Recently, out of the blue, I received an email from Number 10 Downing Street inviting me to attend a round table with the Prime Minister, to discuss ‘Opportunity for all: how can we make sure all young people are supported to succeed at school’.

At any time, an invitation such as this would have been something I would have been delighted and excited to receive. This area of discussion, however, is something I have been thinking about, writing about and through the lens of ‘Learning without Limits’ and latterly Rethinking Assessment have been agitating about, for over twenty years.  

I arrived at the heart of government at the appointed time and gathered with a small group of young people and their teachers awaiting the allotted time to go through security into Downing Street.

As we gathered about to enter Number 10, a discreet gasp of recognition from the group preceded the arrival of Sir Lewis Hamilton who warmly shook our hands, noting the famous surroundings and excitement that we were about to enter ‘the house we all see on the news’. We all left our phones at the door and were welcomed through the house to receive refreshments on the garden terrace overlooking the (now infamous) Rose Garden.  We were then joined by Bridget Philipson, Secretary of State and ultimately by Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister. As the sun shone and official photographs were taken, I remember feeling that this was a hugely special moment.

The Prime Minister invited us to take our named seats at the Cabinet table and proceeded to welcome us and to invite the young people to speak with openness, honesty and courage.  Sir Keir shared that his own brother had found learning difficult and consequently he understood that school could be a challenging place.  Following his short introduction, we heard from Lewis Hamilton about his idea for the roundtable which was to bring young people to meet the PM to share their stories about struggle and hardship in order that his charity Mission 44 could assist the government to broaden notions of educational success for all. After a few words of welcome from Bridget Philipson, the young people were invited one by one to share their stories. Their input ranged from the need for recognition and mentoring, to experiences of exclusion, of unrecognised special educational need and to the huge impact of Mission 44 on Roma families joining school in Leeds. 

My reflection on these special conversations is that the respect that each young person was given was truly inspiring. The adults in the room all listened intently and there was a palpable sense that there was a genuine desire to make things better. The opportunity for collaboration and for all of us as partners of Mission 44 is huge.  The Chartered College of Teaching is working with Chiltern Learning Trust to support the recruitment, retention and promotion of teachers from the global majority as future leaders. Broadening the teacher workforce provides a sense that school reflects society.

We must hope that the outcomes of the Curriculum and Assessment Review due in the autumn, lead the system towards a fairer, inclusive education system where all children are recognised as individuals and where pathways to success become broader and richer. As I came away, I was uplifted by the quiet dignity of the young people. 

This was a wonderful meeting that truly gave me hope for the future. 

Dame Alison Peacock 

Find out more about our project with Mission 44 and Chiltern Learning Trust here.