From Journal to Conference: The Momentum Behind RISE Up

Neil @ Future Action
3 days ago
3 min read

Last week felt like a snapshot of something bigger happening across education.

The publication of the second article in our three-part series for Physical Education Matters.

The opportunity to present Confident, Connected, Curriculum-Ready: Embedding Trauma-Informed PE Through RISE Up at the afPE National Conference.

The launch of a Hampshire RISE Up partnership alongside Hampshire Virtual School and Hampshire Outdoor Learning, welcoming six new schools committed to supporting children's wellbeing.

For me, they're all signs of the same movement.

A growing movement of educators and leaders recognising that before children can flourish, they first need to feel safe, connected and understood.

A Growing Conversation

This latest article explores how secondary schools are applying the RISE Up framework to help young people flourish through:

🤝 Outstanding relationships

🏃 Movement for mental wellbeing

🧠 Early intervention self-care toolkits

One of the things I love most about the article is that it doesn't just explore the theory. It highlights schools that have brought these ideas to life in their own unique ways.

The article features snapshots from:

Kings Leadership Academy Liverpool
St Francis of Assisi Academy, Liverpool
Fakenham Academy, Norfolk
City Academy Norwich, Norfolk
Teign School, Devon

Some of these case studies date back several years, while others are more recent.

Together, they show that this isn't about a short-term initiative or quick win. They're examples of schools applying the same principles in different contexts over time, each creating a bespoke approach that meets the needs of their young people.

That's something we feel really strongly about at Future Action. We don't believe there is a one-size-fits-all wellbeing programme. We believe in empowering educators to co-create solutions that work in their own context.

Physical Education is uniquely placed to make this happen. Few subjects have the opportunity to build relationships, regulate through movement and create belonging in real time, while helping young people develop the confidence and emotional intelligence they'll carry with them long after they leave school.

When those ingredients come together, children don't just participate.

They begin to believe in themselves, connect with others and flourish.

Continuing the Conversation

Presenting at the afPE National Conference was another reminder of how much this conversation is gathering momentum.

The questions, reflections and openness from colleagues reinforced something I've been noticing for a while.

Across the country, educators are looking beyond participation and performance alone. They're asking how physical education can also become a place where young people build confidence, belonging, emotional intelligence and resilience.

Those conversations give me enormous hope.

The Momentum is Growing

One thing has really struck me over the past week.

The journal article.

The conference.

The launch of Hampshire RISE Up.

They're all part of the same movement.

Whether it's through outstanding relationships, movement for mental wellbeing, play wrapped in care or early intervention self-care toolkits, we're seeing more schools recognise a simple truth: children need to feel safe before they can truly thrive.

That's why this work matters. Not because it's another initiative. Not because it's another programme.

Because every child deserves to walk into school feeling safe enough to belong, ready enough to learn and confident enough to flourish.

A huge thank you to Carol Hawman for the opportunity to contribute to Physical Education Matters, and to Kate Thornton-Bousfield and the whole afPE team for organising an outstanding national conference.

I'd also like to thank every school that has shared its journey over the years. Your willingness to reflect on what's worked, and what you've learned along the way, helps other educators adapt these ideas for their own context across our Global RISE Up community.

Read the Full Article

You can download the full article below.

If you'd like to explore how these schools have embedded the principles in practice, I've also linked each of their full case studies below. I hope they provide some useful ideas and inspiration for your own setting.