Our Impact

From Connexions to 14-19 Diplomas, our Learning from the Past series of research supports policymakers to build on and adapt the best ideas from the past, and avoid repeatedly falling into the same traps (Learning from the Past, Edge).

In June 2022, we hosted ‘Good Policymaking – Lessons from the Inside’, bringing together a panel of former DfE Permanent Secretaries, including Lord Michael Bichard (1995-2001), David Normington G.C.B (2001-2005) and Jonathan Slater (2016-2020), for a fascinating look at successes and failures of past policies, chaired by the BBC’s Branwen Jeffreys (Good Policymaking event, Edge, June 2022).

Working across the UK has allowed the Edge Foundation to learn from the rich patchwork of policy across the devolved nations. Our Four Nations Skills Guide refreshes Edge’s 2018 report, providing an up-to-date comparison of the different approaches to FE and skills landscape in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (A short guide to FE and skills across the four countries of the UK, Edge, Feb 2024).

Established in 2018, the Edge Island Network brings together colleagues leading education transformation on islands around the British Isles and in British Overseas Territories to explore the unique opportunities and challenges of education in an island setting (Edge Island Education Network)

The Edge Practice Dashboard is a free, online platform of evidence-based and quality-assured toolkits and resources developed by the Edge Foundation to support schools and colleges looking to embed Project Based Learning, Real World Learning, and Community Connected Learning.

After the success of Edge’s teacher externships pilot – giving teachers an opportunity to spend a short time observing how their subject is applied practically in a business setting – the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) have rolled out a national Teacher Encounters programme, which engaged with over 1,000 teachers in its first year alone (Teacher externships in England – from a pilot to a national programme, Edge, Jan 2024).

Employers frequently talk about the ‘employability skills’ that school leavers need above and beyond qualifications. Through our popular, regular Skills Shortages Bulletins, we keep track of the size and shape of skills shortages in the UK to inform our thinking around the education system and how we should prepare the next generation of talent for the changing world of work.

In 2012 Edge founded the Edge Hotel School in partnership with the University of Essex. Here, students gain real hospitality experience and hands-on skills in a 4* hotel on the university campus, while studying for a BA (Hons) degree at Essex. Learning is complemented by real world experience working at Wivenhoe House.

Edge founded Deeper Learning UK. Originally formed in the USA to bring together education providers united by a commitment to pedagogies and practices the UK offshoot has gone from strength to strength, with more than 32 different member organisations and an annual Deeper Learning Summer Conference, now in its 3rd year.

In 2020, Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Youth Taskforce identified a need for more relevant school curriculums that better prepare young people for the future. Working closely with the GMCA Careers Hub, The Edge Foundation and Ashoka stepped in to help.

In 2022, Edge was pleased to co-found the College Alliance, leading to collaborative efforts across the four nations to champion the "reimagining" of colleges over the next decade.

The Youth Voice Network is a youth-led, youth-focused community founded by Edge made up of under 30s from across the nation. Now driven by NGO Ashoka, the network strives to give a platform to young people to help effect change in education. The Youth Voice Network informs our responses to policy consultations and members speak regularly at events and conferences (Youth Network, Edge).

Following our 2018 Joint Dialogue report, identifying which skills employers value most, Phase 2 investigated how learners feel their skills and competencies are being developed in school (The perspectives of learners - How are schools developing employability skills? Edge, Feb 2023).

At Edge, our research often explores the perspective of learners, which is all-too-often forgotten in policy discourse. For example, in January 2023, we commenced a qualitative research project, taking a deep dive into the experiences and viewpoints of learners across different T Level courses (What do students really think about T Levels? Edge, July 2024).

We are proud to be long-standing supporters of the Youth Voice Census – the largest data collection of youth voice and insight in the UK. It provides a unique understanding of the experiences young people are having in the systems around them, how they are doing right now and how they are feeling about their future (Youth Voice Census 2023).