FUTURE OF EDUCATION CHALLENGE
Add your voice and drive real impact while sharpening your skills in research, creative design and teamwork!
Student teams of all ages can register by September 26th — don’t miss out!
About EduSpots
EduSpots is a movement igniting future-ready education through community leadership.
Since 2015, EduSpots has worked with over 600 local changemakers named ‘Catalysts’ to create 50 community-led education spaces named ‘Spots’ in Ghana and Kenya, with a key vision of enabling communities to create the futures they want to see through education.
Alongside this, EduSpots has worked with over 40 schools in the UK and beyond to engage students in active citizenship education and exploring power, agency and ethics in global development.
EduSpots uses digital tools and training to enable Catalysts to connect and share ideas on WhatsApp on a daily basis, currently focusing on these areas of education with over 10,000 learner annually:
JUNIOR
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE!
EduSpots’ first fundraising campaign in 2016 featured a LEGO library built in a school — £1 per brick — symbolising support for the Akumadan Spot.
Brick by brick, our network grew. Now, as we approach our 10th anniversary in 2025, we’re fundraising to expand to 100 community-led Spots, igniting education through local changemakers.
YOUR 5 STEP TEAM MISSION:
BUILD A TEAM RESEARCH
Build a team prepared to work together for four months on this project. Sign-up via the online application form.
Imagine how you would adapt education in a fast-changing world. As a team, design something that represents how you see the future of education, explaining your idea! 1 2 5 4 3
Reflect on how our changing world demands a shift in education — explore EduSpots’ curated Read, Listen & Watch list to spark new ideas!e.
FUNDRAISE DESIGN
Lead a LEGO or Future of Education themed fundraising event for EduSpots, with all donations DOUBLED via the Big Give campaign from 2-9th December.
CELEBRATE
Join our online celebration event and engage in peer-peer learning exploring diverse visions for the future of education through different design mediums.
About EduSpots
STEP 1: BUILD A TEAM
EduSpots is a movement igniting future-ready education through community leadership.
Since 2015, EduSpots has worked with over 600 local changemakers named ‘Catalysts’ to create 50 community-led education spaces named ‘Spots’ in Ghana and Kenya, with a key vision of enabling communities to create the futures they want to see through education.
In EduSpots, we believe #OurCollectiveFuture is only possible through teamwork! All our work is all driven through local teams, who create the future of education through working together, drawing on everyone’s talents, interests and aspirations. We’d love you to work as a committed team in groups of 4-6:
1. Your team roles could include:
Alongside this, EduSpots has worked with over 40 schools in the UK and beyond to engage students in active citizenship education and exploring power, agency and ethics in global development.
2. Researcher in Residence
3. Head of Imagination
EduSpots uses digital tools and training to enable Catalysts to connect and share ideas on WhatsApp on a daily basis, currently focusing on these areas of education with over 10,000 learner annually:
4. Chief Builder
5. Fundraising Manager
6. Communications Officer
7. Team Coordinator
Create your own fun names and roles!
Looking for an extra leadership role?
We are also looking for student Ambassadors in the Sixth Form to lead this as a competition with younger students in your school, or with local primary schools or families.
STEP 2: RESEARCH
Do some research! In EduSpots, we believe that it’s important to learn and explore, before building or creating anything new.
We will send your team an age-appropriate set of resources, housed on our website.
This will include:
STEP 3: IMAGINE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION & CREATE A DESIGN TO REPRESENT IT!
There are categories for 4 age groups:
LEGO or Recycled Build
Primary (years 4-6)
Digital Art or Music
Secondary (years 7-9)
Animation or Reel Vlogs & Podcast
Secondary (years 10-13)
Extra step:
University students & Adults (18+)
You could create your own school exhibition. We will also be showcasing the entries on our website (with parental and school permission!)
Alongside your design work…
Write a 200-300 mini essay, explaining how this represents your vision for the future of education. Video submissions are also welcome.
Our Future of Education team will be sending some examples to support you.
STEP 4: FUNDRAISE
We are aiming to raise £150,000 in the next year to enable a further 50 Spots to join the EduSpots network! We’ve realised that in fundraising, collective action is key!
What will your design and fundraising support?
£50, doubled to £100
could place a tablet in a future coder’s hands
£100 doubled to £200
could see a Catalyst joining collaborative training
£200 doubled to £500
could equip a Spot with a laptop, wifi and projector kit
PLUS:
£500 doubled to £1000
could transform a classroom into an active resource hub
Your vision for the future of education will be read by the EduSpots Programmes Team to add student voice and imagination to our strategy for learning.
Some simple fundraising ideas!
Asking people to sponsor your entry
Creating an exhibition with a fee for entry Future of Education Panel-event or Teacher Sing-Off
NOTE: Further fundraising ideas and advice will be sent in a separate booklet
STEP 5: CELEBRATE
In EduSpots we love celebrating innovation and engagement, which is a key part of our model for involving local volunteers across 50 Spot communities!
All participants engaging in the challenge will receive a certificate and an invitation to an online celebration event in December, after the Big Give Campaign.
AWARDS INCLUDE:
RESEARCH AWARD (FOR EACH AGE CATEGORY)
MOST INNOVATIVE DESIGN (FOR EACH AGE CATEGORY)
FUNDRAISING AWARD (FOR EACH AGE CATEGORY)
TEAMWORK AWARD (FOR EACH AGE CATEGORY)
BUILDING THE FUTURE AWARD (FOR STRONGEST OVERALL PROJECT SUBMISSIONS)
MEET SOME OF THE JUDGES!
In EduSpots, feedback is central to our culture. All entries in the Future of Education Challenge will be carefully reviewed, with personalised feedback from our inspirational judges!
Cat is the Founder & CEO of EduSpots, with 10 years of experience in leading a growing network of educational changemakers. Alongside this, Cat has 11 years of teaching experience, with a passion for social entrepreneurship education. She was recognised for her impact in critically aware active citizenship education as a Global Teacher Prize finalist and has recently been selected for the 2025 UNESCO Intercultural Leadership fellowship.
Amjad Saleem is a youth-focused manager at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva and a committed member of EduSpots’ advisory group. He has many years experience of peace building, interfaith dialogue and working in the humanitarian space.
Gloria Agyemang is EduSpots’ Chair of Trustees for the Global Board, and a member of the Ghana Board. She is an Emeritus Professor of Accounting, with a passion for coaching teams to enable them to thrive. She was previously Executive Dean of the School of Business and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London, where she was the first black woman to lead a business school in the UK.
SALLY YEBOAH
Sally Ofori-Yeboah is Executive Advisor at the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), Ghana, having served as CAMFED Ghana’s National Director. She is a global trustee, supporting EduSpots with our safeguarding and gender equity work, with a passion for coaching and mental health support.
GLORIA AGYEMANG
AMJAD SALEEM
CAT DAVISON
