Charity launches £1mn prize fund for ideas to transform education system
Melanie May | 10 November 2022 | News
A £1 million prize fund launches today to reward ideas with the potential to transform education and learning in the UK.
The Big Education Challenge is run by Big Change, a charity that supports initiatives that help students to thrive in life, not just in exams.
The launch coincides with the release of new research which brings to light how young people (18-25 year olds) feel failed by an education system that doesn’t adequately prepare them for their futures, or prioritise their needs. Three-quarters (73%) of young people think school subjects don’t reflect what they want and need to know for their lives.
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The Big Education Challenge will draw on over a decade of experience from Big Change and the first-hand experiences of young people and social entrepreneurs to help transform education and learning for the long-term.
Holly Branson, Trustee and Founder of Big Change said:
“Young people’s futures will involve constant adaptation and innovation – in environments and job roles which we can barely imagine today. Teachers do an amazing job every day in classrooms, and yet the wider education system that hasn’t changed much in a century leaves too many young people left out or left behind.
“That’s why it’s so important that we work towards the transformation of the education system, and why, in particular, we hope the Big Education Challenge will attract social innovators from education and beyond with bold ideas that have the potential to change it.”
The Big Education Challenge consists of two prizes:
The Groundbreaker Prize (up to £300,000) for young people aged 18-25 with a bold idea or new project.
- Up to 10 finalists will receive grants of up to £10,000 to further develop and test their ideas.
- One of these finalists will go on to win £50,000 to fully pilot their idea, with up to two runners up each receiving £25,000.
- In addition, finalists will benefit from £100,000 of expert support to develop and test their ideas prior to final judging.
The Gamechanger Prize (up to £700,000) for individuals with a track record of leading innovative projects or approaches with tangible social impact.
- Up to five finalists will receive grants of £50,000 to further develop and test their ideas.
- One of these finalists will go on to win £200,000 to fully pilot their idea, with up to two runners up receiving £150,000 and £50,000.
- In addition, finalists will benefit from £50,000 of expert support to develop and test their ideas prior to final judging.
Ideas supported may include ways to make learning more inclusive, relevant and joyful, new projects that give more agency over education to young people and teachers, ways to integrate learning and assessment, and involving the wider community in supporting education and learning.
Caireen Goddard, Senior Director of Impact at Big Change said:
“Our research reinforces the view that our outdated, one-size-fits all system needs to change, and that change has to be led by the people who know the system best.
“That’s why we’ve launched the Big Education Challenge – to catalyse and accelerate change in education, and we believe that bold ideas can come from different people and places. The challenge will help to reach more diverse innovators – with different life-experiences, careers and areas of expertise – to set out new ideas and projects that show a new way is possible. We need to set our sights on the long-term transformation of education, not more incremental reforms. And transformation only happens when you shift power.”
Entries must be submitted by midnight on 8 February 2023. Finalists for both prizes will be announced at the beginning of March 2023.
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.