On 27 November 2025, the team of the Federación de Enseñanza de Comisiones Obreras held a focus group in Spain with 25 education professionals. The group included headteachers and teachers from schools in Málaga, Madrid, Santander, León, and Cádiz.
The discussion focused on one main question: what helps schools sustain innovation over time. Participants agreed that innovation is not about following trends or introducing tools for their own sake. For them, it means improving learning in response to real needs and regularly reflecting on practice.
School innovators were described as people who are willing to try new approaches, review results, and adjust when things do not work. Innovation was seen as a shared effort, not something driven by one person. Collaboration and trust within the school team were seen as essential.
Participants highlighted several competences that support long-term innovation. These include strong pedagogical knowledge, clear communication, and the ability to plan and coordinate change. They also stressed the importance of personal attitudes such as curiosity, openness, flexibility, and perseverance.
A clear message emerged from the discussion. Innovation lasts when school leaders involve their teams, listen carefully, and work with a long-term perspective. It fades when it depends only on initial enthusiasm, when people work in isolation, or when change is not reviewed and improved.
The insights from this focus group will directly inform the Competence Profile for School Innovators and the School Team Leadership Guide for Sustainable Innovations, ensuring that the project reflects the real experience of schools.