The Education Futures Collaboration Trustees’ Annual Report 1[st] June 2024 – 31[st] May 2025 Charity name: The Education Futures Collaboration Registered charity number: 1157511 Charity’s principal address: 19 Firs Road Houghton on the Hill Leicester LE7 9GU Trustees: Prof Marilyn Leask - co-chair Prof Sarah Younie - co-chair Mr Michael Blamires Mr Jonathan Noakes Mr Stephen Hall Mr Richard Procter Organisation type: CIO Governing document: Constitution ## **Aims** The Education Futures Collaboration is an education sector developed and managed initiative, providing an e-infrastructure to support education as it transforms into a knowledge focused collaboration and supporting knowledge transfer, collaborative knowledge building and sharing within education sectors in individual countries as well as worldwide. We aim to professionalise teaching and to support professional judgement with evidence through the creation of a sustainable model for knowledge mobilisation and collaboration using digital tools in the education sector. ## **Objectives** We define success as increasing numbers of educators, worldwide, using the MESHGuides to support decision making. For a number of subject areas, we have been inundated with expressions of interest. - Transform the quality of learning and teaching in education by providing accessible relevant research informed professional knowledge. - Create a joined-up education profession linking pockets of excellence in teaching, research, and evidence-based practice. - Provide diagnosis and intervention strategies to help educators and students overcome misconceptions and break through barriers to learning threshold concepts. - Develop models of transformational and translational research in education, using scalable and cost-effective technologies. ## **Activities** ## **International partnerships - UNESCO ITTF** The EFC (providing governance to the MESH project) was formally appointed as a recognized and approved NGO to the UNESCO supported International Teacher Task Force (UN ITTF) panel in 2020. This involves regular meetings with the ITTF Secretariat panel, and EFC membership of the thematic subgroups of this panel. See above for EFC personnel and groups in which we are represented. ## _**UNESCO International Teacher Task Force (ITTF) new thematic group ‘Digital Learning and AI’ – set up in spring 2025 – EFC cohost**_ New developments: in February 2025, the TTF Secretariat created a new thematic group to address the growing interest and demand in education technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The EFC were invited to co-host this new group, led by Prof Sarah Younie alongside another NGO, ‘Digital Promise’ from USA. The EFC co-leads the newest thematic group on technology, focusing on digital learning and AI. EFC’s partner in this new venture is the Washington (DC) based organization, Digital Promise’. The Digital and AI thematic group’s remit is to create a vibrant community of practice “to meet online for sharing and recording practices; developing new knowledge; and collating resources in the field and policy documents”. TTF has set up a ‘Knowledge Hub’ for disseminating up to date information on policy and practice globally in digital learning and AI in education. Termly webinars of the thematic group are held with TTF members, including teachers, policy makers, NGOs, academics and education technology (edtech) and AI experts from around the world for knowledge capture purposes and the working group will document the outcomes of these webinars. Publications from this thematic group and TTF members will be published via the TTF Knowledge Hub on themes related to AI and teaching, such as AI practice in school teaching/administration, in-school assessments and teacher training practices, and analysis of the benefits and potential. The EFC acknowledges this as an important opportunity to take a leading role in the development of knowledge sharing and dissemination in the field of Digital and AI internationally. The appointment recognizes EFC/MESH’s continued leadership in translational research through the open access publication of MESHGuides and the global discussion on the future of education and how AI can be used to its best advantage for making learning more accessible, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on SGD 4 Education. The thematic group’s work, led by EFC with Digital Promise, includes delivering the following global webinars and conferences in 2025: - **UNESCO International Teacher Task Force (ITTF) Thematic group professional engagement events 2025:** - **Meeting 1 – Webinar to launch new thematic group ‘** _**Digital Learning and AI’**_ **- 3 April 2025** - **Meeting 2 – Webinar on ‘** _**Low tech and high impact in teacher education’**_ **- 4 June 2025** - **UNESCO ‘Digital Learning Conference’ – EFC as TTF thematic group cohost - chaired the panel session on the new TTF ‘AI Position Paper:** _**Promoting and Protecting Teacher Agency in the Age of AI**_ **’ on 1[st] - 4[th] September 2025** - **Meeting 3 - Webinar on ‘Teacher Agency in the Age of AI’ - 21 November 2025** Recognizing the irreplaceable role of teachers, the International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030 developed the position paper ‘ _Promoting and Protecting Teacher Agency in the Age of Artificial Intelligence’_ . This paper was launched at the UNESCO Digital Learning Conference. EFC was represented by Prof Sarah Younie at the Digital Learning Event at UNESCO Headquarters Paris on 1st - 4th September 2025, who chaired the panel session of the launch of the AI paper. Further dissemination of the AI position paper was promoted through a global webinar, open to all TTF members. This was accompanied by additional communications products, helping participants understand why these resources were developed, how they can be used, and how they will be shared across the TTF network and beyond. Through interactive discussions and reflections, the members brought their experience and expertise