Designed to support the efficient and successful running of education settings, Education Business LIVE Conference & Exhibition on 19 March will bring together education professionals with a passion for effective school leadership, management, learning and teaching
Education Business LIVE is a new event taking place on 19 March at London’s EVOLUTION, designed to support the effective running of education settings. It is a carefully curated conference and exhibition bringing together education people with a passion for the promotion and development of effective school leadership, management, learning and teaching.
The one-day event will include an inspirational line-up of educationalists, central government policy-makers, session talks, Q&As and networking opportunities to explore practical solutions for managing and developing education in the UK, while leading solutions providers share best practice and new ideas to enhance the services your schools and academies require.
Conveniently located in Evolution, in the heart of the Grade II listed Battersea Park, the venue hosts state-of-the-art facilities which have been designed with eco-friendly materials and is powered solely by renewable energy.
The conference programme
A number of separate conference streams have been themed around the main issues affecting school management, namely leadership, inspections, recruitment and retention, SEND, business management, sustainability, estates management and technology.
The conference programme will kick off with a session on leadership, exploring the concept of effective school leadership and how it can be achieved. Speakers include Stephen Morales from the Institute of School Business Leaders (ISBL), Rob Lightfoot, CEO of the National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE), and Hannah Stolton from Governors for Schools. These speakers will also take part in a Q&A panel discussion to discuss how using feedback can result in a better leader.
Ofsted inspections
This year will see further changes in how Ofsted conducts its inspections.
Ofsted’s Big Listen consultation was launched to address the impact that an inspection can have on mental health, as well as other areas the inspectorate could improve on.
The consultation sought the views of school staff, education organisations and parents on schools, safeguarding, SEND, teacher training, social care and further education.
One of the most notable changes that came from the Big Listen was the scrapping of single headline judgements, which pave the way for the introduction of School Report Cards from September 2025. These aim to provide parents with a full and comprehensive assessment of how schools are performing and ensure that inspections are more effective in driving improvement.
These changes, as well as more practical tips for achieving a successful Ofsted outcome, will be covered in the second session of Education Business LIVE.
Colin Diamond CBE, professor of educational leadership at the University of Birmingham, will examine the new school score cards and what information they will capture. Rob Carpenter, leadership consultant & trust leader of the Inspire Partnership, will talk about a school’s improvement journey.
Recruitment and retention
Labour’s manifesto promised to recruit 6,500 new expert teachers, with £450 million earmarked for the pledge. Recent analysis modelled how Labour could use the funding on a combination of pay rises and financial incentives to boost teacher supply.
Education Business LIVE will take on the theme of teacher recruitment, with sessions that will focus on the strategies to attract quality teachers to the profession and priorities for improving teacher retention.
Emma Hollis, CEO, National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT), will speak about the future of initial teacher training, as well as how to keep good teachers in the profession.
Funding temporary staff will be covered by John Wilson, category lead at the Crown Commercial Service, the UK’s biggest public procurement organisation and an executive agency of the Cabinet Office.
The panel discussion will debate the difference between induction and mentoring when it comes to teacher training.
SEND provision
It is widely acknowledged that the SEND system is not fit for purpose, which is affecting all areas of education, from teacher retention to increases in pupil absence.
Indeed, the Education Committee is conducting an inquiry which focuses on finding solutions to the crisis in SEND provision. It will look at how mainstream settings can become more inclusive to children with SEND, as well as improving support and training for education practitioners.
Education Business LIVE will host a session dedicated to SEND provision, exploring the role of schools in SEND support, mainstream inclusion and leveraging collaboration.
Amanda Wright from the National Association for Special Educational Needs will discuss the role of schools in SEND support.
Business management
The Bursar and Business Management conference will explore topics such as resource management, professional development, and approaches to financial management.
A representative from the DfE Schools Commercial Team will talk through the current picture on school funding and Lana Stoyles, head of business transformation at Nexus Multi Academy Trust will share a fresh approach to financial management.
