-1.39947230

The Further Education Tutorial Network

Sally Wootton

51.41459870

-0.06706240

Clare

52.48624300

-1.89040100

Liz

50.81976750

-1.08797690

The Nature Premium campaign

Sara

51.41834270

-0.24440860

student

50.70016600

-3.53274340

Glynis

51.72833580

0.67021600

Jo Phillips

51.58254660

-1.79639930

Carol

51.55933300

-0.12850630

Rescue Our Schools

51.50721780

-0.12758620

yelena

53.67966530

-1.53067600

Susan Khushi

51.57281140

-0.10001590

The Visionaries

Olusola Adebiyi

53.31669130

-0.95833890

Louise

50.84514300

-0.15410530

Plug-in Media

Juliet Tzabar

51.41778280

-2.35883000

Bath Spa University

Dr Penny Hay

51.59302020

-0.16045770

Anne Nicholls

50.83331290

-0.12959170

Nice Media

Melanie

52.08050410

-0.55608300

Nick Martin

51.54247960

0.08337500

Sadia Moaeee

51.87121110

-1.70143170

HeadsUp4HTs

40.26531720

-74.52315530

Peddie school

Leon Zhao

51.51698530

-0.19376150

Big Change

Eloise

52.45904140

-1.98317850

Woodhouse Primary Acedemy

Mr Wilson

54.89414200

-1.92961500

USA Study

Phil Garner

51.39446260

-0.08340730

Beckmead College

Miss Sam

50.64698140

-1.17812140

Broadlea Primary

Richard

55.23184860

-2.57955620

Kielder Primary

Lee

50.91205220

-0.56929310

Bury Primary

Thomas

53.64320080

-0.74785500

Luddington and Garthorpe Primary School

Janine

53.85553880

-3.03782230

Blackpool Youth Council

Andrew

51.38830470

-0.01812430

Langley Park School

Karmelle, Carolina, Fayo

48.85342750

2.35827880

LearningPlanet Alliance - Sorbonne

Jeanne Louise

23.36355690

88.52752490

RISE

Sanju Pal

55.61163250

12.99003820

Salzburg Global Seminar/ SEE Learning

Corinna Nawatzky

53.67322080

-1.93725710

Noble + Eaton

Joanne

51.51836770

-0.18881070

Big Change

Heena

39.67512690

-104.96809140

South High School

Julie

-37.81236530

144.97093940

Learning Creates Australia

Calum

12.93533540

77.58404690

Dream a Dream

Suchitha

40.41375030

-79.90888290

Remake Learning

Tyler

50.43095770

-3.68730040

The Artist Within

Jae

30.11231500

31.34385070

Malvern College

Joseph

45.45500630

-75.59180150

Uniting for Children and Youth; My Life My Education

Richard Fransham

52.05783480

-1.35166660

Frank Wise School

Griffiths Centre

52.62755110

-1.09143570

Big Change

Khadejah

52.62762090

-1.09179140

Crown Hills Community College

Sofia

51.51865850

-0.18882820

Big Change

Heena

51.51865850

-0.18882820

Big Change

Heena

51.51865850

-0.18882820

Big Change

Heena

25.27109540

82.98241210

Sunbeam Bhagwanpur

Pareshi

40.04083890

-75.42573250

an international philanthropy advising firm

Joshua

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Meet the Big Education Project Council

Our Project Council are 13-19 years old and play a key role in shaping and developing the Big Education Conversation, supported by our partner Youth Leads UK and the Big Change team.

Our Project Council

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Join the conversation on Instagram and across social media #BigEdConversation

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April, English teacher

"All students should leave education feeling they have achieved something, rather than leaving with a certificate to show they have failed."

April, English teacher

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Meet the Big Education Conversation Partners

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Big Change
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Big Education
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City of London Corporation
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Fair Education Alliance
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Family Links
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Forum for the Future of Education
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HeadsUp4HTs
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IPPR
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Lego Foundation
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Meet the Parents
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Our Shared World
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Parent Kind
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Parent Ping
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Parental Engagement Network
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Porticus
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Rekindle
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Rethinking Education
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Right to Succeed
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SSAT
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Schools of Tomorrow
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The Difference
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Whole Education
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