Island Education Network

This network brings together colleagues leading education transformation on islands around the British Isles and in British Overseas Territories. Members include Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, the Western Isles of Scotland, the Orkneys, the Shetlands, Virgin Islands, Montserrat and the Falkland Islands.

Island Education Network provides a dedicated space to connect this growing community, share learning, and support practical change. We get together at termly virtual meetings to share innovation and information..

If you'd like to know more about the Island Education Network, please contact Olly Newton or subscribe to the weekly newsletter.

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Island Education Netwok grab

The Network builds on several years of collaboration through platforms including the Virtual Island Summit, where education systems, skills development, and youth opportunity have been recurring themes.

Featured webinars

A Growing Island Network

The Island Education Network connects organisations and individuals across a wide range of island and coastal regions.

Members include:

Secondary schools and further education colleges
Education practitioners and policymakers
Researchers and academic institutions
Youth leaders and education innovators

The Network continues to grow, with a focus on welcoming new education institutions at each convening.

Leadership Team

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Olly Newton, Executive Director, Edge Foundation

Olly's professional background is in education policy making, after spending a decade working in the UK Department for Education on areas including school curriculum, support for disengaged young people, apprenticeships and vocational education.

Ollie's Biography

Susan Higgins, Director of Communications, Edge Foundation

Susan is a senior communications and media relations specialist who has led high-impact strategic communications across complex organisations in education and beyond.

Susan's Biography

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James Ellsmoor, CEO, Island Innovation

James is CEO of Island Innovation and an advocate for sustainable island development, with experience working with island communities on every continent.

About James

Arianna Abdul-Nour

Arianna Abdul-Nour, Sustainable Development Manager, Island Innovation

Arianna designs and leads initiatives that empower frontline communities and emerging leaders to drive climate-resilient and inclusive development.

About Arianna

Partnership and Leadership

The Island Education Network reflects a formal partnership between Edge Foundation and Island Innovation. Together, the partners work to elevate island education within global conversations on sustainability, resilience, and opportunity.

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Deep expertise from Edge Foundation

Douglas, Isle of Man

Island Innovation's worldwide network

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Bridging educators and policymakers

Evidence-based island education

Looking Ahead: Over the next year the Island Education Network will:

Expand membership

Welcome more secondary and further education institutions from island regions

Convene global webinars and sessions

Convene regular online events bringing together island educators and policymakers

Strengthen collaboration

Building connections between educators, researchers, and policymakers

Showcase innovative practice

Highlighting successful education initiatives from island contexts

Some of our previous work

Douglas, Isle of Man

Approaches to education across island communities

Radical examples of innovation in remote settings often sow seeds for mainland practice.

Island Explorers

A new model for teaching climate action through island partnerships.

How Scotland’s e-Sgoil is reshaping digital education

A visit to the Isle of Lewis provides an opportunity to get to know e-Sgoil.

Island Conference 1

Virtual Island Summit 2025

How digital tech is transforming education in island settings

Reflections from the Island Youth Forum 2025

Olly Newton at the Island Youth Forum 2025 in St Kitts and Nevis.

Developing a broader curriculum

How schools in the Isle of Man and Jersey broadened the curriculum and offer for young people

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Online Learning in Island Colleges

How island FE colleges moved courses online during COVID-19

Educational innovations in island settings

An overview of innovations shared at the Virtual Island Summit 2021

Jersey’s construction industry and technical education

Guest blog by Marc Burton MBE, Executive Director of Garenne Construction Group

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Preparing young people for work in an island context

Island settings offer valuable insights into developing future skills

Island Schools: Leading Global Innovation

Island communities are a testing ground for ideas adaptable to mainland education

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Exploring vocational education and training in Cuba

Edge Director of Research in Cuba learning about their approach to skills development.

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Island education - lessons for the future

Olly Newton's reflections on a session at the 2022 Virtual Islands Summit

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Climate Change Message in a Bottle

How this project amplified the voice of schoolchildren at COP26

Students sorting beach debris

Reflections on the pandemic – Part 1

How Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii managed the impact of the pandemic

Reflections on the pandemic – part 2

How Guernsey College managed the impact of the pandemic

Astypalea, Greece

Reflections on the pandemic – part 3

How the Gymnasium of Astypalea managed the impact of the pandemic

Get Involved

We welcome educators, institutions, researchers, and partners interested in contributing to the Island Education Network.

If you'd like to find out more, collaborate, or join the Network, please contact us Olly Newton or Arianna Abdul-Nour

Join our network