The 2021 Festival of Education will take place online across two inspiring weeks and will be free for educators across the globe.
Pearson Keynote Debate Series
In partnership with our headline partner, Pearson, we’ve created five future focussed keynote panels. From the future of assessment to preparing for work life in 2041, these sessions will spark inspiration and discussion.
Whether it’s in the classroom, in the workplace or at home, Pearson provides the tools for teachers, educators, learners and parents to make the most out of learning. As a long-established leader in assessment and online learning, we believe in the power of technology and innovation to enhance the teaching and learning experience and empower all those involved in education.
Learn more at: go.pearson.com/digitallearning
What will work and society look like in the future? We explore how current trends might develop over the next 20 years and how education and learning can help us prepare.
Thu, 17 June 2021 | 13:45 – 14:45
We discuss what role schools could play in ‘employability’, ensuring that students develop and can demonstrate the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
Tue, 22 June 2021 | 14:30 – 15:30
Covid-19 has driven a step change in digital innovation in education, but where does its future now lie? In this session, our panel will reflect on lessons learned over the past year and explore where we go next and how we improve.
Wed, 23 June 2021 | 14:30 – 15:30
This session explores the role learning and skills plays in addressing the inequalities exacerbated by COVID and the cost of not acting now.
Thu, 24 June 2021 | 14:30 – 15:30
We discuss the opinions of over 6,000 people on what a good qualifications and assessment system should look like for 14-19 year olds.
Tue, 29 June 2021 | 14:30 – 15:30
Festival Schedule
This year's virtual festival will take place between 16-30 June. Content is still being announced. You can view the latest schedule below. Please click on the speaker's image for more information about their sessions and to access registration.
Join us, online, for this Festival of Education keynote panel discussion, delivered in partnership with The Centre for Education and Youth.
Speakers:
Join us, online, to hear Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson MP, provide the opening keynote of the Festival. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us, online, to hear Deborah Frances-White deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Footballer Marcus Rashford famously caused a government U-turn on holiday free school meals through a social media campaign. MP Robert Halfon’s call for a catch-up premium kick-started a government obsession that eventually led to the appointment of a “tzar” dedicated to helping pupils make up lost learning. Catchy campaigns can shine a spotlight on a problem, and focus government attention in order to get things done. But should the government stop creating restricted pots of cash, and instead listen to the headteachers asking for more money to simply be given to schools?
Join us, online, for this Festival of Education keynote panel discussion, delivered in partnership with The Centre for Education and Youth.
What will work and society look like in the future? We explore how current trends might develop over the next 20 years and how education and learning can help us prepare.
Join us online for this Festival Keynote discussion chaired by Penny Rabiger, Co-founder and Trustee, The BAMEed Network. Panel: Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, Anthony Peltier, former headteacher and senior officer in the Metropolitan Police Service and Dr Angela Herbert, Chair of the Violent Crime Prevention Board.
Join us, online, to hear Tom Sherrington deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us, online, to hear Dr. Ian Kelleher & Lorraine Martinez Hanley, provide the opening keynote of the Festival. Followed by live Q&A.
The Festival of Education is delighted to partner with the news provider, Tortoise. Tortiose will be holding their online Education Summit – Schooling after the virus: can we build it back better? – during this year’s Festival. As a result of our partnership Festival of Education, attendees can access this member’s event for free!
During the day we will host over 65 invaluable CPD sessions, delivered by expert teachers and educators. Registration for our Friday Fest days is free for everyone. To register for our Friday Fest days please visit the registration area of the website. Click below to view the current schedule.
Title | The Headteacher's Handbook, Everything you wanted to know about your first Primary headship but didn't know who to ask!
Join us, online, to hear Yusuf Ibrahim deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Oak National Academy launched within just weeks of lockdown. Since then the site has grown to host over 10,000 high-quality lessons covering the entire national curriculum from early years to Year 11, as well as for those with special educational needs. Over 130 million lessons have been started since April 2020. Schools are now back, but thousands of teachers and pupils continue to use Oak lessons and resources - for revision and homework or for lesson preparation, CPD and cover, suggesting there is a permanent place for free, comprehensive teacher-led edtech in the school system
Join us, online, to hear Prof Dylan Wiliam deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us, online, to hear Prof Dylan Wiliam deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Why British education needs a reboot: The Times Education Commission, and how you can become involved.
We discuss what role schools could play in ‘employability’, ensuring that students develop and can demonstrate the skills they need for the jobs of the future.
Join us, online, to hear Professor Daniel Willingham deliver their Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us, online, for this Festival of Education keynote panel discussion, delivered in partnership with Now Teach.
Covid-19 has driven a step change in digital innovation in education, but where does its future now lie? In this session, our panel will reflect on lessons learned over the past year and explore where we go next and how we improve.
Join us, online, to hear Dr Pragya Agarwal deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us, online, to hear Sir Kevan Collins in conversation with Beth Kerr at the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
The Covid pandemic cemented schools’ role at the centre of their communities; many delivered food parcels and conducted regular checks on students. But as things return to normal, should the heightened focus on wellbeing continue, and even be a criterion on which schools and colleges are judged? Or is there a danger that in being expected to do too much, schools and colleges could lose focus on the one thing no other institution is tasked with doing: to ensure that their students achieve good educational outcomes?
Hear from the next generation about their experiences of racial inequality within education and beyond – and what we can do to change it. Chaired by Russell Hobby.
Speakers:
This session explores the role learning and skills plays in addressing the inequalities exacerbated by COVID and the cost of not acting now.
