PAST CONFERENCES

Madrid 2025 NABSS Conference

“Intention, intervention and impact”

The National Association of British Schools in Spain will hold its 47^th Annual Conference which will be held from 6^th to 9^th March in Madrid.

The programme will commence on Thursday 6^th March with our Gala Dinner for Heads, Owners and Guests. The following day Friday 7^th March, which is dedicated to heads and owners of schools, will include the opening ceremony and tour of the Education Exhibition followed by presentations from our Keynote Speakers.

There will be an interesting programme of professional development for senior leaders and teachers, ensuring that we are well informed and kept up to date with the latest developments, reforms and trends in education.

We have programmed our Annual General Meeting for the representatives of our schools on Saturday 8^th March.

The second part of the conference, on Saturday 8^th March, will give the opportunity for participants (heads, owners, and teachers) from all our member schools to enjoy some inspiring keynote presentations as every year.

Once again, our Education Exhibition will form an important part of the conference. Heads, owners, and staff from the 83 member schools will meet in Madrid for an extended weekend of professional development and networking focused on British education in Spain.

Gala dinner

Guest Speakers

Exhibitions

Awards

Programme

Thursday 6th March 2025

19.15 Buses leave the hotel
19.45 Welcome Cocktail (Restaurante La Masía de Jose Luis) Sponsored by Pearson
20.45 Gala Dinner (Restaurante La Masía de Jose Luis) Guest speaker: Sarah Cowley, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy, Madrid
23.00 Buses return to the hotel.

Friday 7th March 2025

09.15 to 09.45 Registration of School representatives (Salón Toledo III)
09.45 to 10.40 Official Opening of conference and exhibition (Salón Toledo III) Directora General de Planificación y Gestión Educativa del Ministerio de Educación, Formación Profesional y Deportes, Susana Tejadillos Perona and Olaf Clayton, British Benevolent Fund. “The Impact of British Education in Spain” – research project launch NABSS, British Council, British Chamber of Commerce, ISC Research
10.40 to 11.10 Visit to Exhibition (Salón Zaragoza)
11.10 to 11.40 Coffee (Salón Zaragoza)
11.30 to 12.30 Keynote Speaker: “What Makes Great Teaching?”: Stuart Kime” (Salón Toledo III)
12:30 to 13:30 Keynote Speaker: “Brave Leaders – Making an Impact in Times of Change” Dave Harris (Salón Toledo III)
13:30 to 15:00 Lunch (Salón Zaragoza)
16:00 to 18:00 Keynote Speaker: “The Pursuit of Joy” Nadia Hewstone” (Salón Toledo III)
16:00 to 19:00 Excursion: Guided tour of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Sponsored by Oxford AQA
19:00 to 20:00 Cocktail in the exhibition room (Salón Zaragoza) Sponsored by Oxford AQA

Saturday 8th March 2025

School representatives

09.00 to 09.45 Registration for AGM (Salón Toledo III)
09.45 to 11.45 AGM (first part) (Salón Toledo III)
11.45 to 12.00 Coffee break & visit to exhibition (Salón Zaragoza)
12.00 to 13.45 AGM (second part) (Salón Toledo III)
13.45 to 14.30 Lunch (Salón Zaragoza)

Keynote speakers

14.30 to 15.10 Keynote Speech: “From AI Aspiration to Academic Achievement: Crafting Measurable Impact in Schools” Professor Rose Luckin, (Salón Toledo III)
15.10 to 15.50 Keynote Speech: “Innovation for Impact in High Stakes Assessment” Emma Whale (Salón Toledo III)
15:50 to 16:30 Keynote Speech: “Project-based Learning for Future Success” Jamie Kirkaldy (Salón Toledo III)

Professional Development Workshops 08.45 to 16.00

Training course 1: “Storytelling and Poetry in the Early Years” Trisha Lee & Isla Hill (Salón Toledo II)
Training course 2: “Creating Exceptional Outcomes through 21st Century Teaching and Learning Strategies” Eva Cartwright (Salón Toledo I)
Training course 3: “Guerrilla Curriculum – Curriculum design and pedagogy for building knowledge, developing creative thinking and promoting independence” Jonathan Lear (Salón Toledo IV)
Training course 4: “Leading with data” Nadia Hewstone (Salón Tenerife I)
Training course 5: “What Makes Great Teaching?” Stuart Kime (Salón Tenerife II)
Training course 6: “Courageous Leadership” Diana Osagie (Salón Las Palmas I)
Training course 7: “Making learning ‘stick’ – how can we use cognitive science to improve pupils’ learning, memory and recall?” Belinda Crowhurst (Salón León)
Training course 8: “Adapting Instruction for Every Student: Lessons from the Hundred Acre Wood.” Abigail Hawkins (Salón Ávila)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON PROGRAMME FOR ALL DELEGATES 16.30 to 17.30

