The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

Fiona Carnie

Fiona Carnie is an educationalist and writer.

She has an interest in the voice and participation of children, teachers and parents in creating schools which will foster the skills, values and attitudes to build a fairer and environmentally sustainable world.

Working as a consultant for over 15 years she has supported schools, local authorities and third sector organisations both in the UK and further afield on a range of innovative, rights-based projects.

Fiona founded Parent Councils UK and is currently Adviser to the European Forum for Freedom in Education.

Publications include Rebuilding our Schools from the Bottom Up (Routledge 2018), Alternative Approaches to Education (Routledge 2017) and The Parent Participation Handbook (Optimus 2011).

 

Latest blog posts

Fiona Carnie

Education in a changing climate

Responding to the climate emergency may seem too big to tackle but Fiona Carnie explains how schools can make a real difference. As the dust settles on COP26, businesses and organisations across the world are asking themselves what they need to do to reach net zero carbon emissions. For it is...
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Fiona Carnie

COP26: 7 things schools can do

Fiona Carnie describes how schools can respond to the climate change challenge and play their part in creating a sustainable future for children and young people. This is the year of COP26. The climate crisis talks, taking place in Glasgow in November, will determine the future of the planet...
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Fiona Carnie

Caring for vulnerable children: put listening at the heart of schools

Fiona Carnie draws on examples from practice at home and abroad to explore the vital role of listening in pandemic recovery, for children, families and staff. Many children – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – are suffering deeply through this pandemic. Increasing numbers live in...
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Fiona Carnie

How can schools respond to the climate crisis?

If schools don't show themselves to be responding to the climate emergency, many young people will see their education as irrelevant. Fiona Carnie looks at what schools can do to address this crisis. Fears about the climate crisis are bringing growing numbers of adults and children out on to the...
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Fiona Carnie

Building partnerships with parents

Parent engagement expert Fiona Carnie offers strategies to engage and work effectively with parents. It’s well known that parental engagement has a significant impact on a child’s education, not just academically but emotionally and in terms of building confidence too. So, how can you ensure a...
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