International award winning Learning Technology Specialists Aspire 2Be have today announced the launch of their partly owned affiliate, Inspire 2BU Ltd t/a InspireU.

Based in Swansea and specialising in the provision of ‘Rights Based’ training and policy formation for Education, InspireU craft and deliver programmes of education, activity and positive intervention, based on the principles set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

The Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 set out the terms for improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales and aims to create a healthier, more equitable, cohesive, resilient, prosperous, vibrantly cultural and globally responsible Wales.

The company is the brainchild of two leading practitioners within the education sector in Wales, both of whom will run the company on a day to day basis and will lead all the support programmes provided. Multiple award winning Headtecaher, Rachael Webb and current UNICEF Professional Advisor for Wales, Sarah Hooke, both have an incredible reputation for implementing, advising on and evaluating a rights based approach to the whole curriculum on a day to day basis. 

InspireU will help embed effective rights practices into school policy, ethos and culture to ensure children feel safe, happy, engaged and resilient, fully equipped to recognise disadvantage when confronted and empowered to overcome its diminishing effects.

When these principles are introduced and reinforced throughout school life, children and the wider community benefit. UNICEF’s Impact Report, a 2017 survey, found that Child Rights Education, enhances and strengthens effective practise within a school. Rights education is defined as the heartbeat in school life; a ‘golden thread’ that underpins and defines school culture and ethos, leading to tangible changes of policy and environment.

InspireU’s Education and Programme Directors Rachael Webb and Sarah Hooke bring a vast wealth of experience to their new roles.

Webb is an award winning career educationalist with over 20 year’s teaching experience, who, since acquiring the Headship of Hafod Primary School in Swansea in 2006, has based her influential and highly commended school policies on the principles underpinning UNCRC. Through the promotion of tolerance and inclusion, pupils at Hafod School experience a stimulating and exciting learning environment, in which pupils are inducted into the belief that dispute resolution can be achieved without resort to anger or violence. These methods have won Webb commendations from Estyn, the Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales and best practice recognition from the Welsh Government. In her new role as Education Director at InspireU, Webb is personally responsible for crafting and delivering holistic school programmes tailored in response to each individual need.

Programme Director Sarah Hooke has recently been awarded a Master Degree in Education from Swansea University, following a career in social work and leading role with UNICEF in Wales. Sarah will leave her role as Professional UNICEF Advisor for Wales and brings a wealth of experience as Director at InspireU, having worked directly with over 500 Welsh schools in her current role, helping to embed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into all aspects of school life. 

InspireU’s Programme Director Rachael Webb, said at the launch, ‘I  am delighted to be launching this company in affiliation with Aspire 2Be, who have done so much to drive digital competency in Welsh schools; we aim to use their expertise to help develop our product offering and range of services.

Along with us they recognise that the principles of the UNCRC are vitally important, that they are enshrined in Welsh legislation and set to make a profound impact in 2022, as they become part of the curriculum in Wales.

In preparation for this, InspireU will provide any school or organisation with a clear, individually designed rights based framework, to ensure systematic change that transforms them and their community’. 

•  Rachael Webb is an award winning career educationalist. Following graduation from Trinity College, Carmarthen in 1988, Rachael taught in 9 Primary Schools in Wales & England, culminating in a Headship of Hafod Primary School in Swansea in 2006, a post she held until 2019. At Hafod, Rachael ensured that the learning experiences met the needs of the whole school community and worked effectively with partner agencies. Over the 12 years that Rachael presided as Head, the school was transformed from a good school to “…..an outstanding school and a beacon of excellence. Standards of achievement, the Environment, curricular provision, Care and guidance and leadership and management are all good and excellent features.” ESTYN inspection reports 2008/14. Her fellow Director Sarah Hooke is a graduate of the University of Wrexham and Swansea University with a Masters Degree in Education. An initial career in Social Work was followed by 10 years working with Unicef as their Lead Professional Advisor for Wales. In this capacity Sarah supported schools and education across Wales to embed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child into all aspects of school life. Recognition of her work includes working with Swansea Council to produce their Children and Young People’s Rights Scheme which embeds the UNCRC across all their policies and functions. Sarah has also worked closely with Welsh Government and sat on its PSE Advisory Group. Representing Unicef UK, Sarah’s work with the WG during the curriculum reform, focused primarily on the Health and Wellbeing AoLE. For more info on Rachael and Sarah and Inspire U as a company, please visit https://inspireu.global/ or follow them on https://twitter.com/InspireUglobal

• Aspire 2Be are an international award winning Learning Technology Specialist Company in education, business and sport.  The company’s Welsh base is on the SA1 waterfront development in Swansea and its London operation is managed from offices in Bow Lane EC4 . They are staffed by a team of skilled educators, ICT technicians, former headteachers,  Directors of Education, local authority leaders and WG education advisers. You can follow their work on www.aspire2b.eu on Twitter @Aspire2Be1 and FaceBook www.facebook.com/aspire2be1