Breakout sessions:

16.30 to 17.30 “Exploring Creative Intentions Through Movement and Performance” Matt Moseley & Marc Mollica (Breakout 1 – Salón Toledo II)
16.30 to 17.30 “S.T.E.M. TeachMeet – Sharing Knowledge to Shape Futures!” David Fletcher (Breakout 2 – Salón Toledo IV)
16.30 to 17.30 “Sustainable Inclusion: Harnessing Diversity and Linguistic Shifts to Lead the Future of British International Education” Shona O’Callaghan (Breakout 3 – Salón Toledo II)
16.30 to 17.30 “Navigating Tough Conversations: Handling Difficult People” Costas Constantinou (Breakout 4 – Salón Tenerife I)
16.30 to 17.30 “Practical Strategies for Pupil Wellbeing and Academic Success” Kirsten Colquhoun (Breakout 5 – Salón Tenerife II)
16.30 to 17.30 “UCAS – Spain and the UK – 5 Years Post Brexit” Becka Horsley & Courtney Grange (Breakout 6 – Salón Las Palmas I)
16.30 to 17.30 “Harnessing AI to Support Diverse Learners: Practical Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms” Carrie-Ann Gibson (Breakout 7 – Salón León)
16.30 to 17.30 “Purposeful Futures: Guiding Students to Find Their Why” Calvin Eden & Ben Dowling (Breakout 8 – Salón Ávila)

18.00 Cocktail and presentation of awards, Sponsored by Cambridge (Salón Zaragoza)

Sunday 9th March 2025

School representatives

09.00 – 10.15 Safeguarding Panel – including updates and Q&A (Salón Toledo III)
Emily Konstantas – CEO of The Safeguarding Alliance
Mª Jesús Pérez Crespo – Safeguarding and Wellbeing Coordinator, British Council
10.15 – 10.30 Coffee break / visit to exhibition (Salón Zaragoza)
10.30 – 11.45 Legal Panel – including updates and Q&A (Salón Toledo III)
Luis Torres Conde – NABSS Legal Advisor
Ana Garicano Solé – Immigration Practice Director, Sagardoy Abogados

Professional Development Workshops 09.00 to 11.45

Training course 1: “Storytelling and Poetry in the Early Years” Trisha Lee & Isla Hill (Salón Toledo II)
Training course 2: “Creating Exceptional Outcomes through 21st Century Teaching and Learning Strategies” Eva Cartwright (Salón Toledo I)
Training course 3: “Guerrilla Curriculum – Curriculum design and pedagogy for building knowledge, developing creative thinking and promoting independence” Jonathan Lear (Salón Toledo IV)
Training course 4: “Leading with Data” Nadia Hewstone (Salón Tenerife I)
Training course 5: “What Makes Great Teaching?” Stuart Kime (Salón Tenerife II)
Training course 6: “Courageous Leadership” Diana Osagie (Salón Las Palmas I)
Training course 7: “Making learning ‘stick’ – how can we use cognitive science to improve pupils’ learning, memory and recall?” Belinda Crowhurst (Salón León)
Training course 8: “Adapting Instruction for Every Student: Lessons from the Hundred Acre Wood.” Abigail Hawkins (Salón Ávila)

12.00 END OF CONFERENCE

Madrid

Meliá Avenida de América Hotel

The Hotel Meliá Avenida América is a fantastic urban hotel, thanks to its excellent location in the city, just a few minutes from the IFEMA exhibition centre and the Palacio de Congresos Juan Carlos I convention centre. The Adolfo Suárez – Madrid Barajas International Airport is the perfect option for business and leisure trips.

Perfect connections with the city centre, with a taxi and bus stop opposite the hotel and a metro station 10 minutes away.

The Hotel has a spectacular 5000 m2 Convention Centre with 32 rooms, all with natural light. They can hold up 1000 people.

You can enjoy the best gastronomy at La Cheminée Restaurant and the best drinks and cocktails at the Piano Bar & Terrace, with live music and a varied menu offering more informal food.

Free high-speed 500 MBps Wi-Fi.

INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS

Hatton Events, S.L.L. – CALLE PRINCESA 22, 2º DCHA. 28008 MADRID

Telephone 0034 91 000 60 10 (Spanish – José Luis Jiménez) – 0034 607 66 66 82 (English- Alberto de Diego)

joseluis.jimenez@hattonevents.com

Guest speakers

Sarah Cowley

Sarah Cowley is the Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Madrid, a position she has held since August 2021. Previously she was British Ambassador to Latvia from 2013 to 2017 and Head of the then FCO’s Prosperity Fund department, 2017 to 2020.

Sarah joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2005. During her FCO career she has served in a wide range of roles including working in Europe, Afghanistan and Pakistan, on Middle East issues, the London 2012 Olympics, consular crisis work and a secondment to the European External Action Service.

Ms Cowley started her career in the NGO sector and then moved to the private sector, holding a variety of roles in the UK and in Central America before joining the FCO.

Olaf Clayton

The British Benevolent Fund is the oldest British charity in Spain. Founded over a century ago to provide financial relief for those Britons in dire situations and with no other recourse. The BBF is “the charity of last resort” providing a vital lifeline for Britons in Spain, whether resident or visitors who are facing the worst that life can throw at them. Working with charity partners across Spain, the BBF helps people overcome destitution, homelessness and hardship in many cases exasperated by illness, both mental and physical, bereavement or separation. The BBF works in tandem with the UK consular network in Spain, and we are proud that Sir Alex Ellis has recently accepted to be our honorary patron, the 27th British ambassador to accept the position. The BBF is run entirely by volunteers, it has no office, no paid staff and the minimal expenditure to maintain itself as a charity, with the aim that all funds raised are used to help those who need it. The BBF is at the heart of the British community in Spain providing the support for our most vulnerable.

Susana Tejadillos

Susana Tejadillos Perona holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and in Statistical Sciences and Techniques from the University of Valencia (2002), as well as a Diploma of Advanced Studies awarded by the Department of Statistics and Operations Research at the same university (2023).

A dedicated educator with a strong commitment to teamwork, she has served as a civil servant in the Corps of Secondary Education Teachers, specialising in Mathematics, since 2005. From 2015 to the 2023–2024 academic year, she held the position of Head of School at IES Jérica-Viver, a rural secondary school located in the province of Castellón. In 2024, she was appointed Professor of Secondary Education in the field of Mathematics, and currently holds the office of Director-General for Educational Planning and Management at the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport.

Throughout her career, she has participated as a lecturer in various professional development programmes focusing on educational leadership, inclusive education, transition between educational stages, co-teaching, and cooperative learning.

Emily Konstantas

Emily Konstantas is the CEO of The Safeguarding Alliance which provides training and advice on Safeguarding to educational institutions, charities and private individuals both in the UK and internationally.

She has developed ‘The Safeguarding Standard’, which provides the benchmark for outstanding practice in Safeguarding. Emily is an advisor and trustee for many organisations and is a governor of several high-profile independent schools. She has studied both a Bachelor of Law and master’s degrees in law and is currently working towards her PhD in International Child Protection law.

Often a keynote speaker, Emily is an experienced trainer working in the UK and various regions around the world. She has featured on the BBC, Sky News and many national newspapers and continues to campaign for changes to safeguarding legislation in the United Kingdom.

Chus Pérez Crespo

Chus works as Safeguarding Manager and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead for the British Council in Spain. She worked for five years at the British Council School as the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Coordinator, providing advice to the Government, from the School experience, to help introduce the obligation, by law (LOPIVI), for all Spanish schools to have safeguarding leads.

Psychologist and mediator, she has over 27 years of professional experience working with children and families, cultural diversity, forensic psychology, and alternative dispute resolution systems, both in public and private institutions. She has worked closely with practitioners from the legal system.

An experienced speaker and trainer, she has worked with many companies, universities, and professional associations, and has published specialized articles in her fields of expertise.

Keynote Speakers

Nadia Hewstone

Nadia is a former headteacher and Executive School Leadership Coach. She founded Destino Coaching four years ago to support headteachers to remain strategic and prioritise their well-being while reaching their personal and professional goals. She has worked with 100s of headteachers through 1:1 coaching and her courses and programmes.

Nadia taught and led in schools in London and Norfolk and now works all over the UK through her work as a coach and facilitator.

Prof Dr Stuart Kime

Prof Dr Stuart Kime is the Co-founder and Director of Education at Evidence Based Education. Stuart’s work at EBE focuses on innovating pragmatic and evidence-based professional learning experiences for educators.

