Louis Theroux

Documentary presenter extraordinaire Louis Theroux will take to the stage to interview a VERY special guest. Over the years, Louis has kept true to a way of working that is uniquely his own, using his charm to offer rounded portraits of the people involved in complex social issues and human dilemmas.

Jaime Teevan and Kay Firth-Butterfielde

Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow at Microsoft, and Kay Firth-Butterfield, CEO of the Good Tech Advisory, are two of the most renowned and respected global authorities on artificial intelligence. Jaime will discuss the fundamental shifts in what will matter most in the future of work and learning, and Kay will look at the importance of governance, particularly when using AI with vulnerable populations.

Dame Darcey Bussell

By popular demand, Dame Darcey Bussell is back at Bett to share her passion and dedication to promoting the arts in schools through her DDMIX Trust charity. As a special treat the audience will also experience a little of the magic of dance with one of Britain's greatest ballerinas.

Jason Arday

In the afternoon, hear from Jason Arday, a renowned sociologist best known for his research on race and racism. His appointment as Professor of Sociology of Education at the University of Cambridge this year made him the youngest Black person ever appointed to a Professorial Chair and one of the youngest people ever to be appointed to a full Professorship in Oxbridge's history.

Mr P ICT

Primary school teacher Lee Parkinson, whose popular training has earned him the moniker Mr P ICT, will look at how AI tools can save time and how best to use that time to deliver a more creative curriculum. The blogger and podcaster is known for his tips on bringing innovative approaches to education through technology.

Donald Clark and Carla Aerts (Ahead by Bett)

Ahead by Bett starts with a deep dive into Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Donald Clark, a learning tech entrepreneur, CEO, blogger and author of AI for Learning, and Carla Aerts, an education futures consultant and thought leader. Hear how AI will fundamentally change the human relationship with technology, with real life examples of learning engagement, novel pedagogic techniques, teaching support and new forms of assessment.

Dr Chahna Gonsalves (Ahead by Bett)

In the afternoon at Ahead by Bett, Dr Chahna Gonsalves, a lecturer in marketing (education) at King’s Business School, King's College London, will talk about assessment, pedagogy, and workplace readiness in the age of generative AI. What are the innovative ways we can leverage AI in Assessment? How does pedagogy need to change?

PLUS SO MUCH MORE...

The Design4SDGs Challenge closes our first day on the Arena. The competition, open to all UK students aged 9-14, was created to promote big thinking and innovative ideas on a large scale, providing solutions for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On the Teaching & Learning theatre, we’ll be looking at blended learning pedagogy and practice in European primary and secondary schools. There will be a wellbeing panel discussion focused on school refusal emotionally based school avoidance, looking at the causes, prevention, mitigation and how EdTech can support students and teachers. The afternoon will feature tips and tricks, from free and affordable apps for the classroom to exploring the power of storytelling. 

Alex Scott MBE

The former Arsenal Captain and England Centurion is a well-regarded pundit for BBC and Sky Sports, a regular on BBC's Match of the Day as well as fronting ambassadorial campaigns with Nike, Barclays and Cadbury's. In a fireside chat Alex will talk about proving her worth in a male-dominated sport and not letting racial discrimination limit her success.

Namya Joshi

We love hearing the youth voice at Bett, particularly when they are as inspiring as Namya Joshi, who will deliver a keynote on the Arena and later on the Esports stage. Living life by her own motto #EachOneTeachTen, the 16 year-old has helped more than 15,000 teachers and young people teach and learn through tech.

Andreas Schleicher

Director for Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Andreas Schleicher has been called 'the most important man in English education' – even though he is German and lives in France. He initiated and oversees PISA, the OECD’s program for international student assessment and has worked for over 20 years with ministers and education leaders around the world to improve quality and equity in education.

Jim Steyer and Sir Peter Wanless 

While AI tools can amplify learning outcomes at extraordinary speed and scale, AI also raises the stakes, with children disproportionately impacted by misuse and inaccuracy. Join Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of US charity Common Sense Media, and Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of UK children’s charity NSPCC, in a fireside chat to explore these burgeoning concerns and leave with actionable insights and resources for your classroom. 

Jeffrey Boakye

Author, educator and broadcaster Jeffrey Boakye will be sharing his thoughts on how engaging with lived experiences and exploring identity can lead to transformative teaching and learning relationships. His session will also consider the principles that underpin curriculum design alongside wider approaches to technology in schools. In all of this, Jeffrey will explore the ways in which broad perspectives of context are vital to leverage core values, one teacher at a time.

