Tuesday morning - Strand one breakout sessions

1.01 - Bridging policy and practice: What do the latest 16-18 policy developments mean for your curriculum?

Hall 9

Lead organisation: Pearson

Speakers:

• Deidre Williams, Director - VQ Portfolio Management, Pearson
• Julie Kapsalis, Principal and Chief Executive, NESCOT
• Keith Smith, Chief Executive, HRUC
• Jo Ricketts, Deputy Principal, Herefordshire, Ludlow and North Shropshire College
  
• Lisa Capper MBE, Principal & Chief Executive, The Sandwell

The UK’s education and skills system are at a crossroads. To meet the needs of a rapidly evolving future, the policy environment is shifting – creating both opportunity and uncertainty. In this agile session we will examine the very latest policy developments for Post 16 skills and education through a dynamic panel discussion. We will examine how colleges can translate emerging policy into practice, offering insights and inspiration for future proofing your provision.

1.02 - Make it, get it, use it: Successful extended reality (XR) strategies for further education

Executive room 7

Lead organisation: Activate Learning

Speakers:

• Matt Clack, Extended Realities Development Manager, Activate Learning
• Matt Beck, Director of Blended and Online Learning, Blended Learning Consortium, Heart Of Worcestershire College
• Marc Challans, Group Head of Learning Environments, Activate Learning

This jam-packed insight session will cover all the key elements for successfully using XR (Extended Reality) in Further Education (FE), delivered by senior leaders working in the sector. It will explore Activate Learning’s approach to developing purposeful XR learning tools — including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and other immersive experiences. You’ll also hear how they’ve partnered with the Blended Learning Consortium (BLC) to improve the affordability, access, and support of XR across the FE sector, following previous success with cost-effective multimedia resources. The session will also share best practice and key lessons learned on how to effectively introduce XR into lesson planning, classroom delivery, and safeguarding in college environments. As well as a Q&A, there will be opportunities to try out some of Activate Learning’s VR tools, which are available to colleges through the BLC.

1.03 - From disruption to direction: A strategic framework for artificial intelligence

Hall 5

Lead organisation: Jisc

Speaker:

• Michael Webb, Director of AI, Jisc

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already part of everyday life in colleges, shaping how students learn, how staff work and how institutions run. The challenge now is using it in ways that are purposeful, responsible and sustainable. This session introduces Jisc’s new strategic framework for AI, built around three key areas: skills and knowledge, technology and governance, all underpinned by data maturity. You’ll hear real examples from colleges, including pilots, training and community resources, and take away practical ideas to build confidence, make sustainable choices and embed effective governance with the support of your peers.

1.04 - Diversifying the curriculum

Executive room 2

Lead organisation: Solihull College and University Centre

Speakers:

• Grace Wynne Willson, Student EDI and Enrichment Manager/Quality Coach, Solihull College and University Centre
• Sam Bansal, Lecturer/Student Enrichment Co-ordinator, Solihull College and University Centre

In response to student feedback calling for greater diversity and representation within the curriculum, particularly in relation to race, religion and culture, LGBT+ inclusion, gender, and disability, we have implemented a college-wide initiative to reshape curriculum planning in a way that ensures all voices are heard and reflected. This session shares how we engaged staff and students through training and the creation of inclusive teaching resources that prioritise voice, choice, and identity. Delegates will leave with practical tools and strategies to implement in their own settings designed to support truly inclusive learning environments with measurable impact on learners.

1.05 - Further education socio-economic impact framework

Hall 8b

Lead organisation: BMet

Speakers:

• Pat Carvalho, AoC President, Principal and CEO, Birmingham Metropolitan College
• Janet Gardner, Principal and CEO, Waltham Forest College
• Tony Medhurst, Principal and CEO, Hertford Regional College
• Jacqueline Carman, Principal, Halesowen College
• Laurence Frewin, Principal and CEO, South Devon College
• Stephen Davis, CEO and Group Principal, United Colleges Group
• Jason Lancaster, Principal and CEO, Northampton College

This session will share the framework that provides any college with the ability to contextualise metrics to their local and regional context demonstrating we are engines of social mobility, skills development and economic growth. The benefits are that it will enable a college to demonstrate it's economic and social benefits to its local and regional stakeholders and communities it serves. The session will enable participants to discuss with the principals' working group how they have used it for their college and opportunity to contribute to the consultation with the further education sector.