He is a qualified teacher of English, and worked as a classroom teacher, middle leader and senior leader in secondary schools between 2001 and 2011. Stuart studied for his doctorate with Profs Rob Coe and Steve Higgins at Durham University, developing interests in the areas of evaluation design and teachers’ professional learning. In 2014, he took on the role of Policy Fellow in the UK Government’s Department for Education.

Stuart currently holds the title of International Visiting Professor in the Hector Research Institute for Education Sciences and Psychology at the Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen. He is Chair of the Partnership Enhancement Board at the University of Teesside, a member of the Editorial Board of Impact, and serves on the International Advisory Board for the German federal project to enhance teacher development, learned: digital.

Dave Harris

Dave Harris has worked in education for over 35 years, as a teacher, leader, headteacher and now as a consultant, speaker and author. He has written 5 books, “Are you dropping the Baton”, “Brave Heads”, “Leadership Dialogues 1&2” with Professor John West Burnham & Independent Thinking on Transition, as well as contributing to a number of others.

He is a sought-after speaker at conferences around the world and is a passionate believer that education needs to adapt to meet the needs of the world we find ourselves in. As well as focusing on the leadership of change, on working across the phases of education he is regularly called upon to help organisations embrace wonder and curiosity in their work.

He has a honours degree in Chemistry, a MA in European education and a NPQH. He is President of Willoughby on the Wolds Bowls club and the proud collector of a growing number of daughters!

Prof. Rose Luckin

Rose Luckin is an internationally renowned expert on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, with over 25 years of experience. She is Professor Emerita at University College London and CEO of Educate Ventures Research, helping the education sector leverage AI ethically and effectively. Rose has advised governments and industries globally and has held leadership roles at UCL and the University of Sussex.

Her accolades include the ISTE Impact Award (2023), Leading Woman in AI EDU (2024), and being named among the 20 most influential figures in education in 2017. A prolific author, her notable works include “Machine Learning and Human Intelligence” (2018) and “AI for Schoolteachers” (2022). Rose frequently speaks on AI, ethics, and education and advises Cambridge University Press and the Institute for Ethical AI in Education.

Emma Whale

Emma Whale is the Vice President of International Markets at Pearson, accountable for their UK curriculum qualifications and learning resources in thousands of schools around the world. That involves managing customer-facing teams who support centres both in the UK and internationally, as well the teams who create our international products and services. Emma has worked in the areas of educational publishing, qualification and curriculum design, and school services for more than two decades. Originally from the UK, she is currently based in Dubai.

This keynote will explore how Pearson Edexcel is ensuring high stakes assessment is impactful and inclusive for all learners through their latest innovations in the areas of: Onscreen assessment; Modularity; and Remote Invigilation.

Jamie Kirkaldy

Jamie Kirkaldy is Head of Teaching and Learning Support for OxfordAQA. He is responsible for supporting all schools teaching OxfordAQA International GCSEs and A-levels, including onboarding, teacher training and resources. He has delivered training in more than 20 countries, including Europe, the Gulf, the Middle East, South East Asia and China.

Before joining OxfordAQA, Jamie was an English teacher for 11 years, including five years as Head of English at a large secondary school in Oxford, where he was also a member of the school’s Senior Leadership Team. During his time as Head of Department, Jamie was able to improve the school’s GCSE English outcomes by 13%, something he achieved through analytical use of data, improved teaching and learning, and targeted intervention strategies. He therefore has an insider’s understanding of the challenges schools and teachers face and is dedicated to supporting them.

Training Course Presenters

Trisha Lee

Trisha Lee is the author of the best-selling publication, Princesses, Dragons and Helicopter Stories. Her latest book The Growth of a Storyteller looks at the impact of Helicopter Stories on children aged 2 to 7 years old.

Trisha pioneered the work of Vivian Gussin Paley in the UK, developing training and mentoring in the approach. She first met Vivian in 1999, a meeting that led to a deep friendship.

Trisha was mentored over a 20 year period until Vivian’s death in 2019. Trisha is an advocate for the role of storytelling and story acting within Early Years Education. She is passionate about the need for a creative, story-rich environments for young children.
As Founder and Artistic Director of MakeBelieve Arts, the charity behind Helicopter Stories, Trisha has spoken at numerous EYFS conferences, both nationally and internationally. She has shared Helicopter Stories with children across the world, including townships in South Africa, local schools in Vietnam, and with kindergarten children in America, Australia and New Zealand.

