EdTech Unwrapped: Lessons from Leaders

Tech is at the heart of tomorrow’s classroom, and nobody could be a greater custodian for the classroom of the future than Jacob Woolcock. From the accessibility features unlocking learning, to empowering teachers to step outside their comfort zone with EdTech, he’s a real role model for today’s primary students to become better learners through technology! This episode rounds off a special mini-s...

From one teacher at the start of a school’s 1-to-1 device journey, to another whose whole 22-school MAT is sharing the gains of these devices, this podcast is a special one… Rather than chase the shiny tool, and get devices for the sake of it, George Barlow and Dan Blundred focus on the pedagogy behind their progress with EdTech. They’re our special guests on this episode of EdTech Unwrapped, pack...

Tech literacy doesn’t have to be difficult, especially with the help of incredible digital communities like those you’ll find at Bett! Amanda Pickard and Poppy LeMar see teachers as EdTech leaders in the classroom, and they’re making it accessible for educators at ALL skill levels, so that every student embraces tomorrow’s technology. Join us for this special episode of EdTech Unwrapped for a look...

Out of all the CPD that Meg Brough gives out and receives, it’s the Bett Show that gives her so much to take into the year ahead! She’s building a digital strategy to help teachers work smarter, not harder, and the conversations and convention stands are among the best sources of inspiration for her work at Perth and Kinross Council.  Join us LIVE from the Bett Show floor as Meg shares how she cre...

The tools to create a more practical, accessible classroom for SEND students are closer to your fingertips than you might think… One of Bett 2026’s speakers, Claire Harrison, described an ‘assistive technology toolkit’; a phrase that rings true for SEND specialists Dr Sarah Moseley and Ginny Bootman. The duo join us LIVE from the show floor to discuss the SEND Village at Bett, EdTech & AI’s in...

Welcome to a VERY special mini-series of EdTech Unwrapped, recorded LIVE at the Bett Show 2026! We’ll be catching up with educators and EdTech professionals from the show floor, exploring the tech changing our classrooms before it’s even in our hands yet. This mini-series kicks off with the lovely Amy Fraser, who you might know as The Geordie Teacher from her fantastic social content. She talks us...

Welcome to a VERY special two-part edition of EdTech Unwrapped: Lessons from Leaders, where we pause to reflect on the standout themes and powerful ideas shaping the future of education technology.  This week’s EdTech Unwrapped: Lessons from Leaders is the conclusion of the two-part episode, highlighting some of the leading ideas from the series so far. We turn attention to students’ learning, exp...

Welcome to a VERY special two-part edition of EdTech Unwrapped: Lessons from Leaders, where we pause to reflect on the standout themes and powerful ideas shaping the future of education technology.  In this first part, we shine a spotlight on teachers, exploring how EdTech and AI are not just revolutionising student learning, but transforming the teaching experience itself.  Duncan guides us throu...

At a time where industry titans like Jaguar Land Rover and M&S can be hit by cyber attacks, safe implementation of tech systems should be a top priority for ALL schools. The Dean Trust’s Mike Ward has been instrumental in leading a strategy which sees a trust capable of implementing safe, smart technologies in just 48 hours… Working at speed is one thing, but bringing students, parents and edu...

As with all new EdTech, we need to consider two things: its impact in the classroom, and its impact on students’ brains - for better, and for worse… As this week’s guest on EdTech Unwrapped warns, digital tools are able to create a sense of ‘cognitive offload’ which switches off students’ critical thought processes. Dare Pitan is the Digital Education Lead at the University of Birmingham Dubai, an...

What does it take to make the huge migration from one EdTech ecosystem to another? How do you bring everyone together for that transition, and leave no student or teacher behind? Chrishantha Dias is Director of IT at North London Collegiate School Dubai, and as he headed up their school's journey from Microsoft to Google, the focus on teacher involvement and strategies for overcoming resistan...

The Creative Education Trust is pioneering technology adoption across 17 schools, and it’s the collaboration between each which drives EdTech forward for all. Ash Mudaliar, Director of IT and EdTech at the trust, joins us for a dive into their strategies for empowering countless students and educators across the country. We’ll explore frameworks for tech adoption, how to inspire teachers’ confiden...

