Winter Business Insight Day & AGM 2025

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:

• What is the Government’s vision and policy direction on areas such as SEND, Early Years and EdTech?

• How can government, institutions and industry collaborate to deliver the UK’s refreshed international education strategy?

• Where is educational progress taking place in the UK, and where do gaps that need to be addressed exist?

With new policies, legislation and direction for the UK’s education sector, 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. 

Agenda Highlights

Opening Keynote: The Future of International Education
Professor Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion
Join Sir Steve Smith, the UK Government’s International Education Champion, as he opens the conference with a powerful keynote exploring the future of the UK’s role in global education. In this timely address, Sir Steve will reflect on the evolving international education strategy, the UK’s position as a trusted global partner, and how government, institutions, and industry can work together to deliver meaningful, sustainable impact worldwide.

Understanding the Government’s Vision and Policy Direction: SEND, Early Years & Edtech
Chair: Caroline Wright, Director General, BESA
Panel:
– Felicity Gillespie, Chief Executive, KindredSquared
– Caroline Keep, Doctoral Researcher (Educational Technology), University of Lancashire
– Professor Miles Berry, Professor of Computing Education, University of Roehampton
As part of our exploration of the UK Government’s key education priorities, this session will delve into the evolving policy landscape for Early Years education. With growing national focus on school readiness, childcare expansion, workforce development, and funding reform, this discussion will unpack what these initiatives mean for providers, suppliers, and educators. A panel of experts will examine the opportunities and challenges emerging from recent announcements, including implications for the EYFS framework, sustainability of settings, and how suppliers can align with national strategy.

The Learning Divide: EPI’s Regional Breakdown Revealed
David Robinson, Director for Post-16 & Skill, Education Policy Institute
This session explores the key findings of the Education Policy Institute’s Annual Report, with a focus on regional and local authority differences in educational outcomes. From Early Years Foundation Stage to primary and secondary levels, we’ll examine where progress is being made—and where persistent gaps remain. Join us for an evidence-led discussion on what this data means for policymakers, suppliers, and educators aiming to address inequality.

Afternoon Keynote: Tracking Progress: A Sector View on Education Priorities with Schools Week
John Dickens, Editor, Schools Week
Delivered by John Dickens, Editor of Schools Week, this keynote will take a reflective look at the Government’s progress against its stated education priorities. Drawing on his perspective as a leading sector journalist, John will explore where momentum has been made, where challenges remain, and how schools are experiencing these policies in practice. Spanning Early Years through to secondary, the session will consider what the evidence suggests and what it may mean for the future direction of education policy.

Beyond the Headlines: The Real Story of the Attendance Crisis
Chair: Matt Koster-Marcon, CEO, Learning Ladders Education, Vice Chair of BESA Executive Council
Panel:
– Sarah Loy, Family Support Manager / Safeguarding Lead, School-Home Support
– Peter Harvey, SHS SEND Practitioner, School Home Support
– Cathy Stygal, Headteacher, Mayesbrook Park School
The school attendance crisis is often reduced to headlines that miss the deeper, systemic issues. In this session, Matt Koster-Marcon (Vice Chair of BESA and Trustee at School-Home Support) leads a conversation with expert practitioners and school leaders working directly with families, schools, and children to uncover the real barriers to attendance. They’ll shine a light on the lived realities behind the data, and how we can all help create social impact that truly changes lives.

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.

Speakers

Professor Sir Steve Smith, UK Government International Education Champion

Professor Sir Steve Smith was appointed as the UK Government International Education Champion in June 2020, a role aimed at boosting global education partnerships. In October 2020, he was also appointed as the UK Government Special Advisor to Saudi Arabia for Education. His reappointment to both roles was confirmed in 2024. He holds a BSc, an MSc, and a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southampton. He served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter and held various prominent positions in the UK education sector, most notably as the President of Universities UK (UUK) and the Chair of the UCAS Board. Sir Steve has been recognised internationally for his work.

