Events

Winter Business Insight Day & AGM 2026

Member only

Winter Business Insight Day & AGM 2026

When

Thursday, 19 November 11:00am - 7:00pm

Where

One Great George Street, Westminster, London

Price

Early Bird £120 + VAT & fees | Standard £145 + VAT & fees

BESA is pleased to announce the return of our annual flagship Winter Insight Day & AGM, the member-exclusive event that brings education leaders together at the heart of Westminster – proudly sponsored by Wonde.

As well as influential networking opportunities and a chance to make your voice heard at our annual AGM, the day will answer key questions such as:

How can schools and suppliers work together to deliver effective, practical SEND support that meets the needs of all learners?
What does strong evidence look like in education technology, and how can suppliers demonstrate impact in meaningful ways?
How can schools, policymakers and industry collaborate to improve outcomes and ensure innovation delivers real value in the classroom?

With ongoing developments in education policy, evolving expectations around evidence and impact, and growing demand for inclusive learning solutions, join us at One Great George Street in Westminster for unparalleled insights on everything you need to know ahead of planning for next year.

Take a look at our agenda for this year’s event below, a must-attend opportunity for any organisation operating in the education sector.

Ticket sales close on Friday 13 November 2026.

This event is for BESA members only. BESA will not be offering refunds for this event. It is possible to transfer your ticket to a colleague at any point from the time of booking to 7 working days before the event.

Agenda Highlights

Opening Keynote
Speaker announcement coming soon!

SEND in Practice: What Schools Need, What Works, and How Suppliers Can Help
Peter Reeves, Digital Education Lead, Cavendish Education
James Roach, Chief Executive Officer, Inclusive Multi Academy Trust
This panel will dive into the future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the UK, exploring the impact of current reforms, challenges, and opportunities for both schools and educational suppliers. A panel of educators, policy experts, and SEND leaders will discuss the changing landscape of SEND education, including how schools are preparing for upcoming policy shifts, evolving student needs, and innovative approaches to support.

From Evidence to Impact: What the EdTech Evidence Board Outcomes Mean for Suppliers and Schools
Chair: Caroline Wright, Director General, BESA
Panel:
Lord Jim Knight, Chair, COBIS & Century-Tech
Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Founder, National PedTech Partnership
Dr Robin Bevan, Education Leadership Specialist & EdTech Evidence Board Member
The EdTech Evidence Board is shaping a clearer, more consistent approach to what “good evidence” looks like in education technology. But what does this actually mean in practice for suppliers developing products and for schools making purchasing decisions? This panel brings together leading voices from across policy, research, and schools to unpack the key outcomes and explore how evidence can move from a theoretical concept to a practical tool for impact. Expect honest insights, real-world perspectives, and clear guidance on how to align product development, evaluation, and procurement with emerging expectations.

Exporting Session
Further agenda highlights to be revealed

Devolution and the Future of Education: What Happens Next?
Panel:
Hannah Larsen, Policy Officer, British Chambers of Commerce
As powers and funding continue to move from Westminster to regional authorities, what does this mean for the future of education, skills, workforce development and employer engagement? This panel brings together leaders from further education, local government, regional economic development and business to explore how devolved decision-making is reshaping the education landscape across England. From the growth of mayoral combined authorities to the ambitions of the Northern Powerhouse, we’ll examine how regions are responding to skills shortages, supporting employers, and creating education systems that reflect local economic priorities.

Speakers

Lord Jim Knight, Chair, COBIS & Century-Tech

Jim is the Non-Executive Chair of a number of education boards: E-Act Multi Academy Trust, Council of British International Schools, Century-Tech, Good Futures Foundation and STEM Learning Ltd. He also sits on the Pearson Qualifications Committee and provides advice to Nord Anglia Education, GoodNotes, Edwin Group and Blackbaud. He is a Privy Counsellor and sits on the Communications and Digital Committee of the UK House of Lords.

As a government minister and MP, Jim’s portfolios included rural affairs, schools, digital and employment. He was a member of Gordon Brown’s Cabinet, before joining the Lords in 2010.

Peter Reeves, Digital Education Lead, Cavendish Education

Peter Reeves, Digital Education Lead at Cavendish Education, oversees the development of technology-based training programmes. Originally a primary teacher, he now specialises in senior IT and Maths. His extensive background in the Special Educational Needs (SEND) sector informs his innovative integration of educational technology. Notably, Peter led Abingdon House School to become the UK’s first SEND Google Reference School, earning him international speaking opportunities. His primary focus is on removing learning barriers for students requiring alternative curriculum access. Peter’s approach emphasises using simple, effective procedures and constantly questioning educational practices to best serve his students’ unique needs.

Dr Robin Bevan, Education Leadership Specialist & EdTech Evidence Board Member

An education ‘leadership’ specialist: Robin’s school senior leadership experience spans four decades, with 17 years as Headteacher/CEO. In 2007, his PhD was awarded by Cambridge University for pioneering research into collaborative online learning environments (with UCLA). Robin’s national roles in educational/organisational leadership incl.: national Teaching Commission (2024-); Patron of the Institute of School Business Leadership (2017-); Ethical Leadership Alliance board (2023-).; NACE Trustee (2025-). He was national President of the National Education Union; Chair of the National Teacher Research Panel; EPPI ‘meta-analysis’ Research Synthesis contributor; and is a founding Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching.

Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Founder, National PedTech Partnership

Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith an independent consultant researcher who works closely with schools to support a deeper understanding of pedagogy and practice in a contemporary landscape.

