Progressive Education founder, Jo Symes, has launched a new service for anyone - particularly parents/carers - who are questioning conventional schooling and would like support in exploring the world of alternatives.

Find out about mentoring

Jo explains:

“The last ten years for me, since my elder son started school, have been quite a roller coaster. I sent my children to our local school without a second thought. I’d never questioned the education system before, but very quickly, it became clear that they were not thriving. After enduring the heartache for two years, we deregistered and began exploring alternatives.

I remember only too well how daunting it felt to step into the unknown - and to convince others that taking an unconventional path was a credible, rational decision.

My children and I have explored home education, flexischooling, online schooling, democratic, consent-based, self-directed education, forest school, home education co-op groups and Montessori schooling.

Having navigated this journey for almost a decade, I am committed to helping others going through the same thing. If my story resonates and you’re looking for support from someone who’s walked a similar path, I would love to connect and help you in any way I can.”

To find out more about Jo’s mentoring offer, please visit info.progressiveeducation.org/mentoring

View the Course

What’s Included in the Online Course?

This new online course is for people questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different. It includes ten modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

There are presentations and interviews with 14 inspiring education pioneers, on the following topics:

1. Home Education

2. Flexischooling

3. Online Schooling

4. Worldschooling

5. Forest School

6. Montessori

7. Reggio Emilia

8. Democratic Education

9. Self-Directed Education

10. Consent-Based Education

We hope you enjoy it and find it useful.

In light of recent developments with the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we have added an extra webinar to our schedule!

The Bill was announced in 2024 and received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026, meaning that it is now officially the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. While the Act is now law, many of its provisions - including those relating to children not in school - will not come into force until after commencement regulations are made.

Once implemented, the Act will have significant implications for those in England and Wales* who are creating alternatives to mainstream education through innovative part-time learning communities.

Please join us for this FREE webinar on 11th August to understand what the Act could mean in practice, what changes are expected, the current implementation timeline, and how the new legal framework could affect your learning community. You will be able to ask questions and discuss what these developments may mean for your particular circumstances.

*Even if you’re not based in England or Wales, you may still wish to pop along as Jenn’s story of setting up her own learning community is super inspiring.

Register for Free

About Our Speakers

Dr Joanna Merrett is a doctoral researcher at the University of Exeter with over a decade of experience working closely with home education communities.

Her extensive background in this field has driven her to explore various aspects of education beyond traditional schooling, with a primary focus on home education, alternative education approaches, pedagogies, educational policy, systematic disadvantage, equity in access to national qualifications, and pathways for home-educated young individuals to higher and further education.

Jenn Hodge is a home educator from Somerset who has always been heavily involved in the community, volunteering at home education groups and organising educational trips and events.

She is also the founder of Rama Life, an innovative not-for-profit education centre which supports a wide range of young people, many of whom are neurodivergent. Her vision is to have state funded, Rama Life provisions all across England.

Event Format and Recording

This webinar takes place online via Zoom at 7.30-9.30pm BST on Tuesday 11th August.

If you have questions but can't make the date, you are still welcome to register for the event. Simply send your questions through to info@EducationStartUps.org and they will get asked in the session on your behalf.

The recording will be sent to all registered participants as soon as possible after the live event.

Become a Member for Further Support

Would you like to join the Education Start-Ups membership community? Our membership offers monthly expert webinars (like this one); monthly group coaching for peer support and collaborative problem solving; and an online platform for sharing resources/ideas and supporting each other between sessions (plus a few other bonuses too!).

How to Register for this Webinar

You can register for this webinar here.

Note to Members: If you are a member, you do not need to register for this webinar. You will automatically receive the Zoom link in your online community portal.

Future Webinars

This webinar (and membership) is a collaboration between Progressive Education and Limitless. Stay tuned in the Progressive Education Group for details of more upcoming events or check out our News page for this year’s webinar line up. We’ll also keep you updated via email.

Last but not least! We are delighted to share our final Sponsor Spotlight for our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling.

We hope that this new resource will be of great benefit to those exploring education beyond the mainstream. It has been made available thanks to the generous support of nine course sponsors, and we’ve been spotlighting each one of them here.

Today we are shining a light on PressPlay!