Isla Hill

Isla Hill is Education Director of MakeBelieve Arts. She is a trained Primary School Teacher with a Masters Degree in Theatre Education. Isla believes in the power of story and creativity to engage children in learning. She co-authored the book Dramatic Mathematics, a collection of stories to support Early Maths Learning, with Trisha Lee. Isla has worked closely with Trisha for over 20 years.

Isla strives to promote creativity in education and more specifically in the approach that is Helicopter Stories. Isla works closely with Early Years practitioners to support their use of poetry and story to create language-rich environments for young children to thrive in.

Championing the work of Vivian Gussin Paley, Helicopter Stories is a child-centred approach for young children aged two to seven years. It is proven as an effective support for early learning. The practitioner sits with the child, listens to their story, and writes it down word for word. Once all the stories have been scribed, the class gather around a taped-out stage, ready to act them out. As an award-winning provider, they work with schools, pre-schools, Local Authorities and SEND provision.

Eva Cartwright

Eva is CEO of Alpha International Training, with over 20 years of experience with schools and early years settings to deliver accredited qualifications, training, and consultancy. Her work focuses on empowering education professionals to integrate 21st century skills and active learning approaches, creating experiences that inspire, challenge, and nurture children’s confidence and natural curiosity alongside academic achievement.

Currently in the final stages of completing an MA in International Education, Eva’s research explores how schools can effectively prepare children for an AI-augmented world. She combines her keen interest in neuroscience with a commitment to inclusive, evidence-based practices, helping educators implement high-impact strategies while reducing workload.

Jonathan Lear

Jonathan Lear is an award-winning teacher, speaker and author. Described as having a breath-taking understanding of how to engage even the hardest to reach of children, Jonathan has established a reputation for delivering inspiring and creative inset both in the U.K. and internationally.

He has worked for many years on a compelling mix of inspirational teaching strategies that lead to incredible outcomes across the curriculum and has shared his passion for learning through his role as an Advanced Skills Teacher, Lead Teacher for Sheffield Local Authority, Deputy Head, and associate of Ian Gilbert’s Independent Thinking company.

Jonathan is passionate about creating learning opportunities that are designed not just to impart knowledge, but also, and more importantly, to make children think.

‘Jonathan is absolutely phenomenal, simply the best speaker I have ever heard in my career. Mind blowing!’

Dr Rona Mackenzie

Nadia Hewstone

Nadia taught and led in schools in London and Norfolk and now works all over the UK through her work as a coach and facilitator.

Stuart Kime

Prof Dr Stuart Kime, is the Co-founder and Director of Education at Evidence Based Education. Stuart’s work at EBE focuses on innovating pragmatic and evidence-based professional learning experiences for educators.

Diana Osagie

Founder Courageous Leadership Consultancy & The Academy of Women’s Leadership

Co- CEO & Founder Enabling Leaders, Leadership Coach and Trainer – Consultant Head Teacher – Author.

With 22 years’ experience leading secondary education, a successful head teacher in London and then as an executive head, Diana works at the cutting edge of leadership development. She is known as a resilient school leader, skilled in urban leadership under challenging circumstances. Diana has substantial success in developing school wide models that strategically enhance the quality of leadership across the organisation.

Diana was a school inspector for 9 years with developed expertise scrutinizing school wide leadership systems. She co- founded Enabling Leaders- a platform to bring innovation in developing shared leadership language and culture across organisations- using precise professional conversations underpinned by innovative technology.

With a proven track record of developing leaders via bespoke training programs, Diana founded Courageous Leadership; specializing in supporting leaders to grow the leadership cultures of their organisations and to flourish in confidence, Diana has focused expertise in supporting head teachers facing challenging circumstances and is the author of 3 leadership books.

Belinda Crowhurst

Following her Postgraduate degree in education, Belinda enjoyed a 20 year career in outstanding teaching and leadership, both at school and strategic level. Having led English across a large multi academy trust, she took her passion for supporting teaching and learning in a new direction, creating her company – Beacon Education Consulting.

As a freelance consultant, Belinda works with schools across England, Wales and Scotland in developing strategic support for school improvement through data analysis and robust diagnosis, supports leadership development through effective coaching and mentoring, works with schools to develop best practice in safeguarding, delivers high quality training in metacognition and memory, curriculum design, all aspects of English, assessment, monitoring, oracy and early language development. She also lectures postgraduate and undergraduate students at Plymouth Marjon University in her main area of expertise – English.

