Berkhamsted School IT Conference
We have now reached our capacity for the IT Conference.
Join our waiting list or register your interest for future events:
Bringing like-minded schools together to share successes and best practice
Tuesday 28 November 2023 | Berkhamsted School, Castle Campus | 09:30 – 16:00
Berkhamsted School is proud to invite you to our upcoming conference, where we will once again push the boundaries of technology in education. After the resounding success of our January 2023 conference, where we showcased our remarkable journey and achievements, we are excited to take the next step by opening the stage to other innovative schools. This conference promises to be a dynamic and collaborative event, bringing together educators, thought leaders, and visionaries from schools across the country. Together, we will explore the cutting edge of technology in education, sharing insights, successes, and challenges that have shaped our educational journeys.
AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way we live, work, and interact with technology. At its core, AI is the science of developing computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making.
Power Bi
In today’s data-centric world, mastering data analysis is essential and our upcoming conference is your gateway to unlocking the potential of Microsoft Power Bi.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Leveraging the Microsoft Power Platform has been transformational for many schools. See real working examples of Power Automate workflows that frees up masses of time and admin overhead. Hear about PowerApps that allow teachers to spend less time undertaking admin and more time engaging with pupils…
View the Agenda
08:30 – Registration Opens
08:30 – Tea/Coffee and Networking
09:30 – Welcome and Keynote speaker
10:30 – Session 1
11:15 – Break and Networking
12:00 – Session 2
12:45 – Lunch and Networking
14:00 – Session 3
14:45 – Session 4
15:30 – Interactive Q&A focussing on AI
16:00 – Afternoon Tea and Networking
16:30 – Optional tour of Berkhamsted School, Castle Campus
16:30-17:00 – Carriages
Watch this video to find out more about how we use devices in our classrooms
Keynote Speaker
Laura Knight, Consultant
Amplifying your vision for education: purpose, disruption, and digital innovation
In this keynote, Laura Knight will explore the why of digital innovation in education. Drawing on her twenty-year experience as a teacher and expertise as an educational technologist, she will demonstrate how a compelling digital strategy unlocks positive disruption, supercharges excellence in teaching and learning, and amplifies creativity. She will address the challenges and opportunities of balancing change with tradition in the AI era, and provide a principled and pragmatic framework for thinking about educational purpose and vision through a digital lens.
Hear from the following colleagues
During this conference we’ll be hearing from a number of schools and learning about their journey and successes.
With a passion for digital innovation and education, Sarah Buist currently serves as the Head of Digital Strategy at Royal Grammar School Newcastle. In this capacity, she is driving the school’s digital evolution into the future.
Prior to her role at Royal Grammar School Newcastle, Sarah spent over five years at Durham School, where she served as a Teacher of Geography and also held the position of Head of Digital Learning. During her tenure, she played a pivotal role in integrating digital technologies into the teaching and learning process.
Sarah is dedicated to enhancing the educational experience through technology and is committed to ensuring that students have access to cutting-edge digital resources.
Dan Raymond currently holds the position of Director of Digital Technologies at St Catherine’s School, Bramley, with an impressive tenure of over 11 years. He has been in this role since January 2016, spearheading digital innovation. Dan is deeply committed to revolutionising education through technology. Prior to his current role, he served as the Network Manager, responsible for the management of the school’s digital infrastructure.
Before joining St Catherine’s School, Dan spent seven years at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, where he held the role of ICT Operations Manager, focusing on operational excellence. His journey in the education sector commenced as an ICT Technician, and he spent four years and three months in this capacity.
Dan’s true passion lies in harnessing technology to empower both students and educators, ensuring their success in an increasingly digital world.
Adam is an experienced senior education leader who is also running an EdTech startup, developing AI-powered platforms to enhance both teacher and pupil experiences of school. Sphinx AI is building software to meaningfully understand how and when to support pupils, using cutting-edge AI, blended with the critical human interventions and observations of teachers.
He has significant experience developing the effective use of technology in schools, including curriculum design, staff and pupil training, as well as developing the relationship between traditional science based-subjects and the creative arts.
Adam also has experience in safeguarding and in particular utilising and responding to the use of technology in helping young people and parents deal with a range of pastoral concerns.
Adam is a regular writer and speaker on the use of technology in schools and has delivered a TEDx talk on the importance of disruption and change in the education system to meet the changing demands of the future workplace.
Rachel leads on digital strategy and innovation at Wimbledon High School (GDST), working with teachers to evaluate the use of technology for teaching and learning, implementing evidence-based practices. She is passionate about using technology in an authentic way, keeping human relationships at the heart of learning. Rachel is currently working on implementing a human-centred approach to AI in education and is a member of the Practitioners Panel of the Bourne-Epsom Protocol. She is a Trustee of Folio Education Trust where she acts as Lead Trustee for Digital Learning and chairs the Education Committee, Vice-Chair of the Independent Schools Council Digital Advisory Group and a BETT Awards Judge.