1.06 - Internationalising the curriculum: Creating and sustaining global partnership opportunities

Hall 6b

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges

Speakers:

• Nina Chorzelewski (Chair), Policy Manager, Association of Colleges
• Katherine Emms, Education and Policy Senior Researcher, Edge Foundation
• Jonathan Ledger, Skills and Professional Bodies Specialist, Department of Business and Trade
• John Beaty, Principal and Chief Executive, Burton and South Derbyshire College
• Jee Hang Lee, President and CEO, Association of Community College Trustees

As we live in an increasingly globally connected world, creating opportunities for international engagement has never been more important. International engagement fosters cross cultural understanding, enhances employability skills and enriches learning through opening up diverse perspectives. This breakout session will explore ways in which colleges can internationalise their curriculum through student mobility and exchange schemes, develop an international offer and create sustainable international partnerships. The panel session will offer examples of partnership working and will consider how to navigate some of the challenges and complexities of international work.

1.07 - From treatment to prevention: How colleges can build a healthier society

Executive room 8

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges

Speakers:

• Tom Underwood, Joint NHSE/DHSC Strategy Team, NHS England
• Andrew Cropley, Principal, West Nottinghamshire College
• Gemma Williams, Group Head of Wellbeing & Relational Practice, Leeds City College
• Hilary Fordham, Governor & Former Integrated Place Lead, North Lancashire, Lancaster & Morecambe College
• Lewis Cooper, Director of Public Affairs & Campaigns, Association of Colleges

This session will explore the role of colleges in delivering on the government’s shift from treatment to prevention - ahead of our upcoming report with the NHS Confederation. Attendees will hear from colleges leading on preventative mental and physical health initiatives. They will examine key challenges and share guidance on how colleges can build effective relationships with local health partners. It will also be an opportunity to hear early findings from the report and discuss what change is needed from government, health partners and colleges themselves to deliver more fully on preventative health.

1.08 - Leading a phenomenal culture: Using evidence informed CPD to drive your college improvement

Hall 11a

Lead organisation: East Lancashire Learning Group (formerly Nelson & Colne College Group)

Speaker:

• Fionnuala Swann, Vice Principal, East Lancashire Learning Group

This session shares East Lancashire Learning Group’s journey in embedding an evidence-informed culture through our Be Phenomenal CPD strategy. Delegates will discover how structured professional learning, action research, and our teaching and learning innovators model have transformed practice and improved outcomes—particularly for disadvantaged learners, who make up 75% of our student body. We will explore how CPD can move beyond compliance to become a driver of innovation, collaboration, and impact. Attendees will leave with helpful insights into designing CPD frameworks that empower staff, raise achievement, and deliver sector-leading learner progress.

1.09 - Industry Associates – Starting the journey to dual professionalism

Hall 7b

Lead organisation: Gatsby Charitable Foundation

Speakers:

• Anna Dawe, Principal/CEO, Wigan & Leigh College
• Jenifer Burden, Director of Programmes, Gatsby Charitable Foundation

Industry Associates (IAs) are industry professionals who contribute to teaching and learning in a range of ways. Over time they may choose to progress into Further Education (FE) teaching roles. Research insights show the importance of supporting IAs to make meaningful contributions to students’ learning, and ensuring that their early FE experience is positive. Developed by colleges, Edge Hill University and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, this project is trialling training to meet this need. Colleges participating in this project include Barnsley College, East Lancashire Learning Group, Oldham College, The City of Liverpool College, and Wigan & Leigh College. This panel discussion will share how participating colleges’ are addressing recruitment and retention challenges, building IAs confidence, and bringing teaching closer to industry – generating a high-quality early-career training product available for all FE providers.

1.10 - Presence with purpose: Leading systematic and trauma-Informed change in attendance and behaviour

Hall 10b

Speakers:

• Sarah Johnson, College Principal, Redcar and Cleveland College, The Education Training Collective
• Alys Tregear, Director of Student Experience and Wellbeing, The Education Training Collective
• Rebecca Cadden, College Principal, Stockton and Riverside College, The Education Training Collective

Lead organisation: The Education Training Collective

This interactive session showcases proven strategies that have led to a 4% increase in attendance among 16–18-year-olds and adults across a group of colleges. Participants will explore how a whole-student approach—driven by collaboration across leadership, teaching, support services, and families—can transform learner engagement and behaviour. Key takeaways; Leadership and culture- leading the charge in changing behaviours, data-Informed Interventions- an evidenced based approach that considers a trauma informed approach to intervention and stakeholder engagement- collaboration is the key to success.

