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Reflections on the PEIA March Celebration Event: A Showcase of Collaboration and Impact

27th March 2025

On 27th March 2025, educators, leaders and experts from across Sandwell and Walsall came together for the PEIA March Celebration Event – a powerful moment that brought to life the purpose, progress and promise of the Priority Education Investment Areas (PEIA) programme.

Led by ¿ìߣÊÓƵ on behalf of the Department for Education, and in partnership with Teach Like a Champion, this final event marked the end of the formal programme but also the beginning of something far greater – a movement of committed educators transforming teaching and learning for students in their schools and communities.

Reflecting on the Journey

CEO of ¿ìߣÊÓƵ, Dawn Haywood, opened the day with a message of gratitude and pride, reflecting on the questions at the heart of the project: What did we set out to do? What have we accomplished? And what comes next?

The event gave space to reflect on how far schools have come – from initial diagnostics through to impactful March visits, where all participating schools demonstrated consistent implementation of key teaching techniques. Educators shared personal reflections, highlighted the impact on their practice, and celebrated their collective commitment to excellence in the classroom.

Insights from Teach Like a Champion

Doug Lemov, founder of Teach Like a Champion, returned to lead the final series of expert sessions. With clarity, challenge and warmth, Doug explored the principles of high-quality instruction, helping educators sharpen their practice through evidence-informed strategies. From retrieval routines to lesson preparation, the techniques shared resonated deeply and left participants inspired to continue growing and leading change.

Recognising Impact

Across the life of the project, schools have embraced new ways of working, using high-impact techniques to strengthen teaching and learning. The March celebration showcased real progress – with improved confidence, measurable implementation, and a strong sense of professional growth.

Feedback from participants highlighted the programme’s success:

• Teachers consistently implementing key strategies
  
  

• Positive experiences across all sessions
  
  

• A high likelihood of recommending the programme to colleagues
  
  

This was not just professional development – it was a shift in culture, practice and belief.

Sustaining the Momentum

The day also looked forward, focusing on how schools and trusts will sustain the impact of the work. Delegates engaged in thoughtful planning around next steps, from school-level implementation to wider system leadership. With the support of tools like Steplab and access to the TLAC video library, schools are well positioned to embed the learning and continue the journey.

¿ìߣÊÓƵ reaffirmed its commitment to supporting schools beyond the life of the project, offering ongoing opportunities to collaborate and innovate.

Thank You

The PEIA programme has been a deeply special project for everyone involved. We are proud to have played a role in supporting schools across Sandwell and Walsall on behalf of the DfE and in partnership with Teach Like a Champion. Most importantly, we are grateful to the educators who engaged so wholeheartedly – your passion, curiosity and professionalism have driven the success of this work.

As we close this chapter, we look ahead with optimism. This is not the end – it’s the foundation for even greater things to come.