Curriculum co-development networks have sprung up where groups of schools have decided that they want to work together to push their thinking a bit further and share ideas for curriculum innovation. The approaches that the schools use differ depending on the needs of their young people, but all share a passion for using the curriculum to make a positive difference to young people.

Curriculum co-development is not about waiting for the next initiative or toolkit to hit. It is about taking ownership of, and responsibility for, the curriculum that your young people experience. It involves disciplined innovation, making informed decisions and taking intelligent risks. It means rejecting the notion of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach and tailoring the curriculum so that it meets the needs and interests of your learners.

As part of a curriculum co-development network, you become part of a mutually supportive group that is at the cutting edge of curriculum improvement. You automatically receive any publications produced to support the futures in action programme, including material coming out of other co-development networks. You are supported in bringing about change and have the opportunity to share your achievements with others. And as well as having a local impact, your work could be of national consequence – QCA will use your experiences to influence policy on curriculum and to shape advice and guidance for schools.

Each co-development network is a bit different. At the moment they include:

• headteachers involved in the National Primary Heads Association (NPhA) in the south-west of England
• a group of ASTs in the East Midlands
• Service Children’s Education schools based in countries such as Germany, Cyprus and Bahrain
• entire local authorities, for example Bristol
• over a hundred school leaders involved in the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) leadership network.
• a virtual network of schools that are geographically isolated from any other network. These schools share their curriculum journeys online.