What does it mean to truly prepare students and teachers for a world shaped by digital innovation and AI? O’Dea High School is building digital literacy from the ground up, training educators to thrive alongside their students, fluent in the tech that matters most. David Olinger, Director of Digital Strategy, joins us on EdTech Unwrapped with his candid insights on the challenges and opportunities...

The 3-18 Education Trust has a huge role in unifying their schools’ approach to EdTech, and heading up that mammoth task is Director of IT, Tim Goodman! Harnessing data to create a better environment for teachers and learners has never been more possible, but only when schools are empowered as they are within the trust… So join Tim, chatting with Duncan Verry, and explore what turns data points in...

The Wisconsin Dells is a rural district with a unique draw for tourists, so how does a small school district use technology to make a splash? Hugh Gaston is the fantastic Director of Digital Learning and Technology, and with his unique journey from Principal to tech leader, he’s able to bridge the gap between the sceptics and the innovators! Join us to explore how the School District of Wisconsin...

Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s bold educational outlook for the territory, but how does an entire country coordinate its efforts to revolutionise education? Dr Nasser Aluwaishiq is on the cutting edge of how EdTech integrates with the human-driven schooling that’s core to a balanced curriculum. He brings us an inside look at how students are being prepared for a broad, diverse future, and how teach...

In this very special episode of EdTech Unwrapped, we're joined by not one, but three guests to dive deep into technological transformation across Southeast Asia’s classes! From personalised learning experiences to shifting value towards skills rather than knowledge, this week’s episode features the keen insight of Jeanne Denyer, Thanbeer Kaur & Osama Younes - all members of the Bett Asia...

Marlo Gaddis has been an educational tour de force throughout her career, which paid dividends when Covid put her skills as a CTO to full use… The Wake County Public School System adapted to the time, but the REAL work began long before that…  This week’s EdTech Unwrapped draws on Marlo’s remarkable expertise to explore how to introduce personalised learning, technology’s limits in doing so, and w...

In our working lives, we’re always using the sum total of our knowledge, so how can we make all the STEM subjects dance together in the classroom too? From student-led initiatives to integrated lesson planning, Kelli List Wells and Jeff Huart have a plethora of uses for EdTech in crafting the integrated curriculum of the future! Explore how STEM is being transformed to prepare students for tomorro...

Educational strategy in Saudi Arabia is undergoing a HUGE transformation, and Ibrahim Alotaibi is central to its tech-driven vision for the future… From AI-native students to innovative feedback channels, his work with Talemia as General Director of Strategy gives us a glimpse into the next-gen approach to teaching - join us on EdTech Unwrapped as we venture into the classroom of 2030! This episod...

We’ve heard from school professionals in remote locations, but maybe none quite so secluded as the Shetland Islands… Being a self-sufficient system in a region with 23,000 inhabitants presents unique and fascinating educational challenges for Neil Beattie and the Shetland Islands Council. On EdTech Unwrapped this week, we explore the lifestyle of such a close-knit community, and how collaboration...

Students with autism are too often left without a voice - that’s a challenge for which Renad Academy has some exemplary solutions… Over the school’s 9 years, they’ve become Qatar’s shining beacon of SEN learning, thanks in no small part to this week’s guest, Curriculum Coordinator Joe Norton! Join us as we explore how to best accommodate students with autism, the essential personalisation that hel...

Struggling schools have become beacons of excellence in Sharjah, and behind such transformation has been a new, exciting, dynamic organisation called SPEA! The Sharjah Private Education Authority is creating collaboration and growth, thanks to our guest this week, Ziad Shatat, who’s their Director of Continuous Development. Join us this week to explore how SPEA handles such a diverse educational l...

Tech is a transformative tool for learners and educators alike, but in the midst of digital evolution, no one can be left behind. As AI continues to empower classrooms in Texas, Dr Mary Jane Hetrick takes us behind how they’re nurturing creativity, critical thinking and technical expertise across the board! This episode covers Technology's role in personalised learning, creating individualise...

Dr Mechiel Rozas is not your ordinary Superintendent, because the organisation she heads up is Not Your Ordinary School… This charter school in Texas is reimagining learning for a huge roster of students, and using technology at scale as a strategic partner in the education process. Dr Rozas joins us on EdTech Unwrapped as we share how charter schools can unlock unprecedented experiences, how NYOS...