Mind the Art Gap: ECT Ecosystem Programme

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A two-year CPDL network for art and design ECTs working in Secondary and Further Education.

Where: Online

Programme lead: Ollie Briggs

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Who is this course for?

Art and Design ECTs working in Secondary and FE.

About this course

This Continuing Professional and Leadership Development (CPLD) programme is designed to support Early Career Teachers (ECTs) in art and design by establishing a relational, self-organising learning ecosystem rooted in participatory action research and co-created knowledge.

Purpose and pedagogical foundations

Drawing on theories of relationality and systems thinking, the project will build an evolving, resilient network of educators. Participants will be supported to: 

• Develop shared purpose and leadership capacity
• Co-create pedagogical tools and values
• Construct a living, breathing curriculum that reflects their lived experience
• Foster belonging, autonomy, and mutuality

Working with Ollie Briggs and members of the NSEAD team, we will nurture an environment of trust, reciprocity, inclusivity, and shared responsibility, where the group works collaboratively toward transformation — through emergent, interconnected processes that mirror the dynamic nature of classroom and community life.

The full ECT programme includes:

• Mind the Art Gap (Secondary) course - eight hours of subject specialist CPD to support you through your induction (three online, twilight sessions between December 2025 – July 2026)
• Access to our ECT action learning community drop-in sessions - monthly collaborative problem-solving groups, led by Ollie Briggs, that members of the programme can join on a flexible basis (online, twilight sessions)
• Membership of the NSEAD online ECT network
• Full access to the Big Landscape art and design better practice hub
• Full access to the ECT resource library
• Free attendance at the NSEAD National Conference and cultural partner events

Additional coaching option:

• Three hours one-to-one or group coaching

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How much does it cost?

Mind the Art Gap Ecosystem 

Includes Mind the Art Gap (Secondary) course, action learning community sessions, ECT network, Big Landscape and ECT resources, free attendance at the NSEAD National Conference and cultural partner events.

NSEAD Members

•  £125.00

Non-members

•  £250.00

Mind the Art Gap Ecosystem+

Includes all of the above, plus one-to-one or group coaching.

NSEAD Members

•  £150.00

Non-members

•  £300.00

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Programme schedule

Mind the Art Gap (Secondary) twilight sessions x 3

Session 1 - Thursday 11 December 2025, 4pm - 6pm (Online)

Session 2 - date tbc (Online)

Session 3 - date tbc (Online)

ECT action learning community drop-in sessions

3rd Thursday of each month*, 4pm - 6pm, starting in January 2026 (Online)

* Dates may occasionally vary.