The ultimate purpose of the Centre is to support networks and individual schools to improve the quality of education for all young people. Driven by a common moral purpose, the Centre supports a range of schools. Much of research and evidence shows that effective change and improvement is driven by consistent teacher efficacy and instructional leadership, but this is inevitably contextualised to each community.

Working alongside local and regional school partnerships withing the North West of England the Centre has built strong relationships with schools, multi academy trusts and  local authority partnerships such as  the Bolton Learning Partnership and the QUEST Multi Academy Trust. Many of these schools are part of the Laboratory School network.

Kunskapsskolan is one of the important international partners of the Centre. With over 100 schools run by or inspired by their personalised approach to education, their distinct approach to education across 7 countries around the world provides an existing and successful laboratory of practice for much of the Centre’s work.

In the UK over 40 schools – primary, secondary, and special- are part of what is known as the SAIL network (Student Agency in Learning). They are committed to building a more personised approach to learning in schools  where students develop strong self-regulation. These schools provide a powerful national network for school change that is supported by the Centre’s ‘Curiosity and Powerful Learning’ framework for school improvement. 

The Centre is also developing work with other international partners in China, India, Australia, and  the USA.