She is currently undertaking research towards her Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice as part of her M.Ed. Her skilful design and delivery of subject specific training, based on evidence informed research, draws on a wide range of career experience and expertise. Belinda is also an associate consultant for ECM Education, designing bespoke support for individual schools and multi academy trusts as well as delivering online CPD. She is one of only 5 consultants working with Osiris Educational – a global school improvement company – as a Visible Learning consultant.

Abigail Hawkins

Abigail Hawkins is a respected leader in the field of special educational needs, recognised worldwide for her expertise in provision mapping and adaptive teaching, with decades of experience in inclusive education. A passionate advocate for inclusive education, Abigail combines her expertise with a grounded understanding of the challenges faced by SENCOs and educators alike.

Known for her practical, no-nonsense approach, she has become a go-to advisor in the field, helping schools optimise support for neurodivergent and SEN students through tailored training, adaptive teaching strategies, and hands-on guidance. As the founder of SENsible SENCO (CIC) and SENDCO Solutions Ltd, she demonstrates her dedication to empowering educators and enhancing SEN provision globally.

Breakout Sessions Presenters

Costas Constantinou

“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching”

Optimist, School Leadership Consultant, International Trainer, and author of “A School Leader’s Guide to Leading Professional Development,” Costas Constantinou is the Managing Director of Veema Education and an experienced leadership trainer. As a passionate educator and former school leader, Costas is dedicated to supporting international schools in building strong leadership, enhancing teaching practices, and delivering high-quality professional development that creates lasting impact.

Kirsten Colquhoun

With nearly two decades of classroom experience, Kirsten Colquhoun is a teacher, education consultant, and author committed to transforming pupil wellbeing and learning. Combining her passion for thriving classrooms with research-informed strategies, she has authored two impactful books, including the widely acclaimed A Practical Approach to Pupil Wellbeing (John Catt, 2023), which equips educators with actionable insights. Whether delivering dynamic CPD sessions, collaborating with international schools, or advising on groundbreaking edtech solutions that prioritise pupil wellbeing, Kirsten bridges the gap between theory and practice, empowering teachers and leaders to create meaningful, sustainable change.

Shona O’Callaghan

Shona O’Callaghan is an internationally recognised educator, consultant, and advocate for inclusive education, with nearly 20 years of experience teaching and training across Europe, the UAE, and beyond. She holds a Master’s degree in Education specializing in multilingual learning and is a certified Dyslexia and Literacy Specialist with ATS status. As the founder of Empowering Creative Minds (ECM), Shona leads a consultancy dedicated to inclusive education, focusing on linguistic accessibility, diverse educational needs, and the well-being of both teachers and learners.

Shona has shared her insights widely, appearing on numerous podcasts and radio shows and delivering impactful presentations at major conferences. As a published researcher, Shona’s work has been featured in prestigious journals such as the EAL Journal and The Chartered College of Teaching Journal (Impact).

As a dedicated advocate for lifelong learning and teacher well-being, Shona collaborates closely with the Ministerio de Educación to deliver free, bespoke courses and provide ongoing support to schools and institutions across Spain, fostering sustained development and inclusion.

David Fletcher

David Fletcher is the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) at Swans International School in Marbella. With over 20 years of experience in education, he is dedicated to fostering an inclusive learning environment and supporting students with diverse needs. David also develops innovative projects to challenge Highly Able students, helping them reach their full potential.

As a passionate advocate for professional collaboration, David has organised several successful TeachMeets at the NABSS Conference. This year, he is leading STEM TeachMeet: Sharing Knowledge to Shape Futures! a TeachMeet focused on inspiring STEM projects. David’s work reflects his commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and empowering both students and educators.

Matt Moseley

Matt is Chief Examiner for Art and Design at UAL Awarding Body and an experience teacher and leader in arts education as well as being a practitioner with a particular interest in the creative process.

Matt has an MA in printmaking, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, and substantial experience in the design, planning, delivery, and assessment of project based creative learning to students/participants in a variety of settings and age ranges (from 4 to 80 years old). Matt is strong advocate for creativity in all areas of education.

Marc Mollica

Marc is both an academic and practitioner in the creative arts sector. With an MA in Theatre (Directing) and a PGCE in Education, Marc brings substantial practical expertise and academic insight to his role as Chief Examiner for Performing and Production Arts at UAL Awarding Body.

Marc has extensive experience in curriculum design and qualification development and is an advocate of the transformative power of the arts. Marc’s research interests extend to creative environments/spaces and his directing practice has a focus on cross-arts collaborative storytelling.

