Festival of Education 2025
The Global Equality Collective (GEC) is proud to be partnering with the brilliant BAMEed Network for a full day of inclusion talks at the Festival of Education 2025!
🎤 Hosted by GEC Founder Nic Ponsford and featuring leaders from both the GEC Circle and BAMEed Network, this powerful collaboration brings #InclusionInAction to centre stage on Friday 4th July.
💥 What’s on?
🔹 What should a truly diverse curriculum look like? (9:30am - 10:15am)
Hosted by the GEC (Global Equality Collective), in collaboration with The BAMEed Network, this panel discussion brings together educators and thought leaders committed to reimagining curriculum through the lens of equity, representation, and belonging. Join us as we unpack what a truly diverse curriculum means in practice — one that reflects all learners, disrupts stereotypes, and uplifts historically marginalised voices. Panellists will explore practical approaches to embedding anti-racism, reviewing subject content, and ensuring all students see themselves reflected in what they learn. Expect an honest and solutions-focused conversation to support schools and trusts on their journey toward curriculum equity. For educators, leaders, and curriculum designers seeking meaningful, inclusive change.
🔹 Developing diverse leaders – what actually works (10:30am - 11:15am)
This session hosted by The BAMEed Network with panel members from the GEC, will ignite your thinking on how to break the barriers to diverse leadership in schools! Our expert panel will reveal the powerful strategies that schools and trusts are using to build diverse leadership teams, tailored to the unique needs of diverse leaders. We’ll tackle the tough challenges of unconscious bias and lack of representation, offering solutions to overcome them. Discover how data and research play a crucial role in identifying barriers, driving recruitment, and supporting the long-term retention of diverse leaders. We’ll also highlight the key signs of a genuine commitment to diversity in leadership positions. Join us for an action-packed session filled with practical strategies and insights to help you build a strong, diverse leadership team that will drive real change in your school!
🔹 How to ensure your inclusion data is inclusive (11:45 - 12:30)
Get ready to transform your approach to inclusion data! In this electrifying session hosted by The BAMEed Network with panel members from the GEC, we’ll explore how technology can make inclusion data more accessible, actionable, and truly inclusive, especially for underrepresented and underserved student populations. Our expert panel will share groundbreaking strategies that turn data into a game-changing tool for equity and inclusion. We’ll tackle the biggest pitfalls schools face in collecting data and reveal how to avoid them, ensuring it reflects all experiences authentically. Learn how to capture diverse perspectives, particularly from marginalised students and staff, and ensure every voice is meaningfully heard. Finally, discover how to turn data insights into bold, impactful actions that go beyond ticking boxes and truly drive change. Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionise your use of inclusion data and create lasting, positive impact in your school!
🔹 Leading through racial tensions – with integrity and impact (14:45 - 15:30)
Join us for a powerful and yet again another timely panel discussion on Leading Through Racial Tensions, chaired by the GEC in collaboration with The BAMEed Network. This session brings together experienced educators and thought leaders to explore the complexities of leadership during moments of racial tension — in schools, communities, and the wider system. Panellists will share lived experiences, practical strategies, and bold insights on creating inclusive environments, addressing bias, and leading with integrity and empathy. This is an essential conversation for school leaders, governors, and educators committed to anti-racism, equity, and systemic change.
Get your tickets here!
GEC Takeover at #EYP2CtW25
🎤 We’re back at #EYP2CtW25!
🗓️ Thursday, 22 May | 4:00–5:30pm BST
📍 Online | FREE CPD
We’re proud to bring the GEC Circle together for a powerful session on Intentional Inclusion at this year’s Empowering Young People to Change the World conference series.
GEC Takeover at #EYP2CtW25 ✨ The Line-Up:
🗣️ Welcome to the GEC – Nic Ponsford, CEO and Founder of the GEC
🔍 How Reasonable Are Reasonable Adjustments? – Lynn How
📱 21st Century PSHE: Where Social Media and Mental Health Meet – Anne Morris
🧩 Building Bridges: Neurodivergent Support from Early Years Onwards – Cathy Wassell
💬 NEW: Beyond the Binary: what would happen if every staffroom heard my trans kids speak?” – Mathew Savage
✨ Closing Reflections – Nic Ponsford
🎤 Real talk. Real change. Real impact.
