Schools

Bringing Self Managed Learning into Education

For over 15 years, Dr Ian Cunningham has been providing Self Managed Learning (SML) programmes for schools and local authorities across the UK. For more than 24 years, up until 2025, he also led the Self Managed Learning College, where schools and local authorities regularly referred young people aged 9–16 to take part in its unique learning model.

Drawing on this extensive experience, SML Alliance now offers bespoke programmes to help schools bring Self Managed Learning into their own settings - supporting both students and staff to take greater ownership of learning.

Our Experience

Over the last two decades, SML has been successfully introduced in a range of UK schools through partnerships with universities and local authorities:

  • East Sussex: SML was first introduced in schools through a partnership with the University of Sussex, involving two schools that ran SML groups for students aged 12–15. You can read an article about the work in Uckfield here, which includes a short film about the project. The programmes were evaluated by each school and the University of Brighton undertook a research project in one of the schools.
  • Portsmouth: A joint programme with the University of Sussex brought SML to schools in Portsmouth - both in-school initiatives and self managing student conferences across the city.
  • Haringey and Brighton: Following the success of these early programmes, SML was introduced in primary and secondary schools across these local authorities.
  • Hertfordshire and UCL Partnership: Working with the Institute of Education (UCL), Ian led a professional learning programme for headteachers focused on learner-centred innovation, later extended to primary school heads in Hertfordshire.

These experiences showed that when schools integrate SML principles, students become more confident, self-aware and motivated to learn.

What We Offer

The SML Alliance team can work directly with schools to deliver tailored programmes, including:

SML for Primary Schools (Years 5–6)

Helping children prepare for the transition to secondary school by exploring:

  • What a good life looks like for them
  • How to make positive learning choices
  • How to take ownership of their goals

SML for Secondary Schools (Years 7–11)

Supporting students as they make key decisions about GCSE and post-16 pathways by helping them:

  • Identify what matters most to them
  • Set meaningful learning and life learning
  • Reflect on progress and stay motivated

We can run these programmes directly with students or provide development for school staff, embedding SML practices into the fabric of the school.

How SML Works in Practice

Self Managed Learning provides a clear structure within which students take control of their own learning, supported by adults and peers. The model has two core elements:

1. Learning Agreements

We all have the potential to be learning all the time, but whether we make the most of an opportunity depends, to a great extent, on where we put our attention. Identifying learning goals and writing them down in the Learning Agreement helps to put our attention on what we want to learn and what we need to do to learn it. The learning week can involve many different learning opportunities that students can choose to take part in. The Learning Agreement provides a way to pull all the learning together in terms of an individual student’s aims.

2. Learning Groups

Students are placed into Learning Groups to support each other in working through their learning plans. These consist of a maximum of six students and one adult, as a mentor, who supports the group. The groups are created on an age basis. At the start of a programme students create their Learning Agreements with the others in a Learning Group and with the mentor, who is there to assist them. The Learning Group meets regularly to support each student in implementing their Learning Agreement.

Why SML Works

SML helps students develop the skills that underpin lifelong success - autonomy, reflection, motivation and collaboration. It gives learners the tools to think for themselves and the confidence to pursue what truly matters to them.

Work With Us

The SML Alliance can design and deliver Self Managed Learning programmes tailored to your school’s context. Whether you’re looking to run a pilot with one year group or embed the approach across your school, we’ll provide:

  • A structured, evidence-based framework for student-led learning

To explore how SML could work in your school, or to see examples from previous projects, please get in touch.