Join us, online, to hear HMCI Amanda Spielman deliver her 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Panel: Vivienne Porritt, Keziah Featherstone, Liz Free, Jules Daulby, Parm Plummer (All Global Strategic Leaders for #WomenEd) and Christalla Jamil and Claire Price (National Leaders of @WomenEdEngland.)
Speakers:
During the day we will host over 65 invaluable CPD sessions, delivered by expert teachers and educators. Registration for our Friday Fest days is free for everyone. To register for our Friday Fest days please visit the registration area of the website. Click below to view the current schedule.
Carol Shepherd, Zehra Jaffer, Markieu Hayden and Josephine Okokon, are all schools Headteachers across London in the state sector from a Global Majority Background. During this session, they will aim to inspire, support and encourage leaders from Global Majority backgrounds to become education leaders.
Join us, online, to hear the Shadow Education Secretary, Kate Green MP, provide their keynote to the Festival. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us, online, for this Festival of Education keynote panel discussion, delivered in partnership with The Centre for Education and Youth.
Join us online for Will's Festival Keynote: Zooming to the Future?
Speakers:
Join us, online, to hear Amanda Dewinter and Andria Zafirakou, provide their keynote of the Festival. Followed by live Q&A. About this event Title: Success secrets: does being a teacher have to be this hard?
Join us, online, to hear Guy Claxton deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
Join us online for Laura's Festival Keynote: An Unusual Year: What We Learned From 8,000 Teachers About Pandemic Life
For many around the world, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed patterns of work and life forever, with organisations and businesses flexing to suit employees and clients alike. But will the revolutionary fervour reach the school environment? After all they’ve just been through, are teachers just too exhausted to think about redesigning the system, and are there even the funds to do it?
TV/radio presenter and journalist Michelle Ackerley will host a panel discussion with TV and radio presenter Katie Thistleton, who is one of the presenters on Bitesize Daily; Bitesize Daily teacher Mrs Vee; and BBC Education’s Head of Content Production Cerys Griffiths. They will reflect on the success of the BBC’s Lockdown Learning content and discuss the lessons that have been learnt. They will also talk about BBC Bitesize is doing now to continue to support teachers, parents and students across the UK.
We discuss the opinions of over 6,000 people on what a good qualifications and assessment system should look like for 14-19 year olds.
Join us, online, to hear Rory Bremner & Dr Tony Lloyd, provide their keynote of the Festival. Followed by live Q&A. About this event Title: Teach yourself ADHD with Rory Bremner and Tony Lloyd of the ADHD Foundation
The 7 painful truths hiding in plain sight about inclusion and the most simple of solutions.
A short meander through the Early History of Mathematics with Maths Gems that All have Relevance Today.
Speakers:
Title | Understanding Self Harm
Join us, online, to hear Paul Kirschner and Carl Hendrick deliver their 2021 Keynote address to the Festival of Education. Followed by live Q&A.
For many around the world, the Covid-19 pandemic has changed patterns of work and life forever, with organisations and businesses flexing to suit employees and clients alike. But will the revolutionary fervour reach the school environment? After all they’ve just been through, are teachers just too exhausted to think about redesigning the system, and are there even the funds to do it?
Festival Keynotes
Across two-weeks we will host daily keynotes from leading educationalists and thought leaders. Further Keynote speaker announcements coming soon, watch this space!
co-author of “Neuroteach: Brain Science and the Future of Education
Ian's session will take place on 17 June
Senior Director, Global Learning Lab, Teach For All
Alex's keynote panel will take place on 30th June.
Co-founder and Trustee, The BAMEed Network
Penny's keynote panel will take place on 17th June.
Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment, UCL
Dylan's Keynote will take place on 21st June.
Project Manager , Children’s Right2Food campaign
Zoe's keynote panel will take place on 28th June.
Children’s Commissioner for England
Dame Rachel's keynote panel will take place on 23rd June.
Director of Sheffield Institute of Education
Sam's keynote panel will take place on 29th June.
Head Teacher, Highlands Primary School
Kulvan's keynote will take place on 18th June.
Associate Headteacher, Greenwich
Josephine's keynote panel will take place on 25th June.
Chairs the independent Violent Crime Prevention Board
Dr Herbert's keynote panel will take place on 17th June.
Former Education Recovery Commissioner
Sir Kevan's session with Beth Kerr will take place on 23rd June.
Education & skills adviser, Northern Powerhouse Partnership
Franks's keynote panel will take place on 16th June.
Teacher, Alperton Community School
Andria's keynote panel will take place on 28th June.
Headteacher, Falinge Park High School
Janice's keynote panel will take place on 29th June.
Professor of Psychology, University of Virginia
Daniel's Keynote will take place on 22nd June.
Group Director of Wellbeing, Cognita
Beth's session with Sir Kevan will take place on 23rd June.
Group Principal & CEO, South Thames Colleges Group
Peter's keynote panel will take place on 23rd June.
Emeritus Professor of Educational Psychology at the Open Universiteit (NL)
Paul's session with Carl Hendrick will take place on 30th June.
Former headteacher and senior police officer
Anthony's keynote panel will take place on 17th June.
Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Lorraine's session will take place on 17 June
Teacher & Author, Wellington College
Carl's session with Paul Kirschner will take place on 30th June.
Regional Director, David Ross Education Trust
Helena's keynote panel will take place on 23rd June.
Historian, Educationalist & political authors
Sir Anthony's keynote will take place on 21 June.
Chair, Independent Review of Children’s Social Care
Josh's keynote panel will take place on 29th June.
Chief Executive, Education Policy Institute
Natalie's keynote panel will take place on 16th June.
Presenter Radio 1/CBBC & Bitesize Daily
Katie's keynote will take place on 29th June.
