The Laidlaw Foundation launches the Fellowship of Education with Barclays, Nissan and Gentoo as founder members. The Fellowship is designed to improve educational outcomes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and reduce the north / south attainment divide.
Starting with Pennywell in Sunderland, where six schools across the Pennywell estate have united to pilot the initiative; the Fellowship of Education provides a blueprint for large corporations, civic institutions and community partners to be part of the solution to the myriad challenges faced by schools today. Society and employers have long demanded better outcomes from schools; today’s launch demonstrates how they can play an intentional, impactful role in educating tomorrow’s healthy, confident, productive citizens.
The Laidlaw Foundation has facilitated this groundbreaking partnership following research by Public First that revealed parents' desire for broader educational offerings. The type of education needed was clear. The challenge was how to deliver it when schools’ resources were already stretched to breaking point.
This first-of-its-kind collaboration provides the blueprint. It brings together both maintained and academy schools, creating a unified voice for local educational institutions and streamlining engagement with external organisations to enhance curriculum offerings.
The Pennywell chapter includes leadership from St Anne's, Academy 360 (both secondary and primary divisions), North View Academy, Christ's College, Highfield Academy, and South Hylton Academy. Going beyond traditional school structures, this place-based approach aims to deliver practical solutions to the unique challenges faced by Pennywell pupils.
Headteachers identified three key priorities:
- Employment – Providing comprehensive guidance on employment opportunities and further/higher education pathways
- Engagement – Developing strategies to connect with families and reach underserved segments of the community
- Enrichment – Expanding co-curricular and extracurricular activities to help students develop new skills, overcome challenges, and build resilience and relationships
The Fellowship has established Delivery Groups to transform these priorities into action, bringing together local businesses, the local authority, civic institutions, and charities to create tangible benefits for Pennywell children. Existing organisations signed up to take part include Sunderland Council, Sunderland University, Sunderland College, Nissan, Barclays, Sunderland Software City, the North East Automotive Alliance, Durham Cricket, Sunderland Culture, Active Sunderland, and Gentoo.
Today's launch brings together the full range of Fellowship partners committed to the idea that it takes a whole community to educate its future citizens. The ‘Pennywell Blueprint’ - a short publication by consultancy Public First, outlining how other areas can take up the Fellowship model will also be released.
This initiative was supported by Public First on behalf of the Fellowship of Education - Pennywell, with funding from the Laidlaw Foundation.
Sally Newton, CEO of Laidlaw Schools Trust, said:
“The Fellowship represents an exciting new chapter for education in our community. By bringing schools together with businesses, civic institutions, and local partners and charities, we can expand opportunities for every young person on the Pennywell estate. This is about more than academic success – it is about preparing our pupils to thrive in life, to access fulfilling careers, and to feel proud of where they come from. We are delighted to be working with so many committed partners to make this vision a reality.”
Julie Normanton, Headteacher at Christ’s College, said:
“The Pennywell Fellowship is an exciting initiative, and we are delighted, at Christ’s College, to play our part. Through working together as a group of schools, hand in hand with a range of community groups and organisations, there is real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of young people in Pennywell. Whether it is new enrichment activities, clear pathways into further and higher education and employment, or stronger connections with families, this collaboration will ensure that every child has the support, opportunities, and inspiration they need to flourish. I am excited to see the impact this will have on our pupils and their families, and the benefits it will bring to the wider community.”
Wendy Price, Head of Widening Access and Participation at the University of Sunderland, said:
“The Pennywell Fellowship is a groundbreaking and innovative initiative which will transform the lives of young people and families in Pennywell. Working collaboratively with local schools and other partners reflects our shared commitment to delivering improved outcomes for our young people. Combining our expertise and resources means we can connect young people to rich opportunities and support them to achieve their future ambitions.”
Chris Roberts, Director of Customer at Gentoo, said:
“At Gentoo, we believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. The Fellowship of Education is a powerful example of what can be achieved when schools, businesses, and communities come together with a shared purpose. We’re proud to be a founding partner and to play our part in helping young people in Pennywell unlock their full potential.”
