The document discusses the Beyond Current Horizons (BCH) program which aims to help education leaders in the UK plan long-term by considering possible futures. The program provides scenarios of potential futures based on trends research to inform current decision-making. In May 2009, the BCH program will release a free online toolkit with resources like visioning tools, scenario descriptions, and workshop materials to help leaders strategize and plan for education in 2025 and beyond.

1. Clara Lemon [email_address] “ I have to plan, I have to make serious and long term decisions that will affect education in my local authority for the next 20 – 50 years – but I haven’t got any tools to help me think that far ahead” (Local Authority Education Advisor) www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

2. Thinking about ‘the future’ in education can be… Tricky/ Time constrained … I haven’t got time to think about the future, I’m just trying to get through today Tacit & invisible ‘ this is what happened in the past, this is what we’re doing now’ Taken for granted ‘ the future knowledge economy of the 21 st century’ Technologically determinist ‘ futuristic schools’ (building on Noel Gough, 1990) www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

3. I’m busy – so why think about the world in 2025? What is this all for? Who is education for? Preparing children now for the world they will enter as young adults? Inform your current actions and plans BSF has long-term implications, decisions we make now will shape 2025 Create your preferred futures We are agents in the future that is created, what do you want to avoid? What do you want to create? Systematic thinking informing current actions Looking at evidence and trends now we can project what possible futures might come about Test plans and strategies against possible futures Support informed actions www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

4. Resist the temptation of ‘predictions’ Challenge taken-for-granted assumptions about ‘the future’ Explore and understand a very wide range of real future possibilities Understand which factors might cause these potential futures to come to pass Develop plans and strategies that are sustainable in multiple potential futures Consider the potential implications of actions now on possible futures Beyond Current Horizons programme – building the capacity of UK educators to … to systematically investigate futures www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

5. How would your strategy work if...? There was a dramatically aging population in the not too distant future? If migration trends demanded different staffing or curriculum? Multi-generational workforces were more prevalent www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

6. Educational goals Educational ‘personnel’ Educational institutions Educational methods Educational tools Educational outcomes Beliefs about education To inform and question... www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

7. The BCH programme is aiming to build a challenging and long term vision for education in the context of socio-technological change 2025 and beyond Long term futures programme intended to Enhance the ‘futures thinking’ capacity of the UK education system Inform current strategy, decision making and planning Futurelab are running the programme in partnership with DCSF www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

8. Free tools and resources for education leaders Scenarios of possible futures Based on 2 years of consultation and expertise Made relevant to education communities Toolkit of resources to support education leaders with long-term planning Research bank of trends and evidence Coming May 2009 www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

9. 6 scenarios - possible future worlds We are bringing to life 6 possible future scenarios based on 2 years of research into trends and evidence So what if... performance through smart drugs may require a trade off with creativity and originality fertility rate that is below the replacement level and high levels of inward migration lead to ... we have multi-generational workforces by 2030 half the population are over 50 What might this mean for education? www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

10. What if... Visioning tools Write your school vision Test your plans/strategy Workshop activities 6 possible futures Challenging trends Image ideas gallery PowerPoint of inspiration From vision to plan Prioritise now Case studies BSF www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk Free toolkit to support long-term planning in education

11. Free toolkit to support long-term planning and change in education What sorts of learning spaces might be needed? What curriculum? Free resources, workshop materials and activities, inspiration and consensus building materials Practical, useful, online, printable and downloadable www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

12. Inspiring and useful materials... Aimed at educational leadership Support for visioning, planning and consensus building workshops Inspirational scenarios, cards, images, challenging questions, provocative ideas School redesign Curriculum redesign Extended schools www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk

13. Know more about 2025 in May 2009 www.beyondcurrenthorizons.org.uk Thank you, : Clara Lemon [email_address]