A collage showing an intricate network of tree roots, symbolising foundational growth
A collage showing an intricate network of tree roots, symbolising foundational growth

Foundational Learning

At the heart of our Foundational Learning lies a commitment to equity-centred education. This programme provides a solid grounding, strengthening your foundations to develop practices that prepare educators for all eventualities, creating a long-lasting impact on equity in education.

About the programme

Foundational Learning is more than a training course—it’s a movement towards long-term systemic change in education. Our programme is intersectional, comprehensive, and tailored for educators committed to continuous improvement.

Grounded in our four core principles—affirming individuals, nurturing critical thinking, building community, and fostering democracy—we critically examine existing practices and collaboratively develop new, equitable approaches, transforming classrooms into spaces of fairness and justice. 

Learning Structure

Our four full-day sessions are designed specifically for educators, offering a dynamic blend of theory and action to ignite real change in your classrooms. We incorporate individual reflection, group work, and a complementary reading list.

Understanding the demands of the education sector, we’ve tailored our programme for flexibility. Whether you prefer to learn during school hours, on weekends, or after school as half days, we’ve got you covered. Each session takes 6 hours to complete, either as a full day or two evenings. You can vary this to suit your needs: as an example, you could sign up for a full day on a Saturday for Session 1, two evenings for Session 2 and two full days for Sessions 3 and 4.

Once you complete our training, you can take it again, at no extra cost. This underscores our commitment to building a community of dedicated educators.

Session 1

The Big Short: “No one can see a bubble. That’s what makes it a bubble.”

Dive into the foundations of deficit ideology, and its pervasive presence in education. Explore the six characteristics of deficit ideology using government white papers to understand their impact in your classroom.

Full day
Wed 7th or Sat 10th May

or Evenings
Tue 29th & Wed 30th April

Hand drawn orange arrow
Hand drawn orange arrow

Session 2

The Usual Suspects: “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”

Examine race, racism, and whiteness as organising principles in society. Reassess the six characteristics of deficit ideology through this lens, gaining clarity on why the education system disproportionately impacts minoritised young people.

Full day
Thu 15th or Sat 17th May

or Evenings
Tue 20th & Wed 21st May

Hand drawn orange arrow
Hand drawn orange arrow

Session 3

Mission Impossible: “Hope is not a strategy.”

Hope is a discipline for educators in this work. Revisit previous learnings and delve into equity literacy. Clarify the difference between equality and equity, and distinguish between mitigative solutions and those that challenge inequity.

Full day
Tue 3rd or Sat 7th June

or Evenings
Tue 10th & Wed 11th June

Hand drawn orange arrow
Hand drawn orange arrow

Session 4

Session 4 – Inception : “You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger”

Explore Class 13’s Advancing Equity Framework. Discuss these principles in your context and develop strategies for collective improvement. Create actions to implement equitable practices in your schools, highlighting the simplicity and effectiveness of well-designed equity plans.

Full day
Sat 14th or Wed 18th June

or Evenings
Tue 24th & Wed 25th June

A black and white photo of an empty lecture hall with yellow and orange arrows drawn over the seats, symbolising different directions or paths

Ready to transform your classroom?

Join us for our next Foundational Learning session and start making a lasting impact in your setting.

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Let’s transform education together

If you’d like more information on our programmes, want to speak with us about joining our movement, collaborating with us or anything else, we’d love to hear from you.

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