SEND education leader attends Buckingham Palace celebration and education sector event

Kevin Buchanan at Buckingham Palace

Kevin Buchanan, Director of Education at EdStart Schools and Headteacher at their Wirral and Oldham and Rochdale sites, has recently represented the organisation at two significant events focused on education and young people.

He attended a Buckingham Palace celebration recognising thousands of young people achieving the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, hosted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

The event brought together young people from across the UK being recognised for completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Gold Award, which involves volunteering, skills development, physical activity and an expedition.

EdStart Schools operates specialist independent schools in Salford, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Manchester and the Wirral, supporting young people who have struggled in mainstream education, often due to social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs.

EdStart Schools students currently take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, and Kevin Buchanan attended the Buckingham Palace celebration as part of EdStart’s involvement with the programme.

At EdStart Schools, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is embedded within its “Building Brilliant 16-Year-Olds” approach, helping students build confidence, independence and life skills as they prepare for adulthood.

Kevin Buchanan said:  “It was inspiring to see so many young people recognised for their achievement and resilience. At EdStart, we’re proud to support our students through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Bronze level as part of helping them build confidence, independence and ambition for the future.” 

Buchanan also attended an education sector gathering in London, where Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson spoke with leaders about SEND reform, the Schools White Paper and wider pressures facing schools.

The event brought together education leaders to discuss inclusion, the new Ofsted framework and funding pressures across the system. Buchanan said these are issues EdStart Schools engages with daily across its schools, and it was valuable to hear them reflected at national level.

He added that both events reinforced his belief that EdStart Schools’ work sits firmly within the national conversation about what education can and should achieve for every child, and said he is proud to represent the organisation in these spaces.

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