Reflections on the First Collective Conversation

On Wednesday evening, the very first EdVolution Collective took place. It wasn’t slick, it wasn’t overly planned, and it certainly wasn’t fancy, which, honestly, felt exactly right. As I set up the room, arranging chairs and laying out conversation cards, I had that familiar mix of excitement and nerves. If I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t really expecting anyone to turn up. But I set everything out anyway, quietly hoping that at least one person might walk through the door… and they did. I had the pleasure of meeting the founders of Time and Space Learning, Mark and Bev, a local learning community based on a farm in Northamptonshire that provides creative, alternative education opportunities for young people and families. They run courses and projects focused on self-managed learning, STEM, ecology, and independent thinking, offering experiences that sit outside the traditional school setting and help learners engage with subjects in practical and meaningful ways. Over the next hour and a half, we talked. We shared our approaches to education, wondered aloud about what meaningful learning really looks like today, and reflected honestly on both the joys and frustrations of working with young people. We swapped student stories, some that made us smile, and others that made us pause and think. We laughed, we reflected, and before we knew it, time had flown by. What stayed with me most wasn’t anything formal or strategic, but the sense of shared purpose that emerged through conversation. We both care deeply about young people, believe in learning that nurtures curiosity and creativity, and value listening as much as talking. From an evening that could easily have passed with just me and a stack of conversation cards, something far more meaningful happened. Instead, a genuine professional connection. I left feeling energised, thoughtful, and reminded of how powerful these kinds of conversations can be. I’m really looking forward to visiting Mark and Bev during half term to see their work in action, to learn more about what they do, and to explore how potential collaboration might help us create even richer opportunities for the young people we are lucky enough to work with. This conversation reinforced something important: when educators take the time to talk with each other, not at each other, there is real potential for insight, understanding, and growth. Spaces like this matter, not just for sharing ideas, but for reminding us why we do what we do in the first place. The first Collective conversation may have been small, but it felt significant. This is exactly why EdVolution, and the Collective, exist. Not just as a space for teachers to be human for a bit, but as a place where we can share our passion, learn from one another, and celebrate the incredible community we are part of. The next EdVolution Collective will be on Wednesday 4th March 7-9pm at The Beeswing, Rockingham Road, Kettering.