Impactful, connected member organisations are the foundation of our Alliance. We equip young people, staff and trustees to develop the leadership, connections and skills to collaborate and drive systems change.
Leadership Development for Systems Change
This autumn, we’re launching Leading Systems Change: Executive Cohort. This is a nine-month programme for senior leaders who are already doing impactful work - who want to think more systemically, deepen trusted relationships across organisational and sector boundaries, and sharpen their ability to navigate complexity and drive real systems change alongside others.
You can expect:
A leadership retreat to kick off your journey with the cohort
Practical sessions connecting theory to your real challenges, with space for reflection and shared problem-solving
Hands-on learning through peer mentoring, coaching and shadowing across different organisations and sectors
A growing network of leaders committed to driving systems change together
The first programme is designed for those leading at the most senior level across our membership - CEOs, founders, headteachers, MAT leaders and executive leaders in corporates, trusts and foundations. In the longer term, we’ll be launching programmes for early-career professionals through to trustees, so that systems change capability is built right across our organisations.
Want to be part of our first cohort? Fill in our short expression of interest form and we'll be in touch - including an invite to our upcoming information sessions where you can find out more about the programme structure, costs, and application process.
“The FEA's leadership retreats provided me with the time and space to step out of the day to day and challenge myself, be challenged, and consider things afresh. I always leave with new ideas and renewed energy from time spent with passionate, thoughtful, and knowledgeable colleagues.”
Lindsey McDonald, CEO Magic Breakfast, 2023 Scaling Award Winners
Member Training & Support
We support members to grow their impact through training, peer learning, data insights and one‑to‑one support. We focus on core topics such as policy influencing, youth engagement, fundraising, AI, parental engagement, line management and innovation. This is informed by insights from across the coalition, specialist partners and the Secretariat team, with our Ecosystem Map helping members prioritise where they can have the most impact.
Working Groups
FEA Member Working Groups are collaborative spaces where members grow their impact, share expertise, and connect with peers across the coalition. Open to all FEA members - schools, delivery organisations, think tanks, businesses, and funders - there’s something for everyone.
When you sign up, you’ll receive invitations to every working group session throughout the year. Each group is co-designed with members, ensuring that the topics, activities, and discussions are relevant, useful, and impactful.
Whether your goal is to enhance practice, influence sector change, or collaborate on solutions, FEA Working Groups provide a space for learning, problem-solving, and cross-sector connection.
Our Working Groups
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Youth Engagement
Building the capacity of the education sector to listen to, meaningfully engage and co-lead their work with young people.
We believe that we will only be able to make education fairer if young people currently experiencing the education system are respected and heard by decision makers and supported as co-leaders of the change. This facilitated community of practice, led by our Head of Youth Engagement, responds to the challenges and successes shared by group members and features a mix of practical workshops, case study presentations, Q&As, collective problem-solving, and opportunities to share resources.
Last year 100% of attendees said they learned something during the sessions that improved their organisation’s youth engagement work.
Who it’s for: This group is for anyone looking to develop their organisation’s youth engagement practice, regardless of your job title, previous experience or where your organisation is on its youth engagement journey.
When: Quarterly (virtual), and the agenda responds to the challenges and successes shared by the group members.
By registering for this group, you are also signing up to the Youth Engagement Mailing list where we share resources and opportunities between sessions.
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AI in Education
Exploring opportunities and risks of emerging technologies.
A dynamic, cross-sector learning group for FEA members focused on exploring how AI can be harnessed to drive impact, improve efficiency, and tackle systemic challenges that affect young people from low‑income backgrounds. The group shares strategic learning, showcases innovative AI applications, and ensures adoption is effective, safe, and aligned with our mission to reduce educational disadvantage.
Who it’s for: Leaders across FEA member organisations at all stages of AI adoption. Sessions are designed both for those with experience in AI and technology to explore advanced applications, and for those starting out to learn how AI tools can be used to increase impact and support innovative approaches in their work.
When: Quarterly, with opportunities to engage in tailored sessions, peer learning, and practical discussions throughout the year.
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Policy Insights Group
Developing skills and connections needs to develop impactful collective advocacy.
Our joint focus is to influence policies to ensure no child’s success is limited by their socioeconomic background.
There are two types of sessions throughout the year:
1. Insights sessions
These sessions focus on key education policy topics, featuring expert insights and group discussions. They are responsive to the political climate and may not always be planned far in advance. Activities include:
Contributing to FEA’s annual Report Card.
Collaborating on policy consultations (e.g. Curriculum and Assessment Review).
Sharing updates on policy work across member organisations and coalitions.
Space for discussion and debate!
2. Learning sessions
Once a quarter the session will be designed to upskill you and your team in policy influencing. They provide deep dives into key advocacy skills and knowledge areas to enhance advocacy, influencing and collaboration skills.
Who it’s for: The group is open to staff in FEA member organisations in a role related to influencing national or regional government policy.
When: Monthly on the fourth Tuesday of the month from 2-3pm
Training and Workshops
Strong organisations and strong leaders go hand in hand. Alongside the leadership programmes, we’re offering training and workshops designed for those who need to build targeted skills quickly. These sessions provide practical tools and strategies to tackle specific challenges in your work.
Line Management Training - 23rd & 24th July 2026
Whether you're new to managing people or have years of experience, this two-day programme builds the practical skills, frameworks and confidence to help you get the best out of your team - from giving feedback and delegating effectively, to understanding what motivates the people you lead.
Book your place now.
Throughout the year, we’ll be adding workshops on Fundraising, Systems Change, Impact & Evaluation and more. Make sure you are signed up to receive our Member Bulletin so you don’t miss out on updates.
Ecosystem Map
Our Ecosystem Map supports our members to target the areas of greatest need and build an in-depth knowledge of activity, need, and outcomes nationally. By combining national level data on attainment and deprivation with information about where FEA members work, this map works to build a central understanding of the work happening across the sector, focus collaboration across the membership, and support members to target their work more effectively.
One-to-One Clinics - we offer one-to-one support with our data tools to help members identify gaps and opportunities.
Skills and Opportunities for Young People
We support young people with lived experience of educational barriers to build the skills, networks and confidence to drive systems change and co‑lead the Fair Education Alliance. Through national and regional Fair Education Youth Summits, led by our Youth Steering Group, hundreds of young people gather to influence policy and strengthen their skills for social action.
Fair Education Youth Summit
Last year, our Youth Steering Group and the Mission 44 Youth Advisory Board hosted our biggest-ever Fair Education Youth Summit, designed and led by young people, for young people. The Youth Summit brought together 166 young people from across the education sector, with the aim to ensure that young changemakers are better connected, have the skills to lead the change they want to see and want to see and can directly influence decision makers. What was the result? Connection, inspiration and commitment!
We’ll be running our Youth Summits again this year and will be inviting youth representatives from your organisation to attend.
Youth Steering Group
We are delighted to have twenty-five fantastic and passionate young people in the Fair Education Alliance Youth Steering Group, aged between 14-24, with diverse perspectives and lived experiences of the English education system and great ideas for how to make it fairer. These young people are key in shaping our strategy and holding decision-makers to account.
Youth Engagement Support
Members can book a one-to-one clinic with our Head of Youth Engagement, for support to embed young people meaningfully in your work.