She is a PhD supervisor and examiner, and co-author of the best selling book From EdTech to PedTech: Changing the way we think about digital technology. Fiona is Co-founder of the National PedTech Partnership and The Open School UK, and sits on a number of advisory and charitable boards. In 2024, Fiona was granted Freedom of the City of London, and Fiona was named EduFuturist of the Year 2025.

Hear from past delegates

“BESA’s Insights day was the perfect mix of market insight, inspiration, policy review and networking. Thank you a great day which will provide reflection and strategic influence for our vision for a long time to come.”
Nicola Allen, Educake

“I thought this was the best BESA event I’ve been to in the 10 years that I have been a member. All of the speakers were excellent, the venue was spectacular and there was plenty of opportunity built in for networking.”
Mike Kelly, Green Shoots Market Intelligence

Headline Sponsor

Wonde is a leading provider of cloud-based school data management that connects educators and pupils with learning applications and classroom tools in a simple and secure way. Wonde extracts data (i.e. student, teacher and parent records) from within a school, stores it in the cloud and then provides third party applications access to relevant, secure, up to date data.

Timings

11:00am
Arrival and refreshments

11:21am
Welcome

11:23am
BESA AGM

11:48am
Introduction to the Conference

11:50am
A word from our Headline Sponsor Wonde

11:55am
Opening Keynote
Speaker announcement coming soon!

12:35am
Lunch

1:50pm
SEND in Practice: What Schools Need, What Works, and How Suppliers Can Help
Peter Reeves, Digital Education Lead, Cavendish Education
James Roach, Chief Executive Officer, Inclusive Multi Academy Trust
This panel will dive into the future of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the UK, exploring the impact of current reforms, challenges, and opportunities for both schools and educational suppliers. A panel of educators, policy experts, and SEND leaders will discuss the changing landscape of SEND education, including how schools are preparing for upcoming policy shifts, evolving student needs, and innovative approaches to support.

2:30pm
From Evidence to Impact: What the EdTech Evidence Board Outcomes Mean for Suppliers and Schools
Chair: Caroline Wright, Director General, BESA
Panel:
Lord Jim Knight, Chair, COBIS & Century-Tech
Dr Fiona Aubrey-Smith, Founder, National PedTech Partnership
Dr Robin Bevan, Education Leadership Specialist & EdTech Evidence Board Member
The EdTech Evidence Board is shaping a clearer, more consistent approach to what “good evidence” looks like in education technology. But what does this actually mean in practice for suppliers developing products and for schools making purchasing decisions? This panel brings together leading voices from across policy, research, and schools to unpack the key outcomes and explore how evidence can move from a theoretical concept to a practical tool for impact. Expect honest insights, real-world perspectives, and clear guidance on how to align product development, evaluation, and procurement with emerging expectations.

3:10pm
Refreshments

3:30pm
Exporting Session
Further agenda highlights to be revealed

4:20pm
Devolution and the Future of Education: What Happens Next?
Panel:
Hannah Larsen, Policy Officer, British Chambers of Commerce
As powers and funding continue to move from Westminster to regional authorities, what does this mean for the future of education, skills, workforce development and employer engagement? This panel brings together leaders from further education, local government, regional economic development and business to explore how devolved decision-making is reshaping the education landscape across England. From the growth of mayoral combined authorities to the ambitions of the Northern Powerhouse, we’ll examine how regions are responding to skills shortages, supporting employers, and creating education systems that reflect local economic priorities.

5:00pm
Closing words

5:10pm
Drinks reception

7:00pm
Close of event

Venue Details

One Great George Street, 1 Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA

The conference is being held in the Great Hall and the Telford Theatre on the 1st floor. Enter the building by the main entrance and then take the stairs or the lift on the left.

Read more about the venue’s sustainability practices.

Read more about the venue’s accessibility information.

For any assistance on the day, please contact the BESA Events Team.

London Underground

Both Westminster (Exit 6) on the District, Circle and Jubilee lines, and St James’s Park on the District and Circle lines, are just 5 minutes walk away. For more information, visit the Transport for London website.

Walking Directions from Westminster Underground (Exit 6)

When you arrive at the top of the stairs you will be on Whitehall. Turn around (as if you were to walk back down the stairs) you are now facing Parliament Square. Walk around to the right onto Great George Street until you come to two sets of traffic lights. Cross over both and continue walking straight down Great George Street for about 1 minute. One Great George Street is the last building on the corner of Great George Street and Storey’s Gate. The building is also the home of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

By Rail

London’s mainline stations at Waterloo, Victoria and Charing Cross are minutes away by foot or by Underground. For further information visit the National Rail website.

By Bus

Numerous bus routes pass within a 1-2 minute walk of One Great George Street. Bus routes stopping near Parliament Square include: 3, 11, 12, 24, 53, 87, 88, 148, 159, 211 and 453. For further information visit the Transport for London website.

Disabled Parking

The nearest Blue Badge disabled parking bay is located on Matthew Parker Street (drive down Storey’s Gate to the west of the venue and take the second right). Alternatively, a little further away, there are bays on Old Queen Street and Queen Anne’s Gate. These Blue Badge bays offer free parking for up to 4 hours between 08.30 and 18.30 Mon-Fri and unlimited parking at any other time. Please see Westminster Council’s website for further information.

Congestion Charge

One Great George Street lies within the charging area. For more information, including charges, visit the Transport for London website.

To ask any questions, please email eventsteam@besa.org.uk.

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