Q&A with The Difference

What is The Difference?

The Difference is an education charity, we focus on running leadership programmes – primarily for school leaders, headteachers, and teachers. Our work centres on reducing lost learning, understanding its causes and improving outcomes. This includes reducing suspensions and exclusions while fostering greater acceptance and inclusion.

We work in three main areas:

1. Practice and Policy – we share examples of great inclusive practice.
2. Training and Collaboration – we bring people together to lead training sessions.
3. Policy Influence – we aim to influence education policy in ways that align with these goals.

Why did you decide to join EdCity?

I was a long-time resident of Shepherd’s Bush and I’ve seen the community change quite a lot over time. I wanted to support EdCity because I’ve witnessed how ambitious it is in terms of community involvement and engagement.

I also spend a lot of time in Hammersmith visiting family. The space is perfect for me when I’m in London – it’s flexible and works as an ideal base for meetings. I often travel down from the North West, so having a place like this makes it easy to bring my team together. It has become a home away from home for me.

What makes EdCity different to other offices?

For me, it’s about bumping into interesting people across the education sector such as people from Ark who I know and those working closely with initiatives like School Week. It feels like a “who’s who” of education, and those chance encounters are always valuable.

The real reason I’m here is because I believe in the sense of community this space represents. Working in the charity sector can sometimes feel isolating, especially when you’re based in a corporate environment. This space feels different – it’s vibrant, welcoming and I’ve seen young people using it in ways that make it come alive.

The café, the atmosphere, the ambition behind it – it’s all so refreshing compared to a typical corporate workspace. It’s not just a place to work: it’s a space with purpose and energy and that’s what draws me in.

What do you like most about EdCity?

The location is great – close to Queen’s Park and near Rangers Stadium, which is perfect for a football fan like me! I went to plenty of QPR games back in the day but what I really value about this space is its flexibility.

I can host private meetings or video calls here, and it’s ideal when we bring groups of leaders together for training days. That adaptability really supports the unique nature of our workload.

The team behind the scenes is fantastic – always accommodating and making things run smoothly. It feels like a space that truly works for us, and I appreciate how well it fits with what we do.

Has being an EdCity member had a positive impact on your organisation?

100%. In the programmes I lead this space has been the perfect retreat for day-to-day work, collaborative planning and strategic meetings. It’s given us a place to come together as a team and really focus.

We’ve spent a lot of time here – sharing meals, exploring local restaurants and using the environment to spark creative thinking. It’s a space that encourages reflection and collaboration, and that’s been invaluable for our work.