Conference: Improving life chances and making hope possible through education

Do you work or research in an area of work linked to our conference theme? We are looking forward to two days of learning, professional development, and finding opportunities to collaborate to improve life chances and make hope possible through education.  

Who are we?

We have been educating the teaching and education workforce for almost 140 years. Our vision of ‘working creatively with others to enhance life chances’ is at the heart of who we are and what we do. We focus relentlessly on harnessing the power of education to transform lives, every day, in our work with our students and strategic partners.  

No matter which sector you work in, to best understand and address challenges facing children, families, young people, and their communities, it is essential that we work together creatively, share knowledge, and make our ideas a reality.  

The 2026 Faculty of Education conference at Edge Hill University provides the opportunity to do this.

Who is the conference for?

We are keen that the conference represents the diverse voices and lived experiences of those with an interest in the conference theme. We aim to ensure the event is accessible and inclusive.

As well as academic researchers and postgraduate students, we particularly welcome contributions from:  

• education, health and workforce development professionals  
• schools, colleges and other education settings  
• community partners (including charities and VCSFE sector organisations)  
• child, adolescent, youth and adult services  
• social care and social work professionals  
• creative, digital and enterprise industries  
• sport and leisure
• criminal justice settings   
• alternative education providers  
• policy makers, commissioners and civil servants

Our conference programme will be organised around our Faculty themes: 

• Early Years Education, Families, and Communities
• Inequalities, Health, and Wellbeing
• Values, Ethics, and Culture
• Teacher Education and Professional Learning
• Transformative Education

Keynote Speakers

Professor Emeritus Peter Moss (University College London)

Session title: Towards a democratic culture: contesting the future of early childhood education

Session title: Towards a democratic culture: contesting the future of early childhood education

Abstract
The adverse consequences of a pervasive neoliberal culture for education policy, provision and pedagogy in England are increasingly apparent. But the question remains: what do we want instead? Focusing on early childhood education I will argue for the need to contest the neoliberal cultural hegemony and to develop an alternative: a democratic culture. I will draw from a project I am currently working on to explore what a democratic culture is and what it might mean for early childhood education policy, provision, and pedagogy. Turning away from the neoliberal question of ‘what works?’ to the democratic question of ‘what do we want?’ opens up a space of possibility. Another future for early childhood education is possible.

Bio
Peter Moss is an Emeritus Professor at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, UCL Institute of Education, University College London. His research and writing interests cover early childhood education, education and democracy, and the relationship between employment, care and gender. Much of his work has been cross-national, especially covering Europe and the Anglosphere. He is co-founder of the International Network on Leave Policies and (with Gunilla Dahlberg) was the initial editor for the Contesting Early Childhood book series. He has published widely, his most recent books being Early Childhood in the Anglosphere: Systemic failings and transformative possibilities (with Linda Mitchell; 2024, UCL Press) and Care Leaves and Care Time for All: Towards caring democracies, economies and worlds (with Andrea Doucet; April 2026, Policy Press).

Dr Alex Blower (Arts University Bournemouth)

Session title: Building a movement to change the narrative surrounding working-class boys and young men

Session title: Building a movement to change the narrative surrounding working-class boys and young men

Abstract

Dr Alex Blower will reflect on a career spent challenging how working-class boys engage educationally, and how education engages with them. Drawing on research and lived experience from his book Lost Boys, he demonstrates how systems often misinterpret the realities which shape the lives of boys and young men. He argues that research must do more than diagnose problems; it must drive change. This principle underpins Boys’ Impact, a UK-wide initiative convening educators, amplifying evidence, and equipping communities to strengthen the ecosystems around boys who are eligible for Free School Meals. The keynote calls for a shift from deficit thinking to dignity‑led practice, reminding audiences that meaningful change emerges when research and lived experience work together.

Bio

Dr Alex Blower is an author, researcher and global thought leader on issues related to masculinity, inequality and education. Since completing his doctoral research which focused inequality and access to university for white working-class boys in the West Midlands in 2020, he has been a keynote speaker at national and international conferences, talking on issues related to inequality and the experience of young working-class men in education.

In 2025, he was invited to join the MenCare Changemaker network, a global initiative to mobilise 100 leading influencers from around the world from business, the media, culture, civil society, and government to find solutions to critical challenges related to men, boys, and masculinities. Regularly commenting on issues related to masculinity and inequality in education for media outlets such as the BBC, LBC and The Times, his first monograph, Lost Boys: How Education is Failing Young Working-Class Men, was released last year.

How can I contribute?

There are different ways to share your work. Click on the call for contributions button below to find out more.

The deadline for submission of your proposal is Monday 13 April 2026 by 4pm.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the conference, or issues submitting contributions, please contact: [email protected]