How we started

Square Peg was founded by Fran Morgan as a social enterprise in 2019. A year later, Square Peg registered as a Community Interest Company with Directors Ellie Costello and Simon Kay joining the team. 

Harnessing their backgrounds in creative industries, Fran and Ellie brought out-of-the-box, beyond-the silo networking skills drawing together a multidimensional community to discuss, challenge and raise awareness about school non-attendance. The aim was to change the conversation around, about, for and with children and their families facing barriers to school attendance.

During lockdowns in 2020 and in collaboration with Independent Thinking, Square Peg hosted two online events to imagine finding Another Way forward in education. Titled 'School Differently', these discussions sought to explore the purpose of education - who is it for and why do we do it - and deeply reflect on the tensions and opportunities we are facing. The discussions aspired to bring solutions, empowerment and optimism.

Out of these events, Square Peg was commissioned by Crown House Publishing to write a book exploring these themes. From the initial 10 chapters (and far-lower word-count), two years later, Square Pegs: compassion, inclusivity and fitting in - a guide for schools was published.

The following year they supported the delivery of a 250k signature parent petition to Downing Street and were called to give evidence to the Education Select Committee in May of the same year. Square Peg continues to meet regularly with the Department for Education and parliamentarians, contributing to consultations, inquiries and committees. They are active contributors to policy development, linking with the third sector, local areas and settings.

As their network, profile and reach grows, Square Peg has continued to drive the conversation, effect change and innovate solutions to support children, young people and their families struggling to attend, access or remain in education.  When Fran and Ellie first made contact with each other via the parent support group, Not Fine In School in 2018, there were less than a thousand members.

Today, Not Fine In School has over 60,000 members, with a participation rate of 60% every day seeking informal advice and support. Not Fine in School continues to be Square Peg's heartland, working in partnership with Square Peg on campaigns, research and participation opportunities. Square Peg exists to ensure child and family lived experience is at the heart of change-making, amplifying these voices via press, media, lobbying, strategic working, partnerships, memberships, imagination and hope.

We are solution-focussed, innovation and design led. We are not a one-size-fits-all organisation. There is no silver bullet and there is always Another Way.

We can do better. Together.