Mark joined Pearson Edexcel in February 2007 as a Project Manager in IT, after completing a major system re-write and International English project, Mark was appointed to run the IT development and delivery for the Nation Curriculum Test TOpS contract from 2009 through to 2019, at which point Mark moved into Assessment, managing the online assessment, marking platforms and transforming assessment delivery from paper to onscreen. Prior to joining Edexcel Mark spent two years working on Identity Management and Security for HBOS, prior to that Mark spent eight years as a Technical Project Manager with Arcadia group.
Mark has 30 years experience in IT development and project management. Mark’s work for the second largest fashion retailer in the UK and a major high street bank, has given him fantastic experience of developing systems to process large volumes of transactions, accurately, in short periods of time.
Meredith Reeve is Head of Next Generation Assessment, Qualification Development and Teacher Professional Development at Pearson. She has held leadership positions across a range of teams within Pearson since beginning her career in education over 15 years ago, as a senior secondary teacher and chief examiner in her native country of Australia. With a background in assessment delivery, digital assessment and Standards leadership, Meredith has a wealth of experience across academic, vocational and skills-based based qualifications in the UK and internationally. She is passionate about exploring future models of assessment that elevate the learner experience and best equip young people for the next steps in their lives. As a strategic lead for the future of Assessment in the Schools Product team, Meredith has a key focus on the role of onscreen technologies in assessment.
If you missed our last conference
You can hear from the following Berkhamsted colleagues covering the same topics
Hannah is responsible for teaching, learning and innovation at Berkhamsted. She works closely with both Prad Samtani and Laura Knight across our senior girls, senior boys and sixth schools.
Hannah helped devise the Digital Learning strategy that was so successful throughout the pandemic, ensuring that all our students continued to receive an effective, purposeful and inspiring education.
Prad is Director of IT at Berkhamsted Schools Group and the technical architect behind our sector-leading 1:1 device programme.
Working closely with BT, Prad has now successfully deployed a full Windows-based 1:1 device strategy from year 5 through to year 13. Using Microsoft Surface, our digital device provision is seen by industry experts as one of the most inventive and well-thought through 1:1 programmes around.
Laura leads on Berkhamsted’s strategy for digital learning and staff training. She’s also responsible for digital wellbeing and online safeguarding.
Laura is passionate about developing innovative and inspirational practice. She runs a staff think tank and is a key player in setting the school’s direction for innovation. She’s also Chair of ISC Digital – the Independent Schools’ Council committee for digital learning and IT strategy
Sessions
Pearson will showcase the initiatives and endeavours we have undertaken in collaboration with Berkhamsted. Additionally, we will address and provide insights into prevalent inquiries concerning onscreen assessment, including security considerations.
There has been extensive discussion in 2023 about the potential and risks of using generative AI technologies in education. Almost a year on from the launch of ChatGPT, what has been achieved and considered so far? Where could we direct our efforts next? How can we leverage this technology to benefit all learners – and teachers – safely and effectively? In this session, Rachel will offer reflection and horizon scanning, and offer an opportunity for sharing of practical examples and emerging platforms and use cases
A chance to see how real-time data allows teachers and senior leaders track the whole pupil journey from both an academic and pastoral viewpoint.
This session will focus on the key ingredients of developing a successful strategy for Prep aged children. This involves prioritising staff training and developing a culture of sharing and innovation.
Discuss with the teacher panel how 1:1 devices really work in the classroom.
This session explores the steps taken to get a school on the front foot to explore the value of AI in the classroom, some examples of what works (and what doesn’t) and what might be coming next in this space.
Learn about how we manage filtering, monitoring, digital wellbeing and safeguarding in a 1:1 environment.
Learn how Sarah has transformed device provision at RGS and adopted Surface devices throughout their school.
A deep dive into the possibilities of the Power Platform with a live demo of “SCAM” – the St Catherine’s teacher app developed in-house with low code since 2020. A synergy of Power Apps, Power Platform and Power BI provides daily assistance to pastoral, academic and operational workflows.
This presentation will provide an overview of how features and elements interact, and how Berkhamsted has managed the roll-out of Power BI reports.
Who should attend?
This event is aimed at Independent Schools – Senior Leadership Team members, IT personnel leading on strategy, adoption or deployment. Data specialists both academic and non-academic.
We have now reached our capacity for the IT Conference
Join our waiting list or register your interest for future events:
Register hereIf you have any further questions, please contact us at events@berkhamsted.com
Location
The conference is being held in Deans’ Hall at our Castle Campus, located in the heart of the market town of Berkhamsted.
direct from London Euston by Train
from M25, M1 and M40
available a short distance from Berkhamsted Town
Berkhamsted Boys
Castle Campus
Castle St
Berkhamsted
HP4 2BB
Deans’ Hall
Park and Ride
If you’re planning to drive to Berkhamsted, there is some parking in the town. We are unable to offer on-site parking, but will be providing a park and ride service from one of our nearby sports facilities – Haslam Field. After registering for the event, and closer to the date we will ask if you wish to take up this offer.
Haslam Field
Shooters Way
Berkhamsted
Hertfordshire
HP4 3NG
