Continuing Professional Development

RISE Universal Offer

Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) is the service to help every school improve. Universal RISE is about making it easier for leaders to find relevant, high-quality resources, facilitating collaboration, and promoting the sharing of effective practice. Universal RISE helps schools to diagnose their school improvement needs, identify high-quality support, and implement that support. 

National RISE

See here for details of upcoming Universal RISE events: Universal RISE - upcoming events

-----------------

Support for Reception Improvement

Reception Quality Webinar Series

The DfE has delivered a series of RISE webinars on reception quality, led by senior sector experts and national leaders on a range of topics. These free webinars support schools, trusts and local authority leaders to improve reception practice to support every child to have the best start in life and increase the number of children who achieve a good level of development at the end of their first year in school.

-----------------

KS3 Alliance – call for evidence

The KS3 Alliance, launched in September 2026, is a sector-led improvement network bringing together schools, trusts and system leaders to strengthen the quality of education, engagement and outcomes for young people in the Early Secondary Years 7-9. We want to understand more clearly what is happening during Years 7, 8 and 9; what is already making a difference; what has been tried and has not worked; and where the Alliance should focus its collective effort. We know that much of the expertise we need to improve Key Stage 3 already exists – our national call for evidence is about finding it, and distilling what works. Further information about the KS3 Alliance and how to engage in the call for evidence can be found here.

East of England RISE

The RISE Universal Offer provides CPD opportunities to schools across the East of England.

RISE school improvement resources: East of England

East of England RISE Networks

These networks provide CPD opportunities which are DfE-funded, so there is no charge to schools. See the headings below for details of each network.

-----------------

⭐Reception Network

The RISE Reception Network is part of the government’s Best Start in Life strategy and part of the DfE’s wider national initiative to strengthen the quality of reception year provision, supporting more children to begin school, ready to thrive.

These school-led networks are designed to:

  • strengthen the quality of provision and support
  • share evidence-informed approaches
  • provide local, accessible professional development

The Reception Network Lead School for Essex is The Wickford Church of England School.

-----------------

 ⭐Disadvantage Network

This network is co-ordinated by Meridian Trust.

The Disadvantage Network hosted a number of events in Spring 2026 to showcase effective practice in Reception Year. The showcase events were free to attend and took place across the East of England region. Each showcase covered 2-3 areas of practice. We hope that further showcase events will be possible in Autumn 2026.

If you are interested in either hosting or attending a Reception showcase, please register your interest using the links below:

Questions or queries? Please contact Mark Lambell at mlambell@meridiantrust.co.uk.

-----------------

 ⭐ KS2 Attainment Network (the RISE East of England Teaching Exchange) 

This network is co-ordinated by REACH2 Academy Trust.

The KS2 Attainment Network, also known as the RISE East of England Teaching Exchange, brings together schools, trusts and leaders into a regional network, supporting collaboration and shared learning alongside practical KS2 support. The Exchange delivers a co-ordinated programme of webinars to provide clear, practical support for schools to raise Year 6 attainment.

Sessions are designed to be role-specific for teachers, subject leads and headteachers, focusing on practical, immediately useable support.

Find out more:

-----------------

 ⭐ KS4 Attainment Network

This network is co-ordinated by Chiltern Learning Trust.

The KS4 Attainment Network aims to connect schools, trusts and leaders through collaborative, themed conferences that focus on practical solutions for long-term impact. The conference series is designed to share proven strategies, resources and expert insights that help schools tackle key challenges in raising attainment.

Events for 2026-27: TBC

Listen to the Improving Disadvantaged Outcomes podcast

Cookie Policy