Over the last year, we’ve been running our Ambitious About Inclusion roadshow events across England, in partnership with Mission 44. Each event has been a fantastic opportunity to bring together practitioners, local leaders and elected Mayors, experts, and young people to hear about good existing practice and to develop fresh ideas for delivering an inclusive education that serves all children.

Osob, a member of the Fair Education Alliance Youth Steering Group, spoke at our final event in Birmingham and has shared her thoughts on the session with us.

"My experience at the Mission 44 event was genuinely unforgettable. I was given the opportunity to be one of the youth voices speaking about my own experiences with educational inequality, something that matters deeply to me. I’ll admit, I was nervous at first, but the warmth and encouragement in the room quickly put me at ease. The support, especially from the incredible students at Oasis Academy, made the experience even more special.

What stood out most about the day was its focus: real voices, real experiences, and real solutions. The event centred on both young people and educators, creating a space where honest conversations about inequality could happen. We explored how we, as the next generation of leaders, can challenge and change the barriers facing students—particularly those eligible for Free School Meals, who are too often disproportionately affected by exclusion and lack of opportunity especially in Birmingham.

We heard powerful insights from leaders within Mission 44, alongside Birmingham’s education leadership, about the underlying causes of school suspensions among working-class students. These weren’t just statistics they were lived reality, which made them all the more impactful.

One of the highlights of the day was hearing from the Mayor of the West Midlands, Richard Parker. He spoke about what it means to be a Brummie, and how our identity, our diversity, and our shared experiences should be a source of pride and a driving force for unity and change.

Overall, the event was inspiring. It reminded me that when young people are given a platform, their voices can shape the conversation in powerful ways. Opportunities like this raise awareness and create momentum. They move us beyond empty promises and towards real, lasting change."