The Edge Learner Forum, 2004-present
In 2004, SHM was commissioned by Edge foundation to establish the Edge Learner Forum, a unique means to give a wide spectrum of young learners a voice on the future of education. Under SHM’s direction, the Learner Forum has grown to become a network of 8 groups of young people across England, all working to achieve a shared mission to promote practical, real-world learning. SHM facilitates the London group and directs the activities of the whole network, working in partnership with the other local facilitators.
The Edge Learner Forum is now well recognized as an innovative force for change in education in England. The Learner Forum influences change in policy, practice and attitudes by taking young people’s views directly to the people who need to hear them. At the local level, the Forum works with institutions, businesses and communities. The Forum has come up with its own form of student-led inspections for schools and colleges, which have now been piloted at a secondary school and FE college. The Forum has also designed and run unique training sessions for teachers and employers, for instance with the Institute of Education, Royal Shakespeare Company, and East Sussex Council.
At the national level, the Forum works with policy-makers and parliamentarians to shape new developments. In 2008, the DCSF asked the Forum to carry out an investigation into the 14-19 Diplomas and produce a DVD for other young people about the qualification. In 2009, working with MPs Barry Sheerman and Tim Boswell, the Forum designed and conducted a major investigation into young people’s issues on Raising the Participation Age to 18. Through this investigation, called the Youth Commission, the Learner Forum reached over 4000 young people around the country.
As SHM has developed the Edge Learner Forum we have kept two values at the heart of our thinking: influence and empowerment. To us, influence means securing concrete opportunities for young people to have a real, demonstrable impact through their activity. Empowerment means working with diverse individuals to support them to develop the skills and confidence to influence change. We strive to ensure that the membership of the Learner Forum is always reflective of the full diversity of young people living in our communities, including those who are outside the education system.
Young people in the Learner Forum are full partners in the future of the programme. They are involved in the vision and direction of the network, a role that has been formalised through a national steering group of young people. They are now helping us to turn the Learner Forum into a mass movement for change, partly using online means, in order to involve many thousands more young people over the coming years.
For current information about the ongoing work of the Edge Learner Forum please go to www.edgelearnerforum.co.uk
In 2004, SHM was commissioned by Edge foundation to establish the Edge Learner Forum, a unique means to give a wide spectrum of young learners a voice on the future of education. Under SHM’s direction, the Learner Forum has grown to become a network of 8 groups of young people across England, all working to achieve a shared mission to promote practical, real-world learning. SHM facilitates the London group and directs the activities of the whole network, working in partnership with the other local facilitators.
The Edge Learner Forum is now well recognized as an innovative force for change in education in England. The Learner Forum influences change in policy, practice and attitudes by taking young people’s views directly to the people who need to hear them. At the local level, the Forum works with institutions, businesses and communities. The Forum has come up with its own form of student-led inspections for schools and colleges, which have now been piloted at a secondary school and FE college. The Forum has also designed and run unique training sessions for teachers and employers, for instance with the Institute of Education, Royal Shakespeare Company, and East Sussex Council.
At the national level, the Forum works with policy-makers and parliamentarians to shape new developments. In 2008, the DCSF asked the Forum to carry out an investigation into the 14-19 Diplomas and produce a DVD for other young people about the qualification. In 2009, working with MPs Barry Sheerman and Tim Boswell, the Forum designed and conducted a major investigation into young people’s issues on Raising the Participation Age to 18. Through this investigation, called the Youth Commission, the Learner Forum reached over 4000 young people around the country.
As SHM has developed the Edge Learner Forum we have kept two values at the heart of our thinking: influence and empowerment. To us, influence means securing concrete opportunities for young people to have a real, demonstrable impact through their activity. Empowerment means working with diverse individuals to support them to develop the skills and confidence to influence change. We strive to ensure that the membership of the Learner Forum is always reflective of the full diversity of young people living in our communities, including those who are outside the education system.
Young people in the Learner Forum are full partners in the future of the programme. They are involved in the vision and direction of the network, a role that has been formalised through a national steering group of young people. They are now helping us to turn the Learner Forum into a mass movement for change, partly using online means, in order to involve many thousands more young people over the coming years.
For current information about the ongoing work of the Edge Learner Forum please go to www.edgelearnerforum.co.uk
