RISE Operations Working Group
The regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) Operations Working Group is an external engagement group with expert school improvement practitioners and executives. It focuses on informing RISE operational practice.
In February 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) launched regional improvement in standards and excellence (RISE), a manifesto commitment linked to the Opportunity Mission, which aims to provide a targeted service to stuck schools and a universal service to all schools. In April 2025, we launched our RISE offer, including a second cohort of RISE schools (following an initial test and learn cohort) and a universal service focused around 4 national priorities:
- attendance
- attainment
- inclusive mainstream
- reception year quality
The Department for Education (DfE) established the RISE Operations Working Group to inform our operational practice for RISE.
Terms of reference
Members
The chairs are:
- Chair: Tim Coulson, Director General of Regions Group, DfE
- Deputy chair: Jon Howlin, Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) RISE, DfE
The members are:
- Mark Davis, Director of Education (DDE) for Lichfield Diocese, West Midlands, Church of England
- Lee Wilson, Outwood Grange Academies Trust, North East, Confederation of School Trusts (CST)
- Amanda Corcoran, North West, Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS)
- Joanne Sanchez-Thompson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Learning for life Education Trust, East Midlands, National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)
- John Camp, CEO of the Compass Partnership of Schools, London, Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
- Gail Brown, CEO of the Ebor Academy Trust, Yorkshire and Humber, ASCL
- Stephen Wheatley, CEO, All Saints Catholic Academy Trust, East of England, Catholic Education Service (CES)
- Tony Wilson, Director of Education at the Oxford Diocesan Board of Education, South East, regional
- Rebecca Meredith CBE, CEO of Transform Trust, East Midlands, regional
- Dr Jennifer Blunden, CEO of Truro and Penwith Academy Trust (TPAT), South West, regional
Meeting minutes
Meetings will be held twice termly via Microsoft Teams unless otherwise agreed. The frequency will be reviewed after spring 2026 with an intention to move to termly meetings once appropriate.