EDUCATION South West CEO, Matthew Shanks, was among the speakers a recent national forum held in Kyiv.

The forum brought together 30 Ukrainian "ambassador" schools piloting key elements of the New Ukrainian School (NUS) reform, alongside international partners and education leaders.

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, was invited as a featured speaker.

He joined an international panel to share insights into how schools in the UK have translated national curriculum objectives into innovative classroom practices and tailored subject offerings.

His contribution helped set the tone for discussions on adapting curricula to student needs, encouraging school-designed courses, and using digital tools to support classroom transformation, core goals of Ukraine’s reform for specialised upper secondary education.

The forum, which featured speakers from the OECD, World Bank, Finnish Ministry of Education, and education ministries across Europe, focused on helping schools move from curriculum theory to implementation.

Mr Shanks joined other guests in presenting concrete strategies for course planning, student choice, and teacher development

The Devon schools were the first in England to join the initiative, which includes partners from more than ten countries.

The goal is to offer Ukrainian schools insights and support as they develop flexible curricula, expand student choice, and improve career guidance under the NUS model.

Matthew Shanks said: ‘As school leaders, we should do all we can to support all children. Children and colleagues in Ukraine need our support.

‘This forum demonstrated how international collaboration can drive real progress.

‘The determination of Ukrainian educators to innovate in the face of adversity is profoundly inspiring.

‘ESW is proud to continue offering practical support to this vital reform effort

‘We are calling on more UK schools to get involved; please get in touch with me.

‘The reform work in Ukraine is bold, student-centred, and deeply values-led.’

Supporting it is not just the right thing to do, it enriches our own communities and reminds us of the power of education to connect and uplift’.