to the table generating actionable insights that reinforce teacher agency at the heart of AI integration in education. The webinar was chaired by Prof Sarah Younie as the EFC co-host of the thematic group. ## **International partnerships - ICET** EFC has been working collaboratively with ICET (International Council on Education for Teaching). This partnership was set up in 2014, and EFC were asked to become members of ICET. The EFC working collaboratively with ICET enables sharing of knowledge that is of benefit to both organisations. ICET is a global network of teacher educators from across the UN regions. The EFC is a recognized and approved member of the ICET Board of Directors and attends the ICET Annual Board Meeting. The EFC co-chair Prof Sarah Younie was elected the Chair of ICET in 2023, for a period of two years of office 2023-25. Thereafter acting as out-going chair from 2025-27. ## **International Research Projects – ICET & MESH ‘Teacher Voice’ Series 2 (2023-26)** EFC/MESH and ICET: this project focuses on providing teachers with an opportunity and space to share their experiences of practice and provides a forum for knowledge exchange. This project is running in three phases: phase I was a Global Webinar in 2023 and phase II in 2024 is to undertake research to gather empirical evidence from teachers via a series of interviews with EFC/MESH and ICET researchers. Phase III will be the dissemination of outcomes in 2025. MESH, led by Prof. Sarah Younie and ICET led by Dr. Carol Hordatt-Gentles (ICET President, University of Jamaica) collaborated on running the second ICET/MESHGuides Teacher Voice Global Webinar, entitled Future proofing education systems: learning from the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic, the theme focused on ’Lessons learned from the Covid-19 experience’. This was attended by 122 global participants, and ran x16 break out rooms, with ICET and MESH facilitators leading discussions in each group. The EFC/MESH co-chair Prof. Sarah Younie gave the opening keynote address. This phase 1 event provided initial data for the EFC/MESH and ICET research project on this topic, with the findings being presented at the 2024 ICET World Assembly, then followed up in phase 2, with developing in-depth teacher interviews (October 2023 – Nov 2025), with EFC NEC members conducting the research interviews (Dr Linda Devlin), alongside ICET members. A report, to be verified by the coresearchers, will be produced in phase 3, in 2026. This builds on the Teacher Voice research from earlier years). ## **International partnerships - Global Network of Deans of Education (GNDE)** The EFC co-chairs (Profs. Marilyn Leask and Sarah Younie) were invited to present on the MESH project at the Global Network of Deans of Education at Innsbruck University in Austria in autumn 2024. This provided an opportunity to disseminate about the MESH project and run knowledge exchange discussions with GNDE members on how the MESH website can link to education resources hosted on university websites, working with Deans of Education from across the UN regions that attended the GNDE event. - **EFC presentation at - GNDE Inaugural Conference 2024 – Innsbruck University, Austria** ## **National partnerships – CfSA** The CfSA invited the EFC to present on the MESHGuide initiative. The co-chair Prof Sarah Younie delivered a national webinar to the CfSA on Thursday 25th September 2025, to outline and explain the MESH project and to invite the curriculum areas to write new MESHGuides. The aim of presentation was to explore launching a pilot project to develop subject-specific guides that can serve as exemplars for other Associations. - **EFC presentation - CfSA national webinar 25th September 2025** ## **National Research Projects – Open Schools https://cominofoundation.org.uk/** The Open Schools project was commissioned by ‘The Open School Community Interest Company’ and sponsored by ‘The Comino Foundation’ – for the EFC to undertake a scoping study in summer 2025. The report outlined a rationale for an open schooling system that would provide opportunities for learners UK-wide, as well as protect educational opportunities in the case of any unforeseen school closures. It provided a definition of the concept of a ‘National Open School’ and the systems that support it; it draws on well-established practices in other countries to define the characteristics and core elements of national open schools. ## **New MESH strands – Genocide Education** Dr Kim Sadique has joined EFC to lead on a new strand of MESH work focusing on Genocide Education. Having spoken to a wide range of educators including teachers, museum and theatre educators, we understand the difficulties faced in 'teaching difficult knowledge' especially genocide and mass atrocities. Content is being developed that is research-informed and pedagogically underpinned to support delivery both in and outside of the classroom. Two MESHcasts have been produced with a number of MESHGuides in progress. ## **MESHGuide – on Germs Journey Guiness World Record** In 2024, the health education MESHGuide, which disseminates the Germs Journey project, successfully secured a Guinness World Record title for the largest number of primary school children taking part in an online hand washing lesson on Global Handwashing Day in 2024. ## **National MESH presentation to Fabians Education Policy Group (FEPG)** The FEPG invited the EFC to present on the MESHGuide initiative. The co-chair Prof Sarah Younie chaired a national webinar to the FEPG on Monday 24th November 2025, with speakers Prof. Christina Preston and Dr Linda Devlin, who outlined and explained the MESH project and took questions from the participants. - **EFC presentation - FEPG national webinar 24th November 2025** ## **Communication and Publicity** In 2024-2025 our focus has been to start to promote MESHGuides and our work increasingly through a combination of podcasts and LinkedIn articles and posts. Whilst MESHCasts and LinkedIn posts on leading stories