Carrie-Ann Gibson

Educator, international speaker, assistive technology specialist, language enthusiast and International Education Manager at Every way (formerly Texthelp), the world’s largest digital accessibility company. Carrie-Ann is passionate about edtech and supporting students with different learning needs to thrive throughout their education.

Carrie-Ann has a degree in Applied Languages and a Masters in Professional Language Studies and has a deep knowledge of international education. Multilingual, and fluent in three languages, her background in teaching English as an additional language gives her a particular focus on literacy and language development.

Becka Horsley

Becka is Customer Success Partner (International Advisers) for UCAS. She joined to support with delivering targeted training to the growing community of schools and agents who support the 1 in 5 UCAS applicants who is an international applicant.

This involves delivering training and developing and enhancing the resources available on the ucas.com website. Prior to joining UCAS, Becka worked for many years in a variety of universities in the UK, in the international recruitment and admissions teams, and was an international student herself.

Courtney Grange

Courtney is the International Development Officer for UCAS. Courtney has extensive experience providing direct support to Higher Education Providers, advisers, and applicants on all aspects of the UCAS undergraduate process.

Courtney has delivered presentations with advice on completing the UCAS undergraduate application (and highlighting UCAS research tools) at prominent UK venues.

Such as the London ExCeL, Manchester Convention Centre, Liverpool Exhibition Centre, Glasgow SEC, and the International Conference Centre Wales. In his current role at UCAS, Courtney’s focus is on international student mobility. This includes developing and nurturing relationships with stakeholders involved in supporting international students.

Calvin Eden

From personal tragedy at the age of 15 to becoming one of the UK’s most renowned CPD and youth development speakers, Calvin’s inspiring journey is a testament to resilience. His captivating presence and ability as a speaker have not only transformed thousands of lives, but also led him to collaborate with esteemed organisations such as the Chelsea FC Foundation, Prince’s Trust, and Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation, and also host a range of prestigious events and appear regularly on national television talk programmes.

Ben Dowling

Ben is an award-winning social entrepreneur, non-executive director, and community leader. He has spent over 10 years leading Unloc, the social enterprise with a mission to empower every young person to be a changemaker, an ethos he now brings to Global: Edge.

He is also an experienced local government leader having done 8years as a city councillor including being responsible for oversight of a multi-million pound budget for regeneration, culture and economic development in his hometown. Ben believes young people really can make the difference our world needs.

Book your Stand now

Workshops 2024

Workshop 1: Can I Tell You A Story?

Trisha Lee & Isla Hill

Trisha and Isla are well-known for The Poetry Basket, The Story Basket and Helicopter Stories. Helicopter Stories harnesses the power of storytelling to develop communication and language skills alongside personal, social, and emotional development. It celebrates the unique voices of children, offering educators a flexible approach that can seamlessly fit into any school or early years setting. This method not only nurtures creativity and confidence but also encourages children to express themselves in a safe, inclusive environment.

This course, particularly suited to Early Years teachers, will help participants to:

Have an understanding of how story and poetry help young children’s brains to develop
Be able to deliver Helicopter Stories sessions with their children
Identify a number of ways to enhance provision to enable effective Communication and Language Development
Develop strategies to support children with EAL and children with SEND
Understand various approaches to supporting children in developing language, regardless of their starting point

Workshop 2: Teaching For The Future

Eva Cartwright

In this interactive workshop, Eva will take you on a journey of exploring how educators can create meaningful, future-proof learning experiences by starting with the broader context of education and its role in preparing students for an evolving world. This is an opportunity to challenge ourselves to think bigger, to consider the impact we want to have on our students’ futures, and to reflect deeply on our educational ‘why’.

Together, we’ll dive into what active learning truly means in practice – beyond the buzzwords and theory. You’ll experience firsthand how to transform your classroom into a dynamic space where students become confident, engaged learners who take ownership of their education. Through practical demonstrations and collaborative activities, you’ll discover strategies that you can implement immediately to energise your teaching and inspire your students.

Eva will guide you through the art of weaving essential skills naturally into your daily teaching practice. You’ll explore how to create an environment where every student can thrive while developing the capabilities they’ll need for future success. This isn’t about adding more to your already full plate – it’s about smart integration that enhances rather than overwhelms your existing practice.

Workshop 3: Guerilla Curriculum

Jonathan Lear

This course, particularly suited to Primary teachers and leaders, will explore the following areas;

Curriculum design: What do we want the children to know, do and remember?

