This week, we welcomed to our offices the Rt Hon David Laws, Executive Chairman of the Education Policy Institute and former Schools Minister, for the latest in our Luther Network series of events.

David spoke about the evolving education landscape and considered the ways in which cooperation between the independent and state-funded sectors can improve attainment across the UK. While policy-makers’ key priority must be raising standards in the state sector, David noted that collaboration with the independent sector could bring a range of benefits, and that barriers to such partnerships should be negotiated. He also gave his views on academisation, pointing out that, though academies have proven their potential to raise attainment levels, not all were achieving this and academies could not be viewed as providing a panacea to all the difficulties faced in education.

We were pleased to be joined at the event by colleagues and contacts from throughout the education sector, including independent and state-funded schools. David’s talk was followed by a lively discussion, in which a range of thoughts and perspectives were expressed.

Our thanks again to David and our guests for joining us.

If you would like to find out more about Luther Network events, including information on how to attend, please email events@luther.co.uk