Written by

Ben Hobbis, Anna Twist & Utha Vallade

Founder & Chair of Step Up and EdConnect; Network Leader EdConnect; and Network Leader Step Up

We have had the support of Teach First, a charity championing a fairer education for all, since we came up with the idea. This year sees Teach First celebrate its twentieth birthday. They chose to celebrate in style.

The well-attended event, the Great Ambassador Gathering, brought together a large number of ambassadors, providing an invaluable occasion to not only reminisce about past accomplishments but also to commemorate the remarkable journey taken over the last two decades to transform the lives of young people.

The event took place at the Totteridge Academy in North London, a school led by a former Teach First participant (known as ambassadors). As well as a series of workshops based around different themes, there were three fringe stall areas for networks, social enterprise and schools; there were a wealth of activities including face painting, music, and catering vans just to name a few.

We (Step Up) shared a stall with our sister network, EdConnect, in which we shared and advertised what we are doing. It was great to have conversations with members of our community and gain some new members of our network.

The talks were relevant, celebratory and inspiring. It was wonderful to be at an event where everyone shared the same passion for education. This gathering served as an important platform to recognise the new obstacles that educators have faced due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing financial crisis. With these challenges in mind, it is imperative for those in  leadership positions to engage in thoughtful reflection and take decisive actions to address the educational disparities that have been exacerbated during these unprecedented time.

We look forward to continuing to work with Teach First in serving our community of leaders.