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AoC Safer Students Conference 2026

Venue: Online via Zoom

Date: 13 October 2026

Time: 9:30 AM - 12:45 PM

Fee: Starting at £195 + VAT per delegate

This year’s Safer Students conference covers a range of challenges that colleges face in supporting our students and keeping our college communities safe. We will hear from a wide range of stakeholders and colleges themselves, about some of the most innovative work in this area.

We will reflect on some of the recent trends and evolving risks faced by our students and communities and the emphasis throughout will be on how to create a strong culture of safety, respect and inclusiveness including practical approaches colleges can adopt in the here and now, as well as system changes which could help us better serve our students in the future.

Confirmed speakers and sessions so far include:

Balbir Sohal and Michelle Perkins, Teach for Tomorrow, who will discuss how to engage students in challenging conversations and build their critical thinking and empathy.
Sam Slack, Department for Education, will provide an overview of the current landscape in Prevent, including emerging themes and priorities for safeguarding practice.
Alex Somers, Everyone’s Invited will explore the challenges posed by online sexual content and social media, and how educators can support young people to make informed and responsible choices online.

Join the conversation and stay up-to-date with the latest news: AoC_Info

Dates:

Tuesday 13 October 09:30 - 12:45 - Day one
Wednesday 14 October 09:30 -12:45 - Day two

Delegate fees:

AoC Member fee - per delegate £195 + VAT

Affiliate Member - per delegate £230 + VAT

Non-member institutions – per delegate £310 + VAT

Non-member commercial – per delegate £640 + VAT

10% off on 3 or more tickets purchased

Speakers

Andrea Dill-Russell

Senior His Majesty’s Inspector, Ofsted

Andrea Dill-Russell joined Ofsted in 2018. She works as a Senior His Majesty’s Inspector. She has extensive experience as an inspector across all further education and skills providers as well as teacher development. Before joining Ofsted Andrea had significant leadership experience in the further education and skills sector, including as a designated safeguarding lead. As well as experience in managing curriculum areas such as foundation English, ESOL, mathematics, employment training and independent living, Andrea is experienced in working with young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Sarah Lonsdale

Specialist Adviser Inspector, Ofstead

Sarah Lonsdale in one of His Majesty’s Inspectors in the North, East, Yorkshire & Humber Region and Specialist Advisor for FE and Skills Policy at Ofsted. She joined Ofsted in 2018 and in addition to inspecting leads on stakeholder engagement for education programmes for young people. Sarah has extensive experience of leading and managing vocational education. This includes 16-19 study programmes, apprenticeships and adult learning provision across a broad range of curriculum areas.

Sam Slack

Regional Contest Coordinator (East Midlands), Department for Education

Sam leads the coordinator team nationally in relation to their work in the FE Skills sector having conceived & written the Work Based Learners Prevent Guidance, specific Self-Assessment Toolkits for FE Skills & for Schools & he continues to create bespoke ways to support the sector. He has also focussed on work connected to freedom of speech & external speakers at universities.

In a policing career as Senior Detective, firearms officer & commander he also completed the national Police Senior Leadership Programme & was Chair & Trustee of a rape charity for 7 years until 2020.