ASDAN is delighted to announce that Dame Alison Peacock, Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching, has joined the charity as a Patron, alongside Lord Jim Knight. Her appointment will strengthen ASDAN’s work supporting schools to equip learners with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in education, work, and life.
Dame Alison has spent her career promoting inclusive education and empowering teachers to respond to learners’ needs. Through her work on Learning Without Limits, she has challenged fixed notions of ability and demonstrated how creative teaching can unlock success for all learners.
“Over the past year, I’ve been really impressed by the innovative work ASDAN has done to support learners with diverse needs, empowering them with practical skills, confidence, and opportunities to thrive,” said Dame Alison Peacock. “Becoming a Patron feels like a natural step for me – I want to help champion their mission, celebrate learners’ achievements, and support schools in delivering inclusive, skills-based learning that makes a real difference for every learner.”
Her appointment reflects ASDAN’s ongoing commitment to equity, learner agency, and broadening the definition of success beyond traditional academic measures. Dame Alison’s expertise aligns closely with ASDAN’s mission to provide programmes and qualifications that equip young people with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in education, work, and life.
Dame Alison was the first guest on ASDAN’s Cross-sector Lab podcast, where she spoke with ASDAN CEO Melissa Farnham about inclusive pedagogy and teacher agency. She highlighted the importance of giving teachers the autonomy to respond to learners’ needs, saying:
“The best teachers have the confidence to connect with children as individuals. Knowing what excites and motivates them makes you a much better teacher… Supporting their agency, knowledge and expertise is essential to help every child flourish.”
Melissa Farnham, CEO of ASDAN, commented:
“We are thrilled to welcome Dame Alison Peacock as a Patron of ASDAN. Her commitment to inclusive education, teacher agency, and empowering every learner perfectly reflects our values and vision. We look forward to working with her to further inspire and supporting learners with diverse needs”
Dame Alison joins Lord Jim Knight, whose longstanding advocacy for education and skills development continues to support ASDAN’s work in empowering learners across the UK. Together, their guidance will help ASDAN champion inclusive, learner-centred approaches and foster opportunities for all learners.
Listen to the Cross-sector Lab podcast episode with Dame Alison Peacock: Cross-sector Lab: reimagine education together – available now.