Here we will focus on the structure and sequencing of curriculum by exploring the different strands of knowledge that represent effective curriculum design.

Curriculum assessment: How do we know how well the children have learnt the curriculum?

We’ll look at how we can develop and plan for assessment across the curriculum in non-core subjects such as history, geography and art & design

Pedagogy:

These sessions will look at the principles of creative thinking and how we create the conditions for creative and critical thinking in the classroom. We’ll explore the idea of a blended pedagogy – how we structure and support learning (differentiation) and how we build independence and self-regulation. There will be practical examples of how to embed this in the classroom

Workshop 4: Leading With Data

Nadia Hewstone

Aimed at all levels of school leadership, this training course will focus on how to use data to support curriculum planning and intervention design. We will cover data collection, assessment approaches, analysis and presentation. We will then explore ways data can support planning for leaders and the crucial role of data in improving pupil outcomes.

Delegates will go away with a set of principles to use when planning for data collection and analysis as well as a host of tools for data use in schools.

Workshop 5: What Makes Great Teaching?

Stuart Kime

The “What Makes Great Teaching?” workshop is designed for educators looking to deepen their understanding of effective teaching practices, based on the best available research evidence. Over 1.5 days, participants will explore the four Dimensions of Great Teaching, learning to identify, apply, and refine classroom strategies that drive student success. Through a mix of theory and hands-on generative learning activities, participants will build both knowledge and practical skills, developing expertise that they can apply directly to their classrooms. The workshop offers a balance of individual reflection, peer collaboration, and evidence-based learning, equipping teachers to make informed, impactful decisions about their professional practice.

This course is particularly suited to Secondary teachers and will help participants to:

Understand the Four Dimensions of Great Teaching and their impact on student learning.
Identify evidence-based classroom strategies to enhance teaching effectiveness.
Apply generative learning techniques to improve teaching practice.
Collaborate with peers to refine teaching strategies based on evidence and peer feedback.
Develop an action plan to integrate the workshop’s learnings into everyday classroom practice.

Workshop 6: Courageous Leadership

Diana Osagie

The sessions focus on practical leadership strategies, covering the Big 5 pillars of leadership: Values, Vision, Mission, Strategy, and Culture. Leaders will explore how to manage team dynamics, establish strong relationships, and ensure team growth through effective communication and role management. The programme also addresses mastering difficult conversations and handling change, providing frameworks to navigate conflicts and resistance. Additionally, leaders will learn how to manage staff well-being, promote a culture of health, and ensure sustainable support for their teams. The sessions are designed to equip leaders with actionable tools for immediate impact.

The sessions aim to provide leaders with a wealth of practical strategies that can be applied immediately to enhance their leadership journey. Participants will gain frameworks and methodologies that have been tried and tested to ensure effective leadership. The focus is on practicality, not theory, equipping delegates with tools to create a lasting impact in their leadership roles. The workshops are designed to foster interactive learning, enabling leaders to navigate complex challenges, manage teams effectively, master difficult conversations, handle change, and ensure staff well-being.

Workshop 7: Making It Stick

Belinda Crowhurst

How can we make learning stick? As teachers, we work so hard to create engaging lessons and memorable learning opportunities for our pupils – so how is it that we often find ourselves having to revise and revisit material we have taught? Understanding HOW our pupils learn, how their brains store information and how best we can support them to remember it long term is the key to maximising learning power and memory.

This course will develop teachers’ understanding of cognitive science along with providing an array of practical teaching strategies to support the development of pupils’ long-term memory. Delegates will learn how best to structure lessons, introduce new information, minimise pupils’ information loss and organise visual resources and presentations such that they support pupils to learn new material quickly and retain their learning long term.

Workshop 8: Adapting Instruction For Every Student

Abigail Hawkins

This course, suited to Secondary or Primary teachers who teach pupils with a diverse range of learning needs, aims to help participants in the following ways.

Enhanced Understanding: Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to identify and address diverse learning needs.

Practical Skills: Participants will acquire practical skills in applying cognitive teaching principles to real-classroom scenarios.

Customisation: Participants will learn to customise instructional strategies to meet the unique needs of their students.

Memorable: Participants will have a unique and memorable experience that they can share with colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovative teaching practices.

To do this, the workshop uses the beloved characters from Winnie the Pooh to explore adaptive teaching strategies through practical, interactive simulations. Participants will engage directly by embodying these characters, gaining insights into diverse learning needs through cognitive teaching principles like Rosenshine’s effective instruction, dual coding, and cognitive load theory.