Professor Rose Luckin (Ahead by Bett)

To improve our understanding the learning process, Rose Luckin, Professor at University College London and Founder of EDUCATE Ventures, explores how Higher Education institutions can better understand their data, model solutions with machine learning, and most importantly understand challenges at the most fundamental level. Joined by a special guest at Ahead by Bett, Rose will ask the question: How can we put ethical AI analytics to work on student data to gain a better understanding of what’s happening inside of learning?

Mel Gomes (Ahead at Bett)

In the afternoon, a panel, led by Mel Gomes, will discuss how commercial and strategic leaders can enable a thriving innovation culture in their IT teams? They will share their top tips for creating a culture of innovation and digital transformation in UK universities. This session will cover applying skills and operating models to vendor management, continuous market engagement, coordinated roadmap planning, stakeholder collaboration and service design.

GESAwards

The Arena day wraps up with the GESAwards Finals, a showcase of the 20 best EdTech startups from around the world run by our partners on the Global Futures stage, renowned education innovation centre, GESA MindCET, an Israeli EdTech innovation centre.

PLUS SO MUCH MORE...

Talks continue into the evening with our popular Teachmeet feature, where international and UK teachers get on stage to share their knowledge, inspiring stories and ideas.

Social robots, immersion rooms, AI adult phonic books, and gamification will feature on the Teaching & Learning theatre for a session on tech for children with autism and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The Global Futures stage will feature two-hour-long pitching sessions from startups at different stages of evolution, and will finish with a female founders networking session.

On the Esports stage, we’ll be asking, in a session about online safety and wellbeing, how much gaming is too much gaming? 

Baroness Floella Benjamin

Acclaimed children’s authors warm the morning of the final day of Bett, beginning with actress, presenter, writer, and children's advocate Baroness Floella Benjamin, one of Britain’s favourite presenters from the iconic children’s TV programmes Playschool and PlayAway.  

Michael Rosen

Bett favourite, Michael Rosen, takes to the Arena. The renowned writer, poet and broadcaster has published around 200 books and is currently Professor of Children’s Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.  

Kids Judge Bett

After an exclusive Bett book signing, Michael Rosen will rejoin the Arena stage for the popular feature Kids Judge Bett, which puts students in charge. Winning companies are presented with their prize, a coveted chocolate trophy!

Dan Fitzpatrick

We’re thrilled to be welcoming back Dan Fitzpatrick, The AI Educator, whose 2023 talk was bursting at the seams. Author of the acclaimed book, The AI Classroom, Dan imparts invaluable insights and strategies for harnessing AI in education.

Hayley Mulenda (Ahead by Bett)

Author and Change Agent Hayley Mulenda will share her experience of how mental health issues are increasingly affecting millennials, a topic addressed in her award-winning book  ‘The ABCs To Student Success’.  In this session, Hayley will be interviewed by a student from the Jisc Change Agents Network and we’ll hear about the skills students will need to succeed in future careers and what a Higher Education experience means to students today. 

Bronwyn Kunhardt (Ahead by Bett)

The boundaries of teachers’ and students’ roles are becoming increasingly blurred. This session will explore peer learning networks, digital upskilling and professional requalification into software development. Bronwyn Kunhardt, CEO of 42 London, a free, non-profit programming school targeting diverse communities, will discuss with three of her ex-students the magic of peer learning and how it develops teamwork, critical thinking and rethinking failure in a coding context.

Perry Hobson and Gill Ferrell (Ahead by Bett)

Our final day will look at how to build an AI taskforce in a Higher Education organisation with Perry Hobson, Director, Breda University, and Gill Ferrell, Program Director 1EdTech Europe, a member-led EdTech partnership accelerating the digital transformation of learning.

National Star College

Also on the Arena, students from National Star College, the charity Further Education institution for representing learners with disabilities, explore the profound impact of technology on their lives, illuminating a path from limitations to boundless possibilities.

PLUS SO MUCH MORE...

On the Teaching & Learning stage we’ll have sessions on accessibility & AI in the classroom, plus even more pitching over on the Global Showcase stage. 

At her second Bett appearance, the amazing Namya Joshi will share how lesson plans can be made more engaging through gaming platforms in an interactive workshop. Namya will walk you through the best ways to develop educational resources, using popular platforms such as Minecraft, and help develop essential skills for the future workplace.