Presented by:

Kath Moulds - Kath is a deputy director at the Department for Education, leading on the development of a new digital strategy for education, building on the government’s investment in devices, platforms, training and digital services during the pandemic. Kath joined the Department in 2009, after 10 years teaching in inner-London secondary schools and (briefly) in France and Malawi. She taught French and Spanish, occasionally branching out into Music, Maths and English, and ended her teaching career working as a head of department in North London. Since joining DfE she has worked in a number of areas including leading the teacher workload, wellbeing and impact on schools team. Kath has two children who keep her busy and happy, and in between parenting and working tries to spend as much time as possible in the sea.

Jim Gardner - Jim is an ICT advisor at the Department for Education. He leads the current Digital Platforms programme that was launched in April 2019 to support remote education provision. He is also the Technology Lead for the GenZero project and wider sustainability work being undertaken by the DfE ICT and Design teams, exploring how design of solutions can support low energy use and NetZero targets within schools’ construction programmes.  Jim joined the Department in 2012 after 20 years of working in education as an English teacher, SENCO and education technology consultant, including a spell with Intel UK. He has worked in the UK, the US, Estonia and Uganda supporting ICT initiatives. He ran the Free Schools ICT procurement programme for the DfE  for 5 years from 2013. He left the DfE briefly to work for Oasis Community Learning as Head of Strategic ICT Projects and returned to DfE in 2019, just as the pandemic started, to take on GenZero work and then the Digital Platforms programme. He lives in South Devon with his wife and three daughters in between the sea and the moors.

Presented by:

Chris Rothwell - Chris has worked at Microsoft for 15 years, across a range of products, groups and functions, but always focussed on how people and organisations can use technology to help them do the things most important to them. Chris now leads the Education Industry team for Microsoft UK, where he and the team work to help any education organisation use our technology to improve Education and help build digital skills to prepare young people for a world of work that is rapidly changing in the face of digital transformation.

Presented by:

Anthony Lees - Anthony is Deputy Head of School for recently opened Westclyst Community Primary School, Devon, within the Cornerstone Academy Trust, where he also leads on EdTech strategy for the Trust. As a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for The Cornerstone Teaching School he supports schools across the region in the areas of computing, online safety and as well as his other passion; music. Anthony continues to support teachers' wider professional development as an SSAT Lead Practitioner and ETP Facilitator, and specifically in the areas of computing, EdTech and online safety as a Computing Associate for Babcock International and CEOP Ambassador. He trains and leads on the NCCE Computing Hub, for Broadclyst School as the Primary Phase Lead within the Westcountry Computing Hub. He is also a Microsoft Certified Educator and Master Trainer, MIEExpert, Skype Master Teacher and Surface Expert; which he utilises to deliver staff development and training through both the Microsoft Showcase School Programme and the DfE EdTech Demonstrator School programme.

Presented by:

David James - David is the Deputy CEO and Head of Education for Cornerstone Academy. All schools within the trust are Microsoft Showcase Schools and David is Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. David has played a key role in trust wide ventures of 1:1 device deployment and trail blazing the use of technology in classrooms. David has led the Edtech Demonstrator School for Cornerstone, supporting over 300 schools during the pandemic. Now, he is helping schools in fully utilising the technology and skills learnt over the last 18 months, by developing strategic plans and integration into the curriculum.

Presented by:

Jonathan Bishop - Jonathan is CEO and Executive Headteacher of the Cornerstone Academy Trust. Its founding school, Broadclyst Primary School, is a Microsoft Showcase School and as a Microsoft Innovative Educator, Jonathan pioneered the use of digital technologies in the classroom for many years. His schools employ the use of one-to-one Microsoft Pro Surfaces to deliver a project-based curriculum that fully utilises the power of Office365 tools. He runs the Global Enterprise Challenge with thousands of children working together in teams to run a company, collaborating and competing to make their ideas the most successful globally. Digital technologies underpin the management of the Academy Trust, the collaboration between staff and the teaching and learning; at school and beyond the school day. Jonathan is a National Leader of Education, leads the Cornerstone Teaching School, BCPS Edtech Demonstrator Programme, English Hub, Science Learning Partnership and is opening a new Free School that will be a Microsoft Flagship School.

Presented by:

Anthony Lees - Anthony is Deputy Head of School for recently opened Westclyst Community Primary School, Devon, within the Cornerstone Academy Trust, where he also leads on EdTech strategy for the Trust. As a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) for The Cornerstone Teaching School he supports schools across the region in the areas of computing, online safety and as well as his other passion; music. Anthony continues to support teachers' wider professional development as an SSAT Lead Practitioner and ETP Facilitator, and specifically in the areas of computing, EdTech and online safety as a Computing Associate for Babcock International and CEOP Ambassador. He trains and leads on the NCCE Computing Hub, for Broadclyst School as the Primary Phase Lead within the Westcountry Computing Hub. He is also a Microsoft Certified Educator and Master Trainer, MIEExpert, Skype Master Teacher and Surface Expert; which he utilises to deliver staff development and training through both the Microsoft Showcase School Programme and the DfE EdTech Demonstrator School programme.

Presented by:

James Garnett - James is Director of IT at United Learning, a Multi-Academy Trust of over eighty academies and independent schools; currently he is the programme lead for the EdTech Demonstrator Delivery Partner managing the EdTech Demonstrator programme on behalf of the DfE. He began his career in education as a teacher of maths 25 years ago before moving on to lead on IT, EdTech and systems in schools and then for United Learning. He has led their Cloud First strategy and developed the Group Digital Strategy prior to his secondment. James has recently been appointed a Trustee of Sheffield Theatres Trust and the City of Sheffield Theatres Trust. He also volunteers as a school governor and Explorer Scout leader, underlying his belief in the importance of education and wider experience for young people.

Does your Digital Strategy tackle the Digital Divide?

The need for remote learning brought into sharp focus the divide which exists between those with sole access to a suitable digital device and those with limited or no access. Schools can no longer ignore the educational (workload) impact lack of access has on a child (teacher) against one who has ubiquitous access, and a school who leverages the benefits technology can bring. This can range from modelling, blended learning, adaptive learning tools, digital workflows and collaboration. In his keynote, James will draw out why schools can no longer ignore or underfund technology when writing their long-term strategy.

Presented by:

David James - David is the Deputy CEO and Head of Education for Cornerstone Academy. All schools within the trust are Microsoft Showcase Schools and David is Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. David has played a key role in trust wide ventures of 1:1 device deployment and trail blazing the use of technology in classrooms. David has led the Edtech Demonstrator School for Cornerstone, supporting over 300 schools during the pandemic. Now, he is helping schools in fully utilising the technology and skills learnt over the last 18 months, by developing strategic plans and integration into the curriculum.