We work to improve student outcomes in three key areas: reducing exclusions, reducing absence, and minimising harmful or abusive behaviour. Our leadership programmes give school leaders the skills they need to support vulnerable pupils and improve inclusion.
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The Difference Schools Partnership is a three-year programme, working with ten headteachers and their senior leadership teams to develop sector-leading inclusion in their schools and reduce Lost Learning.
The programme aims to strengthen internal provision, build whole-school inclusion strategies, reduce suspensions and removals, and grow staff confidence in supporting pupils with rising needs.
Schools are selected through an open application process.
Applications for the 2025/26 cohort are now open. Click below for full details about The Difference Schools Partnership and how to apply
The Inclusive Leadership Course provides in-depth, current professional development for senior school leaders, pastoral leaders, and heads of behaviour and inclusion. Join an in-person network of leaders for high-quality training that combines theory, reflection, and practical application. We deliver the Inclusive Leadership Course across England in regional cohorts.
Schools, multi-academy trusts and local authorities can buy places for individual leaders and small groups. You can also buy an entire cohort.
We have full details of the course, including locations, how to apply, and the impact of the course on schools across England.
Internal alternative provision (IAP) isn’t new, but it’s becoming an important feature in more schools across England.
This trend creates opportunities and risks. When implemented effectively, internal alternative provision dramatically cuts the amount of lost learning. When implemented poorly, it can create a two-tier system and hidden exclusions.
So what works in internal alternative provision? We’ve gathered insights from over 200 school leaders at our symposium, and analysed findings from our national network of over 400 schools.
Our network has identified key features of successful internal alternative provision, and shares this knowledge with schools across England.
In 2019, The Difference Leadership Programme launched with a cohort of 10 teachers.
In this ground-breaking initiative, aspiring leaders from mainstream schools joined leadership teams in alternative provision (AP) for a two-year professional learning programme. By working with children who had been excluded, Difference Leaders gained understanding, developed their practice, and made positive contributions to their alternative provision schools.
These leaders are the foundation of our community, and improve children’s lives in schools across the country.
Today, The Difference Leadership Programme has evolved into the Difference Schools Partnership.
Since 2019, we’ve worked with over 600 school leaders and 362 schools. We help them build systems to enhance pupil wellbeing, safety, and belonging.
Children who are excluded or absent often face poverty, additional needs, mental health challenges, or unsafe environments. Certain groups, including Gypsy Roma Traveller and Black Caribbean children, are disproportionately affected.
Beyond our school leader programmes, we connect schools through network events and our annual IncludeEd Conference. Learn more by signing up for 4-Bullet Friday, our fortnightly schools’ bulletin.
Over the past five years, we’ve worked with more than 65 multi-academy trusts through our Inclusive Leadership Course. Multi-academy trusts place their central team members and school leaders in the programme, strengthening understanding and improving outcomes for all students across their networks.
We also deliver bespoke versions of the Inclusive Leadership Course for individual multi-academy trusts. Email Jamie@the-difference.com to find out more about our trust-only programmes.
Follow our work by signing up for 4-Bullet Friday, our fortnightly schools’ bulletin.
We’ve worked with schools in over 32 local authorities. We’ve also developed deep partnerships with more than 10 local authorities who have supported their primary and secondary school leaders to join the Inclusive Leadership Course. This helps them deliver their inclusion priorities and professional development for all schools.
Email Jamie@the-difference.com to find out more about our local authority programmes.
Follow our work by signing up for 4-Bullet Friday, our fortnightly schools’ bulletin.
Inclusive Leadership Course – 2024
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