Curriculum Special Interest Group

For suppliers

Special interest and working groups

This group meets between 3-4 times a year virtually to discuss curriculum policy issues related to the UK domestic curriculum and international curriculums.

The group format is agnostic and providers of all types of curriculum products, print, hands-on and digital are welcome to attend.

The group will discuss areas of opportunity and concern, and support BESA’s lobbying and campaigning activity by informing the secretariat of the current issues impacting on commercial curriculum providers.

Upcoming meeting dates:

Thursday 6 February 2025, 11am-1pm
Thursday 19 June 2025, 11am-1pm
Tuesday 30 September 2025, 11am-1pm

Chair: Dawn Hallybone

Chief Strategy Officer, 2Simple

Dawn Hallybone brings a wealth of expertise to the British Educational Suppliers Association’s board. As Chief Strategy Officer at 2Simple, she leads strategic initiatives that support primary and secondary schools in the UK and internationally, ensuring digital tools enhance learning outcomes and reduce teacher workload. Dawn is passionate about the transformative potential of technology to enrich the curriculum, foster creativity, and engage learners. In her role as Chair of BESA’s Curriculum Special Interest Group, Dawn collaborates with industry leaders to address key curriculum challenges and opportunities. Her 24 years in primary education, spanning classroom and senior leadership roles, give her deep insight into the needs of schools, teachers, and learners. Her broad experience, strategic insight, and commitment to improving education make her an invaluable asset to the BESA board.

How to join:

Joining the Curriculum Special Interest Group is free and open to BESA members only.

Step 1) Click ‘Apply to join’ and login to the Portal. If you need help navigating the portal have a look at the Portal Manual or get in touch with us at eventsteam@besa.org.uk.

Step 2) Send in your application letter stating that you want to join the group using the example application letter as a guide.

In your application you must confirm:

that you are happy to share ideas with the group
that you are committed to developing and taking the group forwarad
that you meet the Group’s Terms of Reference

Step 3) Your application will then be presented to the group for approval & you’ll be emailed if your application is successful.

Meetings take place three times a year online, and you are expected to attend each meeting.

Example application letter:

I am writing on behalf of (company) to formally apply to join the Curriculum Special Interest Group.

Paragraph confirming that

i)You are happy to share ideas with the rest of the Curriculum Special Interest Group

ii) Committed to developing and taking the Group forward

iii) You agree to the Group’s Terms of Reference

Yours sincerely

Who are the group members?

Terms of reference:

1. Members of the Group must be full or associate members or Launchpad companies of BESA and suppliers of products or services of curriculum products.

2. The Group is known as the ‘Curriculum Special Interest Group’ (CSIG).

3. The Group should have two or three meetings a year, unless the Group wants more.

4. Any member or Launchpad company of BESA may make a written application to the BESA secretariat to join the Group and such applications will be presented to the Group via e-mail.

5. Member companies need to attend a minimum of two meeting per year. If the minimum requirement is not met, the company may be asked to leave the Group and will have to reapply for membership.

6. When attending a meeting, members need to be ready to contribute to all areas of meeting unless not relevant.

7. When attending a meeting, members need to be ready to interact to the polls, Q&A’s and have their camera turned on.

8. When attending a meeting, members need to ensure that they are in a suitable location without distractions.

9. The Group is entitled to call meetings which will be serviced by the BESA secretariat. Any abnormal costs may have to be charged.

10. In the event of the Group wishing BESA to undertake a course of action on its behalf such proposed action shall first be approved by the Executive Council.

11. The Chairman of the Group will be co-opted to membership of the Executive Council of BESA. The Chairman of BESA is, ex officio, a member of the Group and is entitled to attend its meetings.

12. The Chairman of the Group has the responsibility of organising a guest for each meeting, this responsibility is not for members of the group.

13. A Chair and Vice-Chair shall be elected each year at the Group’s first meeting following the BESA Annual General Meeting. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall serve for one year and, subject to re-election each year, may serve for a maximum period of four years of continuous service in one office. The Chair and Vice-Chair shall be from separate member companies.

14. Based on one vote per member company, decisions taken at a Group meeting will be a simple majority with the Chair having a casting vote.

15. Members of the group consent to data sharing between BESA and the Chair/Vice-Chair of the group in line with BESA’s Privacy Policy.

Join the community

Whether you’re joining us as a Full Member or subscribing to the Launchpad programme, your business will need to meet our membership criteria and sign up to our Code of Practice. Take the next step and see what is involved in this commitment.

Become a member