📍 Register now: https://forms.office.com/e/BuxAWHJcHP
SAAS London 2025
We're proud to be partnered with The Schools & Academies Show 2025 taking place at the Excel London on the 15th May.
The GEC and some of our Circle members will be involved in the following:
Edtech Summit 10:05–10:50am
Electric Dreams: Navigating The Future of EdTech and AI
We’ll be tackling some of the biggest questions for the future of education:
How can we leverage AI and technology to genuinely improve lives?
How do we keep up with the exponential pace of AI advancement?
How do we ensure ethics and inclusion are built into every decision, not left behind?
Nic will be joining leaders from the Department for Education, Ada Lovelace Institute, University of East Anglia, and techUK — all pushing for a smarter, fairer future.
SEND THEATRE 11:05-11:35am
Safeguarding Vulnerable Pupils Online: Lessons from Adolescence
Fireside Chat
How to make sure pupils with additional need are safe online
Keeping up with online safety and emerging trends and threats
Sharing solutions to keep pupils with additional need safe when using the internet
Speakers
Frances Akinde, Education Consultant and SEND Advisor and GEC Circle expert
Nic Ponsford, Doctoral Researcher and Founder and CEO, GEC
EDTECH THEATRE 14:50 – 15:20
Moving Forward Together: The Importance of Raising Digital Inclusion to Improve Educational Outcomes in Your Setting
Understanding the causes and extent of digital inequity as well as the effects this is likely to have on school cohesion and outcomes.
How can you effectively and ethically use data to tailor and strengthen the case for edtech support programmes and promote inclusive education within your setting.
How to identify and prioritise the most effective methods to support digital and media literacy and uptake amongst underserved students.
Speakers
Nic Ponsford, Doctoral Researcher and Founder and CEO, GEC (Global Equality Collective) (Confirmed)
Elizabeth Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Poverty Alliance (Confirmed)
Every year the show unites over 4,000 visitors from Schools, Academies, MATs, Local Authorities, Central Government and the wider education sector, who seek strategic business and school improvement plans for improved staff and pupil outcomes.
This year, they welcome three co-located shows; The SEND Conference, EdTech Innovate & The School Estates Summit, providing senior leaders access to network with peers and build relationships with top education suppliers under one roof.
Everything you need to map the future of your school will be all in one place for one day, including us. 🙋♀️ Join insightful discussions, be inspired by the amazing speakers and network with educators and education service providers from around the UK.
As the UK’s leading education show, this is the place to find out more about the latest leadership solutions, nurture your professional growth, stay up to date with the latest education developments and share recent successes and challenges with other educators.
We. Can’t. Wait! Register for a ticket to enjoy a day of free CPD accredited content, at what is gearing up to an unmissable show.
Read more about the event here
National Diversity Awards - Voting
We’re proud to share that the Global Equality Collective (GEC) and our amazing Founder & CEO, Nic Ponsford, have been nominated in three categories at this year’s National Diversity Awards:
Entrepreneur of Excellence – Nic Ponsford
Positive Role Model (Gender) – Nic Ponsford
Community Organisation (Multi-Strand) – The GEC Circle
We’ve been nominated before. We’ve even been shortlisted. But we’ve never made it to the finals.
Could this be the year we finally put #EdTech and #Inclusion on the national stage?
With the release of our new report, ‘26,000 Voices: What Students and Staff Really Think About Inclusion’, the timing couldn’t be more powerful. We’ve surfaced the hidden truths about belonging in schools — now let’s make sure the whole country hears them.
But we need your help – and quickly!
Please take 1 minute to vote here before the deadline at midnight on Tuesday 14th May:
Vote for the Community Organisation Award: GEC Circle
Vote for Positive Role Model Award for Gender: Nic Ponsford
Vote for Entrepreneur of Excellence Award: Nic Ponsford
Together, we’re leading the #InclusionRevolution. Let’s make sure GEC is recognised for the impact we've all created – in schools, communities, and the future of education.
Let’s make this the year we change the game.
Thank you, as always, for being with us.
With gratitude,
The GEC Team
#InclusionRevolution #IntentionalInclusion #EdTech #NDA25
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Neurodiversity Celebration Week Webinar
Building the Neuroinclusive Classroom of Tomorrow…Today!