PressPlay is a global, co-created learning community for educators who are serious about play-driven practice. Rooted in inquiry, research-backed ideas, and real-world impact, they bring together schools and practitioners from around the world to rethink how play shapes learning, culture and outcomes in every classroom.

Through curated Learning Journeys, live sessions with world-leading thinkers, guidance from founders, Kym Scott and Becky Carlzon and a supportive network of peers and mentors, PressPlay turns curiosity into action, helping educators embed purposeful play, spark creativity, and sustain joyful, impactful learning every day.

If you’d like to connect with them, please follow them on LinkedIn.

New Online Course!

If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new online course, which PressPlay is kindly sponsoring. It includes 10 modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

Here’s a little video (only 2 mins!) where you can find out more:

Read more

We are enjoying showcasing all the sponsors of our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling. We hope that this new resource will be of great benefit to those exploring education beyond the mainstream school system. It has been made available thanks to the generous support of nine course sponsors, and we’re continuing to spotlight each one of them here.

Today we are shining a light on HomeEd Club!

HomeEd Club is a team of UK home educators on a mission to connect ‘home edders’ to the best services, workshops and resources.

Their online directory was born from the struggle of trying to keep on top of all the home ed events, resources and news which are scattered across various different platforms. To combat the overwhelm, they set up HomeEd Club as a one-stop-shop for it all, and it’s free to join!

Connect with HomeEd Club!

You can follow HomeEd Club on Facebook and instagram and if you have an event, workshop or resource for home educators, you can list it here homeedclub.com/submit-listing.

New Online Course!

If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new online course, which HomeEd Club is kindly sponsoring. It includes 10 modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

Here’s a little video (only 2 mins!) where you can find out more:

This session is for all those starting or running their own schools and learning communities and will help leaders to create a positive team and culture. They say:

“Many founders are told that hiring a team will make life easier - the reality is that it simply creates different challenges. In this candid session, Syd Femtinos and team coach Beverley Spencer will unpack the journey from solo founder to leading a growing organisation, and share the lessons learned around communication, boundaries, leadership, culture, and trust.

Through honest reflections and practical insights, they’ll explore how coaching, vision-setting, and intentional leadership helped transform a struggling team dynamic into a positive and sustainable culture.”

Register Here

About Our Speakers

Syd Femtinos is a passionate educational disruptor. She is the founder of UK Virtual School, an innovative online school for home educating families, expats, and worldschoolers, as well as the in-person Femtinos Learning Hub in Birmingham.

Beverley Spencer is the founding coach at Confidence Connoisseur, which provides career progression and leadership development. As a certified coach, a master NLP practitioner, and a motivational map practitioner, Beverley uses her skills and tools to help leaders find their authentic selves, improve their emotional intelligence, and develop positive habits and behaviors that lead to achieving personal, team and business objectives.

Join us on 9 July to learn how to create a positive team and culture.

Event Format, Recording and Ticket Price

This webinar takes place online via Zoom at 7.30-9.30pm BST on Thursday 9th July.

If you have questions but can't make the date, you are still welcome to register for the event. Simply send your questions through to info@EducationStartUps.org and they will get asked in the session on your behalf.

The recording will be sent to all registered participants as soon as possible after the live event.

This webinar is £20 for non-members, and FREE for members.

Become a Member and Attend for Free

Would you like to join the Education Start-Ups membership community? Our membership offers monthly expert webinars (like this one); monthly group coaching for peer support and collaborative problem solving; and an online platform for sharing resources/ideas and supporting each other between sessions (plus a few other bonuses too!).

How to Register for this Webinar

You can register for this webinar here.

Note to Members: If you are a member, you do not need to register for this webinar. You will automatically receive the Zoom link in your online community portal.

Future Webinars

This webinar (and membership) is a collaboration between Progressive Education and Limitless. Stay tuned in the Progressive Education Group for details of more upcoming events or check out our News page for this year’s webinar line up. We’ll also keep you updated via email.

As you may have heard, we recently launched our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling. This invaluable resource has been made available thanks to the generous support of nine course sponsors, and we’re continuing to spotlight each one of them here.

Today we are shining a light on MMT Play who sponsored the course and its recent launch event (recordings from the launch are available for free here)!

About MMT Play

Founded by Educational Consultant, Ruth Lue-Quee (AKA “My Mummy Teacher”), MMT Play offers award-winning educational resources and expert support to help children learn key skills through play. Their products are designed for busy parents and professionals, providing simple activities and ideas to get children active, learning and playing, adapted for a wide range of abilities.