1.11 - The Citizen Hub - Reimagining careers support through place based collaboration

Hall 6b

Lead organisation: Cambridge Regional College and St. Neots Initiative

Speakers:

• Kate da Costa, Deputy Principal Curriculum Development, Cambridge Regional College
• Nick Hayward, Group Director MIS, Data & Performance, Cambridge Regional College
• Alex Hughes, Founder, Citizen Hub

Discover how two colleges collaborated to support a community space and enhance and embed themselves in a Citizen Hub — a community-based careers and training space in a town with no further education provision or job centre. This session will explore how the Hub operates, including walk-in careers advice, co-designed training, and wraparound support with local charities. Attendees will learn how to build inclusive, place-based models that remove barriers, engage underserved learners, and deliver real outcomes. Practical insights will be shared on staffing, funding, employer engagement, and replicability across different regions.

1.12 - Navigating Change in Apprenticeships & Qualifications Reform

Hall 7a

Lead organisation: City & Guilds

Speakers:

• Patrick Craven, Public Affairs, Partnerships and Engagement Director, City & Guilds
• John Laramy, CBE, Principal & Chief Executive, Exeter College
• Gavin Murray, Deputy Principal, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College
• Ken Merry, Principal and CEO, York College
• Sharron Mansell, Vice Principal Education and Skills, Bishop Burton College

This interactive panel, hosted by Patrick Craven, brings together senior further education leaders to discuss managing rapid change in apprenticeships, qualifications, and curriculum delivery. Principals and Vice Principals will share practical insights on navigating reforms, implementing inclusive curriculum strategies, and aligning regional delivery with LSIPs, MCA priorities, and industrial strategy. The session highlights the value of partnership with City & Guilds and explores the supportive role of awarding organisations. Attendees will gain best practices and collaborative approaches for leading through change, with a focus on inclusion, innovation, and preparing institutions for success in an evolving educational landscape.

1.13 - Preparing college students for votes at 16

Executive room 1

Lead organisation: Association of Colleges

Speakers:

• Dr. Jan Eichorn, Partner, d|part think tank for political participation
• Billie Dunne, Education and Engagement Manager, The Electoral Commission
• Harriet Andrews, Director, The Politics Project
• Eddie Playfair, Senior Policy Manager, Association of Colleges

Votes at 16 will be a reality across the UK by the time of the next election and we know that levels of of political literacy and citizenship education are patchy. What needs to happen to prepare our students for this broadening of the franchise?

1.14 - Rooted to rise: How resilience-centred learning can transform student engagement, belonging and progression

Hall 10a

Lead organisation: Capel Manor College

Speakers:

• Heather Marks, Deputy Principal, Capel Manor College
• Jess Berry, Assistant Principal, Capel Manor College
• Stuart Barlow, Landbased Consultant, Abingdon and Witney College

This session explores how resilience-centred learning can transform attendance, engagement, and learner confidence, particularly for 16–18-year-olds facing adversity or disrupted education. Drawing on doctoral research and sector leadership experience, the session introduces a practical framework based on Michael Ungar’s ecological model of resilience. Attendees will gain access to a toolkit including a resilience walkthrough tool, curriculum diagnostic prompts, and inclusive planning resources. Leaders and practitioners will leave equipped to embed emotional safety, learner voice, and purpose into their teaching practice, helping students move from surviving to thriving in further education.

1.15 - Misogyny and sexual violence toolkit for colleges

Hall 11b

Lead organisation: Department for Education

Speakers:

• Polly Harrow - Assistant Principal, Kirklees College and DfE Student Support Champion for FE
• Lis Hoyte, Director, Lis Hoyte Consultancy

As DfE FE Champion a key strand of my work has been to create a toolkit of resources, links and case studies to support colleges in tackling misogyny and violence against women and girls. This session will officially launch the toolkit, which is free for the sector, and explain the various elements and content including the feedback from roundtable discussions held across the country, to help to address this important issue.

1.16 - Maximising the adult skills budget and achieving Ofsted 'Outstanding' through transformational adult learning

Hall 8a

Lead organisation: Chichester College Group

Speakers:

• Cathy Ellis, Director Adult Education, Chichester College Group
• Paul Rolfe, Associate Principal, Employers & Stakeholders, Chichester College Group

With adult education increasingly recognised by government as central to economic growth and the strong emphasis on skills in ‘Get Britain Working’, this is a pivotal moment for colleges to reimagine their Adult Skills provision. Join us to learn how Chichester College Group (CCG) did just that to achieve Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ in 2025. This session will provide college leaders with a practical roadmap to enhance and expand their adult education provision. Hear how CCG built its strategy to deliver “excellent training that helps adults succeed … become more employable … and better integrated into their communities” (CCG, Ofsted Report, 2025).