A future classroom dominated by AI is exciting for some, but confusing, threatening and overwhelming for many. But what can we do today with the technology we already have? Marius Frank, Co-Head of Education at Microlink, will be joined by tech creators and educators who are already transforming the learning journey, through breakthrough applications, products and thought leadership that is rewriting the inclusion playbook.
How can a furry mammal called ALPACA spot early literacy challenges before a child can even read? How can “drop-curb” thinking benefit every learner? Can a teacher interact in real-time in five different languages? What is social and emotional accessibility? Join us and find out!
Sign up for this webinar here.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Human Intelligence in the Age of AI - A Partnership Event between Centre for Data Futures and AI in Education
An opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field as well as engage in roundtable discussions and contribute towards a manifesto.
AI at best can sharpen, develop and nurture human intelligence in all its forms, not least for those lacking specialist teachers in certain subjects, those with SEND and amongst those whose attendance record is low. But there is another side to AI. It could short-circuit deep learning, encourage over-dependence, and detract from the hard graft which is necessary in all real intellectual formation.
The technology is developing at a frightening pace, and no one seems certain how it can be shaped and made safer, and indeed if either are possible. Some figures like Dominic Cummings are arguing that AI is already in charge and the battle has been lost. This timely conference will bring together a brilliant array of academics, practitioners, cultural leaders and policy makers in common cause of producing a manifesto to present to government on what we believe needs to be done to ensure that AI deepens educational opportunity for all, rather than undercuts and sacrifices it.
Confirmed speakers:
Sir Anthony Seldon
Professor Rose Luckin
Professor Sylvie Delacroix
Professor Neil Lawrence
Andy Wolfe
Professor Michael Sanders
Sarah Ellis
For further information and to register your place - https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/human-intelligence-in-the-age-of-ai
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
ASCL Spring Data Leader and Accountability Conference – Making sense of data and accountability for the year ahead
Whenever there is an event talking data in education, you can bet your bottom dollar we want to be there. So it was a big “yes!” from us when our CEO and Founder, Nic Ponsford, was asked to deliver the Keynote at today’s Association of School and College Leaders Spring Data Leader and Accountability Conference.
This awesome conference from ASCL is there to help school and college leaders make sense of data and accountability for the year ahead. Schools are no strangers to data, but Nic’s approach (honed from years of lived experience working in education) is about using the RIGHT data in the RIGHT way to take it from being just numbers on a page to insights that can be turned into actionable practice.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
BETT London
We are thrilled to announce that we are a BETT Partner again this year and Nic will be speaking at the following sessions:
Sessions
24-Jan-2025, 12:00– 12:30pm Teaching & Learning/ Inclusion in the mainstream classroom
24-Jan-2025, 13:30– 14:00pm The Arena/ Bridging gaps: How can we create a more equitable education system
Get your ticket here: https://uk.bettshow.com/visitor-registration
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
SSAT Member Annual Conference: Doing things differently: Are there really more neurodiverse learners?
This year’s theme for the Schools, Students and Teachers (SSAT) Network Conference is “Doing things differently: Are there really more neurodiverse learners?”
And GEC CEO and Founder Nic Ponsford, is looking forward to getting stuck into this important topic that’s right up our street . We believe that embracing the needs, thoughts and experiences of our neurodivergent students, staff and communities is the only way for schools to become truly inclusive places to be.
On Monday, Nic will be leading a discussion and Q&A on “Understanding Neurodiversity” to cover how we can embrace #neuroinclusive cultures in education to support our neurodivergent students, colleagues and families.
Will we see you there? 👉 SSAT Member Conference 2024 - SSAT
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.
Schools and Academies Show
We are thrilled to be partnering and speaking with the #SAAS in November!
You will find Nic at the School Improvement Theatre:
10am - A holistic look at school improvement: Developing school settings for the benefit of your whole school community
1:25pm: Bums on seats: What can you do to improve school attendance?
Ask Me Anything
Open to all GEC Members (future and existing), Relationship Manager Liv holds a weekly public session to answer ‘anything’ on the GEC Platform. This could be a demo, how to roll it out across an organisation, some tech tips or DEI coaching. This is open to all GEC Members globally.