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As part of their graduation celebrations on Thursday 16 July 2026, our trainees will be future-gazing at "The Future of Education Conference," considering what education will look like in 2030. Considering 2030 is not that far away...where will the Class of 2026 be in their careers...?  Workshop SessionsWorkshop 1. AI and EdTech Session Leads | Michael Kimber and Anthony Lees Organisation | The Cornerstone Academy Trust About the Session: Technology is changing, faster than most of us ever expected. Some see this rapid evolution of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence as an opportunity to be grasped, but for others, there is caution or alarm in the face of the unknown. As we navigate these new tools within education, this session will look at how we can maintain cognitively engaging and challenging curricula alongside maintaining an ethical and strategic oversight of how innovations are deployed.   About the Session Leads: Michael is Professional Development Lead at The Cornerstone Academy Trust and leads The Cornerstone English Hub, overseeing the daily operations of the RISE Digital Skills and AI Hub. A STEM Senior Professional Development Lead and SSAT Lead Practitioner, Michael has achieved the NPQ in Leading Literacy and Leading Teacher Development and is passionate about the role of oracy in education, and works mostly with South West Schools and Leaders to develop teachers, improve organisational efficiency and integrate 21st Century technology.  Anthony is Deputy Head of School for Marpool Primary School, and EdTech Lead for the Cornerstone Academy Trust with previous experience as Primary Lead for the Devon and Dorset NCCE Computing Hub, STEM Senior Facilitator and Cornerstone EdTech Demonstrator School, and is an SLE and an SSAT Lead Practitioner Facilitator. Anthony has led the Trust's EdTech strategy and approach to online safety for 15 years, driving the one-to-one device programme within the project-based curriculum, and maintained Microsoft Showcase School Status. Workshop 2. Convening Community Session Lead | Mohamed Abdallah, Regional Director, South West Organisation | The Reach Foundation About the Session: This practical and reflective session will explore how teachers can intentionally convene and connect their school communities, drawing on The Reach Foundation’s place-based approach, to build relationships, surface community voice, and create the conditions where every child thrives.   About the Session Lead: Mohamed Abdallah is the South West Regional Director at the Reach Foundation, where he leads place-based, cradle-to-career work and leadership development aimed at improving outcomes for children and young people who experience disadvantage. Mohamed also writes, speaks, and collaborates with School and Trust Leaders on embedding a framework centred on mattering, belonging, and becoming, supporting schools to build cultures where students, staff, and families feel seen, valued, and actively engaged in shaping their communities. Mohamed led pioneering inclusive school improvement at an ‘Outstanding’ all-through mainstream school and later supported the development of staff across the country to strengthen their approach to inclusion, working with leaders to improve systems, culture, and practice that drive engagement, attendance, and wellbeing. Workshop 3. Sustainability in Education Session Lead | Tom Pether, Climate and Sustainability Education Lead and South West Lead Organisations | Education South West and Ministry of Eco Education About the Session: This session will look at the complex interlinking climate-related issues that are already impacting everyone's lives, from over heating classrooms and biodiversity loss to fake news and climate anxiety in order to start the process of preparing our classrooms for an uncertain future and how to develop agency and hope for young people.   About the Session Lead: Tom's first career in education has included a Primary Teacher for 29 years - of which 15 years were as Headteacher and as History Curriculum Lead with ten years of teacher training experience. Nature-based learning and development has been a passion throughout his career originally focused on outdoor learning. This role has widened to lead on Sustainability and Climate education projects for Education South West Academy Trust and supporting teachers through the charity, The Ministry of Eco Education. Tom shares his passion through talks, workshops, training, community events. Workshop 4. SEND in Education Session Lead | Alison Betts, National Coordinator Organisation | Whole School SEND About the Session: With increasing complexity of need, this session will explore what SEND provision might look like by 2030. In the context of ongoing SEND reforms, the role of relationships, adaptive teaching, and whole-school approaches will be considered in creating inclusive environments where all pupils can succeed.   About the Session Lead: Alison is Whole School SEND National Coordinator at nasen, contributing to the strategic leadership, delivery and coordination of the Department for Education’s Universal SEND Services programme. An experienced system leader, Alison's specialisms include SEND and inclusion, Early Years and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH). Throughout her teaching, education leadership and workforce development career, Alison has held roles including class teacher, nurture teacher, SENCO, Deputy Headteacher, Head of Chestnut Nursery School and Head of Inclusion for Exeter Children’s Federation. She has led strategic inclusion and safeguarding work across multiple schools and has extensive experience supporting schools and organisations to develop evidence-informed, inclusive practice for children and young people with additional needs. Alison has a particular interest in the impact of deprivation, trauma and adversity on children’s development and life chances, drawing on Attachment Theory, nurture principles and evidence-informed approaches to translate research into meaningful practice. She has led professional communities for SEND through her role as a Specialist Leader in Education and as a Regional SEND Lead for Whole School SEND and has collaborated nationally with education leaders, charities, researchers and policy forums to strengthen inclusive practice. A long-standing trustee of nurtureuk, Alison has contributed to organisational strategy, programme development and impact evaluation and is committed to ensuring that research, policy and practice are connected in meaningful ways to improve outcomes for children, families and communities. We thank in advance all our Workshop Leads for sharing their enthusiasm and expertise with us on what promises to be a momentous day!
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