Fifty education leaders from across the UK will travel to Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Angus from 18–20 June for a national conference exploring innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

The 2025 Deeper Learning UK – Strengthening Our Community conference aims to build stronger relationships and deepen a shared sense of purpose among education leaders, while providing the opportunity to explore innovative practice in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Angus. It will also support the development of actionable plans to embed these approaches more widely across the education system, ensuring they become the norm rather than the exception.

The conference – which will take place in Scotland for the first time – is led by Edge Foundation in partnership with The Wood Foundation, a founding member of the Deeper Learning network.

The network exists to develop, share, and promote progressive education practices across the UK, ensuring each young person is empowered to flourish and be the best version of themselves.

This year’s conference is coordinated through Excelerate – The Wood Foundation’s investment in system-level change in education. Excelerate works with 19 secondary schools in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, and Angus, focusing on the transformation of culture, collaboration and pedagogy through professional learning and network opportunities.

Ali MacLachlan, The Wood Foundation’s UK Director, said: “We are proud to welcome colleagues from across the UK to the North-east. Our schools and educators are doing incredible work to rethink how learning can be more purposeful, engaging and future focused. This conference is a powerful opportunity to connect, learn from one another, and build momentum for wider system change.”

Olly Newton, Executive Director at the Edge Foundation, said: “Edge have had the pleasure of working with The Wood Foundation for many years and seeing the amazing commitment they have made to helping schools across Aberdeen and the shire to transform their teaching and connections to the world of work.

“Working closely with colleagues from across the UK and from the US, schools have been deepening their links with employers and using those connections to bring the curriculum to life, answering the question that all of us ask at school ‘When am I ever going to need to use this?”

Olly Newton and Ali MacLachlan will open the three-day conference at The Chester Hotel. Delegates will then visit four Excelerate partner schools – Banff Academy, Arbroath Academy, St Machar Academy and Bucksburn Academy – to see first-hand how they are building upon the inspiration provided through The Wood Foundation’s investment to deliver innovative and creative approaches to education that are rooted in the real world.

Leaders and pupils will share their experiences of how these approaches, including project-based learning and oracy, are reshaping their school communities.

Ollie Bray, Strategic Director at Education Scotland, will offer insights into Scotland’s ambitious vision for the future of learning and system innovation. He will outline how the education system needs to adapt to ensure learner experiences continue to evolve in response to the demands of the modern workforce and an ever-changing world.

The event will conclude with an informal marketplace session, providing attendees with the opportunity to showcase current projects, exchange ideas, and celebrate progress within their own contexts.

The conference is part of a wider commitment by The Wood Foundation to optimise the potential of Curriculum for Excellence in order to empower the next generation of successful, active citizens.