SANDBOX: Teaching & Learning Conference
Join SANDBOX: Teaching & Learning Conference for hands-on fun and fresh ideas to boost your classroom game!
ABOUT
Sandbox is not your typical teaching and learning conference - it’s a bold reimagining of what professional learning can and should be. Designed for both primary and secondary educators, Sandbox brings together passionate teachers, leaders, and thinkers to explore the future of education in a way that is dynamic, collaborative, and refreshingly grassroots.
This is more than a conference; it’s a response to the growing fatigue with expensive, top-down events that recycle the same voices. Sandbox champions innovation, diversity of thought, and the power of educators learning from each other. Whether you’re looking to challenge your thinking, share your practice, or connect with like-minded professionals, this is a space built with you in mind.
Across the day, you’ll experience inspiring keynote talks, take part in a hands-on hackathon tackling real educational challenges, engage in practical workshops, and build meaningful connections through structured and informal networking - all at an accessible price point.
If you believe the future of education should be shaped by those in the classroom, Sandbox is your invitation to be part of that movement.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
08:30 – REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENTS
09:00 – WELCOME ADDRESS
- Paul Middleton, Assistant Head: Teaching, Learning & Innovation – St Albans School
09:10 – OPENING KEYNOTE
- Emma Kell, Founder of ‘Those That Can’ and author of How to Survive in Teaching
10:00 – BREAKOUT KEYNOTES
- Curriculum Design - Nimish Lad, Director of Partnerships and Development and author of MARGE Model of Learning
- Pupil Wellbeing - Purvi Gandhi, Psychologist and author of A Little Guide for Teachers: Student Mental Health
- AI & EdTech - Joe Arday, Computer Science Teacher & Future ED STEAM Champion 2025
10:40 – BREAK
11:00 – HACKATHON ('Moving Towards 2030')
- An interactive, fast-paced group workshop designed to promote blue-sky thinking
13:00 – LUNCH
13:45 – PUPIL PANEL ('Education in 2030')
14:30 – WORKSHOP
- Enacting Change - Sam Goode, Systems Coach and Group Head of Organisational Development
15:30 – CONFERENCE ENDS/NETWORKING
Join SANDBOX: Teaching & Learning Conference for hands-on fun and fresh ideas to boost your classroom game!
ABOUT
Sandbox is not your typical teaching and learning conference - it’s a bold reimagining of what professional learning can and should be. Designed for both primary and secondary educators, Sandbox brings together passionate teachers, leaders, and thinkers to explore the future of education in a way that is dynamic, collaborative, and refreshingly grassroots.
This is more than a conference; it’s a response to the growing fatigue with expensive, top-down events that recycle the same voices. Sandbox champions innovation, diversity of thought, and the power of educators learning from each other. Whether you’re looking to challenge your thinking, share your practice, or connect with like-minded professionals, this is a space built with you in mind.
Across the day, you’ll experience inspiring keynote talks, take part in a hands-on hackathon tackling real educational challenges, engage in practical workshops, and build meaningful connections through structured and informal networking - all at an accessible price point.
If you believe the future of education should be shaped by those in the classroom, Sandbox is your invitation to be part of that movement.
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
08:30 – REGISTRATION & REFRESHMENTS
09:00 – WELCOME ADDRESS
- Paul Middleton, Assistant Head: Teaching, Learning & Innovation – St Albans School
09:10 – OPENING KEYNOTE
- Emma Kell, Founder of ‘Those That Can’ and author of How to Survive in Teaching
10:00 – BREAKOUT KEYNOTES
- Curriculum Design - Nimish Lad, Director of Partnerships and Development and author of MARGE Model of Learning
- Pupil Wellbeing - Purvi Gandhi, Psychologist and author of A Little Guide for Teachers: Student Mental Health
- AI & EdTech - Joe Arday, Computer Science Teacher & Future ED STEAM Champion 2025
10:40 – BREAK
11:00 – HACKATHON ('Moving Towards 2030')
- An interactive, fast-paced group workshop designed to promote blue-sky thinking
13:00 – LUNCH
13:45 – PUPIL PANEL ('Education in 2030')
14:30 – WORKSHOP
- Enacting Change - Sam Goode, Systems Coach and Group Head of Organisational Development
15:30 – CONFERENCE ENDS/NETWORKING
Line-up
Emma Kell
Joe Arday
Vi Gandhi
Nimish Lad
Paul Middleton
Good to know
Highlights
- 7 hours
- all ages
- In-person
- Free parking
- Doors at 8 AM
Refund Policy
Location
St Albans School
Abbey Mill Lane
St Albans AL3 4HB
How do you want to get there?
