The Chartered College of Teaching is delighted to announce its 2025 Annual Lecture on the topic of AI in Education. The lecture will take place on 10th March 2025, from 5pm at the Ohana Floor (Level 36) Salesforce Tower, London.

Following an opening address from Dame Alison Peacock, a panel of experts will explore benefits, issues and questions relating to the ethical use of AI in education before opening the floor for questions and discussions. This will be followed by an opportunity to network with fellow members.

Confirmed speakers:
Neil Almond, Deputy Head Teacher, seconded to STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub

Neil is an experienced Deputy Headteacher based in Kent, specialising in research-informed professional development, curriculum design, and pedagogy with over a decade of experience in education. For the past two years, Neil has been seconded to the STEP Ahead Teaching School Hub where he supports in the deliver of the Early Career Framework (ECF) for Early Career Teachers (ECT) and their mentors through delivering high-quality CPD.

He is passionate about exploring teachers’ use of Artificial Intelligence in a way that saves teachers time and is grounded in what is known about the science of learning. In 2023, Neil launched Teacher Prompts, a newsletter dedicated to helping educators harness AI for professional growth, knowledge enhancement, and classroom support.

Fay Skevington, Head of AI Alignment for Education, DfE

Fay is Head of AI Alignment for Education at the Department for Education, leading work to ensure effective and safe AI for education in England. Fay’s responsibilities include:

AI Education Content Store, containing AI-ready educational resources and guidance to drive AI pedagogical performance.
Innovation funding to support creation of high-quality marking and feedback tools
Driving the safety of AI products for education, including through Generative AI product safety expectations

In addition to over 15 years’ experience in central government policymaking, Fay has held leadership roles in the third sector, was a policy fellowship with the University of Manchester, and has an MBA from Cranfield University.

Ann Palmer FCCT, CEO, Fig Tree International

Ann holds roles across both education and corporate enterprises. She has an extensive background in leadership, is a MAT Trustee, a School Governor and is a member of the Ethics Committee for the Chartered College of Teaching. Ann's main significant areas of interest include leadership, diversity and inclusion and AI. Ann completed the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Programme with Said Business School, University of Oxford and regularly trains on the use of AI for organisations and businesses.

Jen Persson, Founder and Director, defenddigitalme

Jen is a current contributor to the Council of Europe digital citizenship working group on AI and Education and supported the Committee of Convention 108 in the drafting of Council of Europe Guidelines for Data Protection in Education Settings, adopted in 2020. Reports available at https://defenddigitalme.org/research/ including on AI, and Biometrics, in the context of data and Education.

Laura Knight, FCCT, Founder of Sapio Ltd.

Laura Knight, Founder of Sapio Ltd, specialises in digital strategy and innovation. Previously, she served as Director of Digital Learning at Berkhamsted School for over a decade. With twenty years of teaching experience across both maintained and independent sectors, Laura excels in strategic technology development for teaching and learning, 1-1 devices, AI, digital skills training, and online safeguarding.

Laura contributes to advisory boards, including Bridge the Gap, the Good Future Foundation, and the Independent Schools Council Digital Advisory Group. She also advises international governments, edtech companies, and school groups on digital strategy and educational policy, providing training and insights for associations like the Independent Schools Association, the Independent Schools’ Bursars’ Association and the Society of Heads. She works internationally with the boutique consultancy EDT&Partners as a UK Education Specialist, supporting clients like ISTE-ASCD, the International Schools Partnership, Seesaw, and Toddle.

Joe Arday, MBCS, FRSA, FCCT

Joe is a former tech professional and educator with 15 years’ experience in teaching computer science education. Joe has worked with several organisations such as the British Computing Society (BCS), Computing at School (CAS), National Centre of Computing Education (NCCE), STEM Learning UK, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Tech Girls, Tech She Can, Teach First, Kingston University, BETT UK, Foundation of Education Development (FED) to name a few.

Joe is currently an elected member of the BCS council (membership constituency), involved in various BCS committees and a professional member since 2007. Joe is also a mentor / coach on the My Digital Future programme supporting young people (aged 16 to 25) from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds who are looking to get into the tech industry as well as ambassador for various organisations in supporting young people from all backgrounds. Joe is also BETT UK advisory board member and mentor for the Kingston University Elevate programme as part of the university alumni programme in supporting the next generation of under and post graduate students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.

Joe is an educator who is passionate about the use of technology and diversity within education and the tech emergence of artificial intelligence. Joe was named as one of several influential black educators in an educational resource called “Celebrating Black Computing” by educator Elizabeth Sparrow during 2022’s black history month, which is aimed at showcasing black excellence in computer science to primary and secondary school students.

Joe has been awarded fellowship status with both the Chartered College of Teaching (FCCT) and the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) for his work in education.

Places are strictly limited due to the size of the venue. If there are no student, early career teacher or Fellows tickets remaining but you fall into one of these categories, you are welcome to purchase a standard Member ticket. Please ensure you registered using the email address associated with your membership.

This annual lecture is kindly sponsored by Pearson and hosted at Salesforce Tower.

AI in Education: Annual Lecture