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Lift Schools CEO Becks Boomer-Clark has been appointed by the Department for Education to co-chair a new national initiative aimed at transforming the "middle years" of education.
Alongside Dame Lesley Powell, Becks will lead the KS3 RISE Alliance. The appointment places Lift Schools’ leadership at the heart of the government’s strategy to fix the primary to secondary transition and ensure every student across the country thrives between ages 11 and 14.
In a joint article for Tes, they together say: “The early secondary years represent a critical window in young people’s development. By working together - sharing evidence, evaluating innovation and learning from effective practice - we have an opportunity to strengthen a phase of education that has too often been overlooked.”
Becks brings a wealth of insight to this role, drawing on Lift Schools’ ongoing commitment to improving the Key Stage 3 experience through initiatives such as our KS3 Cliff Edge report and our ongoing KS3 Futures project in partnership with the Reach Foundation.
The KS3 RISE Alliance will work to build a national evidence base of "what works," drawing on innovation from across the system to improve outcomes for all pupils. It forms a central part of the government’s Universal RISE offer, designed to mobilise and spread best practices through regional networks.
For Lift Schools and the wider sector, the focus on Key Stage 3 is a vital move toward closing the attainment gap.
Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson noted that these are the years when disadvantaged pupils often fall behind as engagement levels drop and absence rates rise.
“I am delighted that Becks Boomer-Clark and Dame Lesley Powell will lead this Alliance. Their combined experience will be invaluable in supporting all children to achieve and thrive during these crucial years of adolescence.” - Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson.
Launched in response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the KS3 RISE Alliance supports schools across five key areas:
The Alliance will help bridge the gap between high-level policy and classroom reality. The goal is to ensure that the transition into secondary school - a time of significant personal and academic change - is intentional, challenging, and inspiring for every child.
Bridget Phillipson: “We know how important the start of secondary school is for young people – it's where they begin to discover the subjects they love, deepen their learning with specialist teachers and develop the confidence and curiosity that will shape the rest of their education.
“These are also the years when childhood changes the most. As young people navigate the transition to adolescence, it is more important than ever that schools are intentional about how they support, challenge and inspire them to keep learning and growing.
"And yet for too many children this transition is challenging – engagement can fall, absence can rise and opportunities begin to narrow with disadvantaged pupils impacted the most. That’s why I’m determined to give these years the focus they deserve."
The initiative will be underpinned by a network of Regional Alliances. The newly appointed regional co-chairs are set to meet in late April to begin the work.
The chairs of each Regional Alliance have been appointed as follows:
North East
North West
Yorkshire and the Humber
East Midlands
West Midlands
East of England
South East
South West
London:
The Alliance will operate on a three-year trajectory:
Our CEO said: “Key Stage 3 has become the forgotten middle of our school system, yet it is where too many young people lose their sense of belonging and engagement begins to dip.
"If we are serious about improving outcomes and narrowing gaps, we need a much sharper focus on these years. This Alliance brings together leaders to do exactly that — working collectively to back what works and give these years the focus they deserve.”
