What is The Bright Sparks Book?
To mark 10 years of the Portsmouth Education Partnership, Teach Portsmouth has created a special publication called The Bright Sparks Book.
The Book celebrates the amazing work happening in Portsmouth’s schools, colleges and early years settings through sharing schemes or initiatives that have improved education outcomes across the city.
The Bright Sparks Book is all about sharing great ideas. It helps schools and colleges connect with senior leaders, making it easier to learn from each other and try out successful schemes in new settings.
What is included?
- The book features 10 themed sections to help senior leaders explore different areas of impact.
- Each school or setting could submit up to three initiatives
- Every submission includes a named contact, the ‘Bright Spark’ who led the work – so others can get in touch to learn more or try something similar.
Where can I access the Publication?
The Bright Sparks Book has been published and distributed across all schools in Portsmouth. It is being launched at the Portsmouth Education Partnership Conference on Wednesday 8 July 2026. Every educational setting in the city will receive a copy, with senior representatives from schools invited to attend the event.
A digital version of the book is available to access below:
The Bright Sparks Book
Why get involved?
Senior leaders have told us how events like the Teach Portsmouth Awards help share ideas and inspire change.
The Bright Sparks Book builds on this by creating a lasting resource that connects schools and encourages collaboration.
Whether it’s a new approach to teaching, a wellbeing programme, or a community project, if it’s helped pupils thrive, we want to hear about it.
What are the categories?
The categories are as follows:
- Health, wellbeing and belonging (Sponsored by: Caterlink)
Initiatives that support pupils’ physical and mental health, promote emotional wellbeing, and help everyone feel part of the school community. - Community and family engagement (Sponsored by: Comserv Property Services)
Projects that build strong relationships with families and the wider community to support learning and development beyond the classroom. - Staff development and leadership (Sponsored by: University of Portsmouth)
Schemes that invest in staff training, leadership development, and career progression to strengthen teaching and school leadership. - Attendance and engagement
Creative approaches that have improved pupil attendance, reduced absence, and boosted engagement in school life. - Early years excellence (Sponsored by: Kings Group Academies)
Innovative work in early years settings that lays strong foundations for learning and development in the youngest children. - Inclusion and diversity (Sponsored by: Solent Academies Trust)
Initiatives that celebrate diversity, promote equality, and ensure every pupil feels valued and supported, whatever their background or needs. - Technology and innovation
Projects that use digital tools or new technologies to enhance teaching, learning, or school operations. - Curriculum and subject enrichment (Sponsored by: The University of Chichester Academy Trust)
Schemes that bring subjects to life, deepen learning, and offer exciting opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. - Achievement and progress (Sponsored by: City of Portsmouth College)
Initiatives that have helped pupils make strong academic progress or achieve personal goals, especially in challenging circumstances. - Out of the box
A space for bold, unconventional ideas that don’t fit the other categories but have made a real impact in your setting.
Schemes and initiatives can be something that has been embedded in schools for some time or it may be something new that is already yielding results.
About the book
What are the benefits of putting forward an initiative for Bright Sparks?
The Bright Sparks initiative encourages early years settings, schools, academies, and colleges to share examples of how they’re enhancing the student experience. By learning from peers, educators can discover practical ways to implement positive change.
This publication is designed to support senior leaders in introducing similar initiatives across 10 key areas, from new technology to community outreach. It offers inspiration and guidance to help plan and deliver schemes that benefit the entire school community.
Where can I access the book?
The Bright Sparks Book has been published and distributed across all schools in Portsmouth. It is being launched at the Portsmouth Education Partnership Conference on Wednesday 8 July 2026. Every educational setting in the city will receive a copy, with senior representatives from schools invited to attend the event.
Further details will be shared in a future edition of the PEP Bulletin. A digital version of the book will also be available on the Portsmouth Education Partnership website.