Introduction to the Unit

The Innovation Unit was set up following government legislation in 2002. It was launched by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, Professor Sir Michael Barber and the then Secretary of State for Education, Estelle Morris.

Early work

The first phase of the unit's work concentrated on responding to innovative ideas that were sent into the government mainly by teachers and headteachers. The unit funded a number of these, and provided advice and practical support for some of the others. The unit also handled a piece of legislation called "The Power to Innovate" that enabled schools and Local Authorities to apply to the Secretary of State to have regulations lifted if a strong case could be made that they were getting in the way of raising standards in education. The Education and Inspection Act (2006) extended "The Power to Innovate", which has cross party support, to the further education sector. Other projects such as the Breakthrough project and Networking and Collaboration were also undertaken.

Later work

Having looked generally at innovation in schools during its first phase, the unit is now investigating 'disciplined innovation' by looking beyond what most people in schools would generally call 'best' practice in order to generate what might be the 'next' successful practice in certain areas. This work draws on the "futures thinking" projects that the Unit has undertaken.

The first Next Practice project on System Leadership is being undertaken with the National College for School Leadership. The second project is Resourcing for Personalisation which is being done with SSAT. The third project, with the Training and Development Agency for Schools, is considering how to use the whole workforce to enhance learning, and a fourth project will consider parental engagement in teaching and learning.

During this phase the unit moved from the then Department for Education and Skills to become an independent, not for profit, limited company.  It has a number of contracts, including one from the Cabinet Office where the unit is working with the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations and the social software company Headshift on an Innovation Exchange for the Third Sector.