Felicity Gillespie, Chief Executive, KindredSquared

Felicity Gillespie is the Chief Executive of Kindred2, a private foundation focused on improving the quality of early childhood development. Felicity has been an Advisor to the UK Department for Education since 2011and the lead specialist Academy Governance Advisor for six years. A board member of Ofsted, previous roles include establishing the Broadcast Training and Skills Regulator and The National Teaching Awards A former Associate of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and of the National College of School Leadership, Felicity speaks on the British education system at conferences and seminars in the USA, Middle East and UK.

Caroline Keep, Doctoral Researcher (Educational Technology), University of Lancashire

Caroline is an award-winning Teacher, AI & Edtech Researcher, and Data Scientist. She is currently completing her PhD research at The University of Central Lancaster. Crafting a unique Autistic & Disabled edu/tech narrative.

Professor Miles Berry, Professor of Computing Education, University of Roehampton

Miles is Professor of Computing Education at the University of Roehampton, where he runs the secondary PGCE in computing course, teaches on the University’s digital media and social science research methods degrees, and is a member of the University’s AI development and innovation group. He chairs the BCS England computing curriculum committee, and until recently was chair of the National Centre for Computing Education’s academic board. He is a consultant for a number of international curriculum and professional development projects.

David Robinson, Director for Post-16 & Skill, Education Policy Institute

David joined the Education Policy Institute in June 2017. David’s background includes 6 years at the Department for Education, as the lead analyst first on school accountability and then on capital funding. David led on the analysis and research that informed the reforms to school accountability in Primary schools, Secondary schools and 16-19 settings; most notably the development of the Progress 8 measure. He also led the economic analysis of the department’s capital funding proposals during the 2015 Comprehensive Spending Review. More recently David was the Associate Director for Policy, Research and Evaluation at the Education Partnership Group, an organisation that supports education system and policy reforms in developing countries. David is a statistician by background, but has also led economic and research work programmes.

Matthew Koster-Marcon, CEO, Learning Ladders Education

Matt is the Founding CEO of Learning Ladders Education, an award-winning EdTech platform that improves school assessment data management and parental involvement in learning for International Schools across Early Years, Primary and Lower Secondary. He is a former teacher, education author, speaker, Trustee at the charity School Home Support, and is also Chair of Governors at his local school. Matt has been a member of the Executive Council since 2017, and served as Chair of the EdTech Special Interest Group for 5 years. He was voted by BESA members to be Vice Chair in 2024.

Cathy Stygal, Headteacher, Mayesbrook Park School 

I am currently the headteacher of Mayesbrook Park School, a Pupil Referral Unit, in Barking and Dagenham, East London. I have worked in secondary education for over thirty-five years, with the last fourteen years in my current school. I am passionate about ensuring that the children and young people (CYP) we work with are given the best possible experiences and opportunities to be successful in whatever way suits them.
In my current role I work closely with other agencies and strategic partners to support our students and other CYP in the borough, to safeguard them and broaden their horizons.

Sarah Loy, Family Support Manager / Safeguarding Lead, School-Home Support

Sarah comes from a background of 20 years in primary education. Her previous role was deputy headteacher and DSL of a primary school in the heart of Blackpool. As a mum of 5, Sarah understands the ups and downs of family life. She is passionate about young people and families reaching their full potential and thriving by getting them the right support at the right time and understands the importance of schools working in partnership with families in order to best achieve this. Sarah’s responsibilities include safeguarding lead, family support manager and economic well being lead for School-Home Support.

Peter Harvey, SHS SEND Practitioner – School Home Support

I have worked for SHS for nearly 5 years, the first 18 months as a basic Practitioner before being promoted to Send which is my passion. a huge contributing factor for said passion is my need to address the harrowing statistic that 97% of children excluded from schools at primary stage are SEND.

Hear from past delegates

Venue Details

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