MMT Play also extends expertise to schools and EYFS settings through consultancy and tailored workshops. They help integrate playful, child-centred learning strategies, aiming to give children the “best possible start in their playful learning journey”.

New Online Course!

If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new online course, which MMT Play is kindly sponsoring. It includes 10 modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

Here’s a little video (only 2 mins!) where you can find out more:

Read more

As you may have heard, we recently launched our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling. This invaluable resource has been made available thanks to the generous support of nine course sponsors, and we’re continuing to spotlight each one of them here.

Today we are shining a light on Emoco who sponsored the course and its launch event last month (recordings from the launch are available for free here)!

About Emoco

Emoco exists to co-create an education system with wellbeing at its heart, so no young person, educator or parent/carer has to experience toxic stress and poor mental health stemming from the education system.

Founded in 2025 by Andrew Speight, Emoco works with schools to embed a culture of wellbeing through facilitated co-production and workshops to engage the whole school community in building a school culture that reflects their needs, fostering a sense of belonging and ownership.

Get Involved!

Emoco is actively looking to collaborate with schools who want to be at the forefront of the wellbeing movement and are committed to co-creating an inclusive culture of wellbeing where everybody thrives. If this sounds like you, they want to hear from you!

Please visit www.emoco.uk to find out more or follow Andrew’s Substack at Substack.com/@andrewspeightemoco

New Online Course!

If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new online course, which Emoco is kindly sponsoring. It includes 10 modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

Here’s a little video (only 2 mins!) where you can find out more:

Kimberly will be talking about to how to create environments for young people which are compassionate, effective, non-punitive, non-adversarial, proactive, and collaborative.

Create a school or learning environment using the Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS) Model

CPS is an evidence-based model of care, created by the founding director of Lives in the Balance, Dr Ross Greene. Lives in the Balance is committed to supporting grass-roots advocacy and legislation to reduce or eliminate the use of harmful, counterproductive disciplinary practices.

Join us on 11 June to find out more about the CPS Model and how you can effectively implement it within your learning setting.

Register here

Event Format, Recording and Ticket Price

This webinar takes place online via Zoom at 7.30-9.30pm BST on Thursday 11th June. You will have the chance to hear a presentation from Kimberly, and then you are invited to ask any questions you might have.

If you have questions but can't make the date, you are still welcome to register for the event. Simply send your questions through to info@EducationStartUps.org and they will get asked in the session on your behalf.

The recording will be sent to all registered participants as soon as possible after the live event.

This webinar is £20 for non-members, and FREE for members.

Become a Member and Attend for Free

Would you like to join the Education Start-Ups membership community? Our membership offers monthly expert webinars (like this one); monthly group coaching for peer support and collaborative problem solving; and an online platform for sharing resources/ideas and supporting each other between sessions (plus a few other bonuses too!).

How to Register for this Webinar

You can register for this webinar here.

Note to Members: If you are a member, you do not need to register for this webinar. You will automatically receive the Zoom link in your online community portal.

Future Webinars

This webinar (and membership) is a collaboration between Progressive Education and Limitless. Stay tuned in the Progressive Education Group for details of more upcoming events or check out our News page for this year’s webinar line up. We’ll also keep you updated via email.

You might have seen already that we recently launched our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling. This invaluable resource has been made available thanks to the generous support of nine course sponsors, and we’re continuing to spotlight each one of them.

Today we are shining a light on The Novacene who sponsored the course and its launch event last month (recordings from the launch are available for free here)!

About The Novacene

The Novacene is a UK-based education consultancy and Research and Development studio helping schools build progressive, inclusive hybrid and online learning. They focus on children’s rights, wellbeing, neurodivergent-affirming practice, and safe, ethical AI turning good intentions into workable models that scale.

Founder, Kirstin Stevens is a poet and education consultant, building rights-led, neurodivergent-affirming alternatives to one-size-fits-all schooling. She advises schools, boards and partners on hybrid/online models, inclusive pedagogy, and safe, ethical AI so learners gain confidence, agency, and real-world skills. She says:

“We build safe, scalable hybrid learning infrastructure, not just ideas! We help schools/progressive providers move between in-person and online, without losing safeguarding, coherence, or accountability. We’re pro-parent, pro-child, pro-evidence. Learning can travel; care must travel with it.”

