Guidance

RISE: London regional plan summary

Updated 3 July 2026

Applies to England

Summary    

This publication is a concise edition of the London regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) regional plan from the Department for Education (DfE) setting out how it will be delivered locally to improve outcomes for children and young people.

It brings partners together around the 4 national priorities, providing shared direction and a practical framework for:

• strengthening practice
• building capacity
• sustaining improvement

It translates national priorities into a clear, local approach and supports collaboration across schools, trusts and local authorities. Progress depends on every part of the system contributing insight, evidence and leadership so that every child and young person in London can thrive.

Regional focus for London

Over 2.8 million children and young people (representing about 32% of London’s population) grow up in one of the most diverse, creative and opportunity rich places in the world. London’s scale and pace bring huge potential, but also unique pressures that shape the lives of young Londoners every day.

Over the last 20 years, London’s education landscape has been transformed, shifting from among the lowest to the highest performing nationally, but averages mask variation and persistent gaps. In a city this size, a 1% improvement means 14,400 more children achieving better outcomes. Strong partnerships and networks remain a key asset.

We have worked with partners across London to shape how the RISE priorities translate locally, drawing on regional evidence and insight.

London’s priorities will focus on:

• reception-year quality: reduce inequalities in early years outcomes, especially for disadvantaged pupils, and spread effective practice
• inclusive mainstream: strengthen consistency of inclusion, belonging and academic success across local areas
• attendance: maintain London’s strong performance, return fully to pre‑pandemic levels, and improve attendance for all pupil groups
• attainment, with a focus on English and maths: close disadvantage gaps and raise results where local authorities are still below pre‑pandemic levels

What RISE will deliver in London

To achieve our regional focus ambitions we will carry out the following activities.

Reception-year quality

RISE support for reception improvement.

Work with school and reception leaders to identify and share effective practice for improving pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM) outcomes.

Use Open Education events (from March 2026) to showcase high‑quality phonics and strong speech, language and oracy provision.

Share best practice through reception‑quality webinars, VLOGs and case studies on the RISE website.

Build on school‑based nursery growth and Best Start Family Hubs to improve nursery‑to‑reception transition.

From May 2026, use sub‑regional cluster sessions to explore effective transition approaches and strengthen family engagement and identify and disseminate best practice for schools and trusts to use with local networks.

RISE advisers to work directly with schools, building on English hub activity.

Collaborate with London Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs and new RISE reception networks to increase regional capacity and leadership strength.

From September 2026, run networking events aligned with RISE reception priorities across a range of settings.

Inclusive mainstream

RISE support for inclusive mainstream education.

Set shared expectations, use evidence‑informed classroom tools, and work with partners, including the London Improvement and Innovation Alliance (LIIA) to support local areas and settings to prepare for proposed SEND reforms, including National Inclusion Standards and potential individual support plans (ISPs).

Work with partners to help strengthen local provision, develop and refine inclusion bases, strengthen preventative outreach, and support the rollout of the Experts at Hand to broaden timely access to specialists.

Work with schools, trusts and local areas to strengthen practice and support consistent relationships and safe, inclusive cultures. Promote consistent transitions between settings and work with wider services to reduce disengagement and improve coordination so support is better aligned.

Use regional networks, learning events and collaboration (including with LIIA) to share effective practice and build a coherent, aligned mainstream system across London.

Attendance

RISE support for improving attendance in schools.

Work with the sector to prioritise effective leadership practices, map schools with strong pre‑ and post‑pandemic attendance, and share strategies via the RISE Universal Service and the attendance and behaviour hubs (webinars, toolkits, practical resources).

Use data to identify issues at year 6 to year 7 and year 7 to year 8 transitions and develop focused strategies for key communities and pupils with SEN who struggle with change.

Provide intensive support to around 60 schools over three terms (around 10 days of support) and wider networking for about 280 schools over a year. Promote DfE data tools, for example View your education data, regional open days and a quality‑assured bespoke action plan.

Attainment, with a focus on English and maths

RISE support for improving attainment in school.

Continue regional networking (conference/roundtables), school visits, collaborative projects and themed learning groups focused on practical implementation and peer support into 2026 to 2027.

Work with English and maths hubs to:

• pinpoint schools with weaker outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
• enable better benchmarking with enhanced data
• offer diagnostic conversations, improvement planning and tailored hub support

Regional themes

London’s regional themes are the foundations for delivering RISE priorities:

Place‑based collaboration – leading for local children

A school system that works together, with a high challenge, high support culture that amplifies excellence. Inspired by the spirit of collaboration and support enjoyed by London schools over the past decades, bringing schools, trusts, local authorities, and dioceses together to ensure that great practice is visible, accessible, and shared.

Sharing data, creating understanding and using evidence

We will build a shared, data informed understanding of London’s challenges, working with partners to address key national and regional priorities. Through the universal offer, all schools will have access to up to date data and tools, helping ensure effective practice is shared and used across the sector.

Using artificial intelligence (AI) and technology

We will signpost to quality‑assured tools (for example Oak’s Aila) and share case studies of effective use of AI to cut workload. We will support digital leads or AI champions, help leaders choose proven tools via the EdTech Evidence Board and testbeds and promote assistive tech for inclusion (SEND, English as an additional language (EAL) and young carers).

Financial sustainability

Support the implementation of DfE’s 2026 Education Estates strategy, including developing a shared decision-making framework for school space, balancing opportunities from falling rolls with long term risks, embedding best practice from strong local approaches, and cocreating a framework with the sector for publication in autumn 2026.

RISE universal school improvement architecture

London is putting in place a coherent improvement architecture that links hubs, networks and practical tools through a clear digital presence, timely communications and regional events. 

We will work with our partners so that we can offer a school improvement framework for London. The architecture gives every school a clear pathway to support, builds on engagement with all 33 local authorities, and maps existing headteacher networks to avoid duplication and connect improvement offers.

We want the approach to be inclusive and open to all. We will coordinate focused and flexible delivery models so every school can take part in a way that suits their context.

4 key enabling structures:

• ongoing engagement between RISE Advisers and their link local authorities
• the London RISE Reference Group (ALDCS, dioceses, SELL, Research Schools, LTLN, London Councils)
• joint work with teaching school hubs and subject hubs
• regular collaboration with the London Innovation and Improvement Alliance (LIIA), including the monthly inclusive mainstream roundtable

Architecture coming onstream or expanding:

• 5 reception networks
• 10 attendance and behaviour hubs (established late 2025, currently 20 schools enhanced + 275 regional offer)
• the RISE key stage 3 alliance
• a developing primary pan‑London network

The London RISE reference group advise on the delivery of universal RISE in London, building collaboration and how we address the four national priorities in a London context. London RISE Advisers engage with sector stakeholders to gather local intelligence and lead locally on each national priority area. 

Operation delivery will be supported by regular engagement with hubs, networks and partners.