behind current MESH work and activity now lead our publicity approach, we have also settled on a digital online format for newsletters to collate updates and provide further depth to reporting our work, we will publish these periodically as part of a revision of the MESHGuides website so that materials in the newsletter could easily provide links to other related projects and platforms for wider dissemination. An ongoing issue is to review our contact list for circulation purposes in collaboration with Matt Scase to ensure that it does not breach GDPR regulations. Christina Preston continues to publicise the work of EFC/MESH through articles and news about key MESHGuides into the Naace journal. Currently Christina is negotiating a collaboration on knowledge exchange between MESH, Naace, TPEA and CfSA wherever there are shared interests and outcomes. In particular, she is bidding for joint research funding to increase the availability and accessibility of the Advanced Education journal in order to increase the influence of each of these organisations and their wider membership reach. The response to the first MESHCasts as our podcasting feature on the new website has been very favourable and the series of MESHCasts with Associate Kim Sadique of genocide education and peace building has been a particularly effective set of conversations about Kim’s work which is having impact internationally. Thank you to Mike Blamires for leading and supporting on MESH casts. Likewise our LinkedIn articles and posts have captured key moments such as our representation at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in September, where Professor Sarah Younie was co-presenting the Teacher Task Force position paper on Digital Teaching and AI. ## **EFC Board** The EFC trustees are supported by the EFC board. This group sets and reviews the short-term and longterm strategy. Decisions are normally made on the basis of consensus at board meetings, but the trustees have the ultimate legal responsibility. The name below are the list of current board members and the roles they have on the board: |Marilyn Leask|Co-chair, MESH editorial team| |---|---| |Sarah Younie|Co-chair, rep on UNESCO TTF Panel and thematic group for ‘Equity and| ||Inclusion’; and EFC co-host of new ‘Digital Learning and AI’ thematic group| |Mike Blamires|MESH editorial team, podcasts and badging development| |Linda Delvin|Rep on UNESCO TTF thematic group for ‘School Leadership’| |Stephen Hall|MESH communications & podcasts| |Christina Preston|Press & media lead| |Richard Procter|MESH Website Development Officer| |Matt Scase|Finance officer and secretary| |Chris Shelton|MESH Teacher Education lead| |Kim Sadique|New MESH lead for Genocide Education| ## **Public Benefit Statement** The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities. The trustees refer to public benefit throughout this report. Our charity was set up to benefit the general public and in particular education professionals and students. The organisation's purpose is beneficial as is aims to advance the standards of education and in particular, teaching, learning, research and collaboration amongst education professionals. The trustees are not aware of any detriment or harm which might result from the organisation’s purpose. The charity has a Conflict of Interest Register, which is updated at every Management Meeting and Meeting of Trustees. ## **Financial Review** It has been agreed to keep one year’s worth of regular expenditure in reserve. This is to cover costs of such things like web hosting, tech support and the finance role. Therefore, it is agreed the reserves should be kept at £2,000. On top of our reserve policy, it is agreed to make sure we carry enough money to be able to support the running of the website, hosting the MESHGuides, for a least the next five years. ||| |---|---| ||Annual accounts for the financial year 1stJune 2024 – 31stMay 2025
Receipts and payment account
Prepared by Matt Scase
1stJuly 2025| ||**Opening Balance**
**1st June 2024**
**£38,956.42**| ||**Receipts**
Donations (including gift aid reclaim)
405.35
Bank Interest
64.29
**Total**
**£469.64**
**Payments**
EFC Brist Project
1,945.15
VSO - Sierra Leone Project
9,481.41
Finance
1,555.00
Technical Support
1,000.00
Bank Charges
60.00
Website Costs (hosting, domain,…)
223.07
Other
90.00
**Total**
**£14,354.63**| ||**Closing Balance**
**31st May 2025**
**£25,071.43**| The financial year for the Educations Futures Collaboration runs from 1[st] June – 31[st] May. The regular expenditure for the EFC is mainly the payment of myself for the finance and social media work, and the admin costs of running and maintaining the website, the location of the published MESHGuides. The following finance policy is in place regarding the cost of publishing and maintaining the MESHGuides: _The following sets out the funding position and financial contributions for potential MESHGuides being produced:_ - _Where the guide being produced has received no funding, the charity, EFC, will try to find the funding to publish the guide._ - _Where the guide being produced has received funding there is an expectation that a fee will be agreed, between EFC and the party producing the guide, towards the cost of publishing and maintaining the guide long term._ On top of the regular income and expenditure, the account also holds the money we receive for larger projects. In this financial year we made payments out for both the BRIST project the VSO - Sierra Leone Project. Currently we hold a single account with the CAF Bank where all our reserves are held. At the end of the financial year there was £25,071.43 in the bank. This is a large amount to hold for a charity of our size, but this is down to the ongoing projects that are taking place. Annual reports are required by the Charities Commission and have been filed on time. ## **Independent Examination** As the income for the year fell below the £25,000 threshold, we were not required to carry out an independent examination of the accounts.