New Online Course!

If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new online course, which The Novacene is kindly sponsoring. It includes 10 modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

Here’s a little video (only 2 mins!) where you can find out more:

You might have seen already that we have just launched our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling. This invaluable resource has been made available thanks to the generous support of nine course sponsors, and over the coming weeks we’ll be spotlighting each one of them.

Today we are shining a light on Developing Education who sponsored the course and its launch event!

About Developing Education

If you’re tired of feeling isolated in your commitment to transformational education, you’re not alone. Developing Education connects progressive educators worldwide who are ready to move beyond surface-level reforms toward systematic transformation that honours human development.

Through their Breaking the Paradigm podcast, Provocations quarterly magazine, Paradigm Breakers community, revolutionary courses and consulting work, they provide both the frameworks and peer support needed to question the unspoken norms in education and build alternatives that actually serve students.

They say:

“Whether you’re seeking thought-provoking investigations, practical implementation support or connection with fellow educators refusing to accept “that’s just how education works,” Developing Education is building the coalition that’s proving transformational change isn’t just possible - it’s inevitable when enough of us work together.”

Check out their latest offering below, the ‘Montessori Adolescent Collaborative Forum’, which includes fortnightly online meetings for practitioners and leaders.

To find out more, please follow their Substack and consider joining their virtual community.

New Online Course!

If you are questioning mainstream schooling and looking for something different, do check out our new online course. It includes 10 modules to work through at your own pace, each one showcasing a different way to approach education in the 21st century!

Watch the ‘EDUCATION: Past> Present> Future’ Event Recordings!

Don’t worry if you couldn’t make the ‘EDUCATION: Past> Present> Future’ launch event last month, as all of the recordings are now available to watch for free. Almost 700 people registered and the speakers were absolutely incredible.

You can access the six inspiring talks and panel discussions here.

This 9 minute film includes clips from each of the ten modules in our new online course, showcasing ten ways to approach education in the 21st century!

Watch the Video

Even if people don’t need the full course, this video alone could be pretty powerful for changing minds, or at least planting some seeds!

More About the New Course

The course takes the format of an online video series which you can work through at your own pace, and showcases 10 different ways to approach education. It includes presentations and interviews with 14 inspiring education innovators and pioneers.

Who’s it For?

This course will be helpful for parents/carers whose young people need something different to mainstream, and also for educators who might be wondering what sort of learning environment to work in, or students wondering what path to take... and perhaps other professionals or employers who are questioning whether another way is possible.

View the Course

You can check out the course web page at info.ProgressiveEducation.org/intro-course.

Please do share this email with anyone who might benefit. Thank you.

Read more

10 Alternatives to Conventional Schooling

If you are questioning the mainstream school system and are looking for something different, check out our new online course which showcases 10 alternative ways to approach education in the 21st century.

There are 10 modules which you can work through at your own pace, each one consisting of a pre-recorded presentation or interview with inspiring education innovators and pioneers.

Earlybird Discount

If you enter the code APRIL15 at the checkout, you can apply a 15% discount, which is valid until midnight on Thursday 30th April.

Visit course page

Who is the Course For?

This course is for you if you feel there’s got to be more to education than a one-size-fits-all school system!

Parents/Carers

The course was created by UK mum and Progressive Education founder, Jo Symes. She wanted to create a resource so that families can make more informed decisions about education, following the disappointing (and distressing) start to her sons’ schooling ten years ago. However this course will be equally fascinating for other groups, including:

Educators/Pioneers

Perhaps you’re a teacher/school leader who feels disillusioned with our current education system. Or maybe you’re starting up a new school or learning community and wondering which direction to go in.

Students

If you are contemplating a career in education, this course will help you discover which approaches align with your values and ambitions.

Other Professionals

Are you a mental health professional who sees the impact of mainstream schooling on young people and wonders if another way is possible? Or perhaps you’re an employer who questions whether alternatives to mainstream schooling could better prepare graduates for adulthood and the world of work.

You will particularly enjoy this course if you’re excited by innovation in education and you’re keen to learn more about education options for young people to thrive in the 21st century.

Access the Course

You can find out more about the course contributors, sponsors and module content at info.progressiveeducation.org/intro-course.

