Freedom to Learn

#DiverseEd - Virtual IV (Early Career Teachers), which took place on  Sat 10 Apr 2021 celebrated and showcased the diversity, equality and inclusion at the heart of education. The theme for this event was visibility.

Partner speakers from Phoenix Education Changemakers' Lab – Fatma Shami, Nykeda Bekoe-Amoako, Reese Marley Robinson, and Yumna Hussen.

More and more young people are taking decisive action on the injustices we see around us, eschewing traditional structures like school council committees for more direct action. From climate strikes to decolonising the curriculum, students are demanding wholescale education transformation, building a case for tangible, meaningful, and shared activism; not just as individuals with a large social media following; not just tinkering around the edges; not just as a trend.

This panel discussion was hosted by Simi Musa and Ava James from @not_a_trend, and we heard from:

Click here for the Change Collective website

In a recent Changemakers' Lab action, Phoenix Education collaborated with Diverse Educators, Pupil Power, and Not a Trend in putting together the first ever student only panel at a DiverseEd event. This was also the first time that Diverse Ed had panelled student speakers which included: Aliyah York from @ThePupilPower, Ava James @avaajames, Ayah, Lottie Cooke @LottieCooke16 and Simi Musa @not_a_trend. Listen up to hear calls for the representation of young people in education decision-making spaces, unapologetic sharing of experiences of school and the education system, the scrapping of student councils to make way for less performative and more representative and critical ways of hearing  students' voices. You will also hear visions for 21st century education  that is democratic, transparent and honest, that supports students' interests and plays to their strengths.

Join this workshop with Gem Kennedy, creator of the Queers & Co. podcast, as she shares how and why podcasting can help your activism, offers practical tips, and guides you in exploring how to create your own.

Gem Kennedy is a transformational practitioner, activist and founder of Queers & Co., a network for queer folks and allies making social change. Her work focuses around the themes of self-empowerment, body liberation and activism.

The Changemakers Lab is a two year program run by Phoenix Education supporting 14-18 year olds campaigning to reform the education system to better reflect their needs and rights.

Protests, flyer-bombing, flash-mobs, ad-hacking, sit-ins - what are some effective uses of direct action to further a campaign and why, and when, are they successful? When aren't they?

An interactive discussion and workshop with Changemakers Lab on examples of direct action and how to make effective use of it.

The Changemakers Lab is a two year program run by Phoenix Education supporting 14-18 year olds campaigning to reform the education system to better reflect their needs and rights.

Sophie Christophy explores self care and avoiding burn out as a Change Maker. Change-making is demanding work, that can take it's toll on body, mind and soul, and without self-care and burnout awareness, it is hard for activists to persist in their work in a healthy way.

In this session the group explores:

The Changemakers Lab is a two year program run by Phoenix Education supporting 14-18 year olds campaigning to reform the education system to better reflect their needs and rights.

How do you know that the issue you are campaigning on is going to be  meaningful for the people affected? How do you reach out to affected  communities? And how do you keep listening to and building your team?

This is a Changemakers Lab discussion and workshop on conducting listening campaigns, research, and the power of one-to-one conversations  - the backbone of any campaign.

The Changemakers Lab is a two year program run by Phoenix Education supporting 14-18 year  olds campaigning to reform the education system to better reflect their needs and rights.

What is the role of story-telling in campaigns? And how can we  develop and use our own stories (and the stories of others) to make change?

A Changemakers Lab discussion and workshop on the power of  storytelling, and how to use our stories as effective tools to further  and win campaigns - plus how to work with the stories of others in an  appropriate, sensitive and empowering way! All welcome.

The Changemakers Lab is a two year program run by Phoenix Education supporting 14-18 year olds campaigning to reform the education system to better reflect their needs and rights. 

Joanna Merrett from Exeter University presents her recent research into home education, and what it reveals about families' motivations for choosing home education. This is followed by an open discussion about why we need more research into home education.

Presented by Brittany Burton: ourthrivinghive.com, Facebook/Insta @ourthrivinghivelondon. During lockdown families got a peek (and I mean a tiny  glimpse) into the world of homeschooling. But doing "school at home” is a  lot different from a thriving home education. If you’re on the fence about continuing to home educate (whether due to C-19 or because your children have enjoyed learning at home), or perhaps have friends and family that may still not fully understand your decision to homeschool, I invite you to join me for this talk. We will be shedding light on some of the most common myths surrounding homeschooling:

Myth 1: Children can't learn if they are not in school.

Myth 2: Children who are not in school will not know how to socialise.

Myth 3: Children will fall behind and not have as many opportunities as their schooled peers.

Myth 4: I will go crazy if I stay at home with my children.

Myth 5: I cannot afford to home educate.