Peter Melville, chief operating officer at South West Essex Community Education Trust / Incensu will discuss what MATs should consider when it comes to financial strategies.
Meanwhile, Lee Herridge, director of professional development at the Institute of School Business Leaders, will examine the topic of self-assessment and professional development.
The panel discussion will see the speakers debate the role of business in education.
Sustainability
The DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy requires schools to write a climate action plan by September 2025, as well as select a sustainability lead.
Education Business LIVE will host a session that will examine how schools can create a sustainable school, with Dave Smith, director of procurement and Trust-wide projects at Osborne Cooperative Academy Trust, examining how a collaborative approach is best for achieving environmental objectives.
Alex Green, head of Let’s Go Zero – the national campaign for all schools to be zero carbon run by climate charity Ashen, will discuss embedding sustainability into a school’s ethos and practical ways for schools to meet their net zero targets. Let’s Go Zero can offer support by allocating schools with a Climate Action Advisor to provide guidance on creating and implementing a climate action plan.
The panel discussion meanwhile will examine if the current net zero targets in schools are working.
Learning outside the classroom
Outdoor learning has a number of benefits for pupils, such as improving physical and mental health, as well as increasing focus and imagination for better academic performance. It also helps with social skills by having to cooperate and communicate with others.
Anne Hunt, CEO of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom will host this session which will give practical ways that schools can incorporate outdoor learning into the school day, as well as talk through the numerous benefits that outdoor learning provision can offer schools.
Estates management
School estates management teams face a number of obstacles. With many schools still suffering from having RAAC present, and others that are in dire need of repair, there is a lot to keep facilities management professionals busy.
To help keep them informed on the latest topics in their profession, there will be a session on estates management led by the National Alliance of School Premises Management (NASPM). They will share actionable advice and best practices essential for creating a conducive learning environment.
STEM and technology
Education Technology, or EdTech, is widely recognised to be a powerful tool to improve pupil performance, reduce teacher workload and save time on school management activities.
To help schools stay up to date with the latest discussions in technology, the Tech Village at Education Business LIVE will discuss how using technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom can enhance teaching and learning.
Niel McLean OBE from BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, will host a session to discuss the importance of supporting the development of teachers’ digital skills.
STEM provision will also be covered, including how to attract a more diverse student pool to study STEM-related subjects.
Exhibition
Education Business LIVE will host an exhibition, showcasing the latest products and services for the education sector.
Delegates can browse solution providers in areas such as technology, finance, facilities management, security, health & safety, catering, SEND provision, and many more.
There will be networking opportunities and live demonstrations so education professionals can get hands-on experience using the products that will assist them in their roles.
The Education Business Awards
This year, the Education Business Awards will take place at EVOLUTION on 19 March to coincide with Education Business LIVE.
Supported by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen), the Awards have recognised achievements in thousands of state and independent schools since 2009.
The Awards will celebrate excellence in over twenty categories, including those for Outstanding Progress and Leadership, SEN Best Practice and Provision, ICT Innovation, Procurement, Security, Environmental Practice, Building, Catering and more.
Last year, two new categories were established in recognition of individual leadership excellence. In the primary sector category, Amanda Wilson, headteacher at St Alfege with St Peter’s CofE Primary School, won the award in celebration of her 25+ years in education and leadership. She has a track record for supporting teachers in securing leadership roles, and after being appointed to her first heads position in 2019, she has since gone on to publish a book aimed at encouraging the next generation of Black school leaders.
The EB Leaderhip Award in the secondary school category went to Rod Sims from York High School, who has overseen dramatic improvements in his six years at the school. After an inadequate rating in 2017, strong relationships have been forged between between parents, staff and pupils, while an extensive range of extra-curricular activities, encompassing sport, cookery, languages and current affairs, have helped to see the school now rated as Good.
Entry for the Education Business Awards is open. Schools can send an entry statement here to be considered.
Register to attend Education Business LIVE! for free here.
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