Please do forward this on to anyone you think could benefit. Thank you!

EDUCATION: Past> Present> Future

Free Online Event 22-24 April

Today we are delighted to share with you another Sponsor Spotlight for our ‘Education: Past> Present> Future’ event, which STARTS TOMORROW. This free 3-day online event celebrates the launch of our new online course on alternatives to conventional schooling.

The event has been made possible thanks to the generous support of our ten event sponsors, and today, we are shining a light on Dr James Mannion!

About Dr James Mannion

Dr James Mannion is a keynote speaker, teacher trainer, researcher, consultant and author with a passion for educational and political reform. He is the co-founder and Director of Rethinking Education, a teacher training organisation specialising in implementation and improvement science, self-regulated learning and practitioner inquiry.

A former teacher of 12 years, James has an MA in person-centred education from the University of Sussex and a PhD in self-regulated learning from the University of Cambridge. He is also the host of the popular Rethinking Education podcast, which has had over half a million downloads to date.

You can find his books, podcast, TEDx and schools resources at here.

Sign Up for the Event!

You can register for free for the ‘Education: Past > Present > Future’ event - which Dr James Mannion is generously supporting - here. Don’t worry if you can’t make the live sessions, as everyone who registers will receive the recordings afterwards.

Register Here

We hope you can make it!

**PANEL SPOTLIGHT: REIMAGINING EDUCATION**

Exciting news! A youth panel has been added to the line up for next week’s ‘EDUCATION: Past> Present> Future‘ event!

Sophie Christophy will be hosting a panel discussion with four young people to reimagine education, at 11am BST on Friday 24 April.

Sophie is the co-founder of consent-based, self-directed learning communities, The Cabin and The Lodge on the Hertfordshire/Essex border in England. She is an education visionary and innovator, bringing Consent-Based Education to life in theory and practice.

Register for Free Here

Esme, Ruairi, Nishika and Leonato will be exploring what the future of education could look like, if we really look beyond our mainstream school system and imagine something new.

Register for the Event

You can find the full speaker schedule and register for free at info.progressiveeducation.org/future. Don’t worry if you can’t make the lives, as everyone who signs up will receive the recordings afterwards.

Hope you can make it!

It’s just over two minutes long and you can watch it here.

Watch animation

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Thanks so much and we hope to see you NEXT WEEK at our FREE online ‘EDUCATION: Past> Present> Future‘ event on 22-24 April, which celebrates the launch of a new course on alternatives to conventional schooling.

Hope you can make it!

**SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT: LEA JOVY & NOAH HEATON***

Introducing our final session at the ‘Education: Past > Present > Future’ event! Lea Jovy and Noah Heaton will be speaking on the following topic, at 7-8.30pm BST on Friday 24th April:

Building Better Pathways into the World of Work (and Adulthood) for Young People

In this session, Lea and Noah will share what the POP Hove pilot revealed about what young people actually need for the future, to navigate the world of work - and adulthood - on their own terms.

Register for Free Here

About Our Speakers

Lea Jovy is the founder of Mission Equality CIC and co-founder of POP Hove - a 12-week pilot learning hub for teens built on self-direction, real-world competencies, and a fundamental rejection of the idea that young people need to be moulded to fit a system rather than equipped to change it.

A home educating parent of a (nearly) 13 and 17-year-old, Lea’s decision to educate outside the system wasn’t a lifestyle choice - it was a values one. That same conviction drives Mission Equality CIC’s broader mission: to build a global network of learning hubs and connect them to mission-aligned organisations genuinely experimenting with doing business differently - creating an ecosystem where how we learn and how we work are more fully aligned.

Noah Heaton has been home educated for most of his life, following a self-directed approach, built around his own interests. He also attended the POP Hove pilot, which further shaped his perspective on alternative approaches to learning.

He questions mainstream education and its one-size-fits-all model, believing learning should be more personal, flexible, and curiosity-driven. He is interested in contributing to change in the education system.

Alongside this, Noah is working towards a future career as a personal trainer and is currently studying independently to achieve this goal.

Register for the Event

You can find the full speaker schedule and register for free at info.progressiveeducation.org/future. Don’t worry if you can’t make the lives, as everyone who signs up will receive the recordings afterwards.

Hope to see you there!