5th FED National Education Summit 2026
Conversations with purpose: National Education Futures
Hotel, Oxford
‘Conversations with purpose’ sets the theme for the 5th Annual FED National Education Summit. Anchored in the FED National Education Futures Projects, the day will open with big questions that spark thought-provoking panels, meaningful dialogue and powerful opportunities to connect.
Big questions
- What does it mean to be a literate and numerate 21st century citizen?
- How should education respond to the industrial strategy?
- How do schools build positive models of belonging?
- How can we weave a golden thread of creativity and innovation from early years to employability?
Please hover over each speaker to learn more about their background and expertise.
Co-Founder, Gesher School
Co-Founder, Gesher School
Co-Founder, Gesher School
Co-Founder, Gesher School
Alex Bellos: Best-selling author, broadcaster and Guardian columnist
Ali Durban MBE: Co-Founder, Gesher School
Andreas Shleicher: Director for Education and Skills, OECD
Bogdan Pop: INTEL Skills for Life
Dr Carl Ward: Chair, Foundation for Education Development
Cheryl Shirley: Director of Digital Learning, LEO Academy Trust
Dr Claire Tasker: Executive Headteacher, High Storrs School
Dan Morrow: CEO, Cornwall Education Learning Trust
Dina Ghobashy: Director, Global Education Transformation, Microsoft
Ellie Costello: Author and advocate for students facing barriers to education
Elliot Seller: Head of Connected Home, Innovation and Partnerships, Vodafone
Emily Verow: Chief Executive Officer, Three Spires Trust
Eylan Ezekiel: Edtech Leader & Head of Hamilton Brookes, Oxford Brookes
Faye Gibney: Vice Principal, LEO Academy Trust
Dr Fran Wilby: Programme Director, Rethinking Assessment
Gavin Govinden: Headteacher, Leo Academy Trust
Ian Fitzpatrick: Chief Executive, Daisy Education
James Caan CBE: Serial entrepreneur and former investor on Dragon’s Den
James Cheater: Director of External Projects, White Rose Education
Jenna Crittenden: The Chartered College of Teaching – Rethinking Curriculum and OECD Creativity programme
Jenni Forde: Maths Hub Lead, Bucks, Berks and Oxon Maths Hub
Lord Jim Knight: Director, Suklaa
Marlon James-Edwards: Manager, Upward Bound UK
Melissa Farnham: CEO, ASDAN
Michael Engelard: CEO, Skillsbuilder Partnership
Dr Nicole Ponsford: Founding CEO, GEC (Global Equality Collective)
Nikki Wakefield: Strategic Hub Lead, Oxfordshire Careers Hub
Professor Patrick Alexander: Professor of Education and Anthropology, Oxford Brookes University
Dr Penny Hay: Professor of Imagination Creative Enterprise & Innovation, Bath Spa University
Roberta Thomson: Education Policy & Product Director, Pearson
Sally Burtonshaw: Director of Education Practice, Public First
Shaheen Hassan: Assistant Professor, University of Warwick University
Shareen Wilkinson: Executive Director of Education, LEO Academy Trust
Tara Jussa: Skills Lead, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
2026 Summit Programme
Registration, refreshments and networking
Welcome to the 5th Annual FED Summit
Dr Carl Ward, Chair of the Foundation for Education Development
Keynote Speech – Why Numbers Count
Alex Bellos, Author and Broadcaster
The Big Conversations - A choice of three:
The Big Belonging Conversation
How can schools create positive senses of belonging?
Chair:
- Ali Durban, Co‑Founder of Gesher School
Panelists:
- Dr Claire Tasker, Headteacher at High Storrs School
- Sally Burtonshaw, Director of Education at Public First
- Nicole Ponsford, CEO at the Global Equality Collective
The Big Creativity Conversation
Can we build a golden thread of creativity through the system?
Chair:
- Roberta Thomson, Education Policy and Product Director at Pearson
Panelists:
- Elliot Seller, Head of Connected Home, Innovation and Product Partnerships at Vodafone
- Jenna Crittenden, Teacher Advocacy Lead at the Chartered College of Teaching
- Dr Penny Hay, Professor of Imagination and Reader in Creative Teaching and Learning at Bath Spa University
The Big Economy Conversation
– Do we need to do more to connect education to the economy?
Chair:
Panelists:
- Lord Jim Knight, Director at Suklaa
- James Caan CBE, Former Dragon and Serial Entrepreneur
- Melissa Farnham, CEO of ASDAN
- Nikki Wakefield, Strategic Careers Hub Lead at Enterprise Oxfordshire
Break and networking
Shorter Conversation - A choice of four:
The Big Maths Conversation
What do we need to do to improve math’s teaching and learning?
Chair:
- James Cheater, Director of External Projects at White Rose Maths
Panelists:
- Shaheen Hassan, Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick
- Jennie Forde, Maths Hub Lead at Bucks, Berks and Oxon (BBO) Maths Hub
The Big Skills Conversation
From classroom to home: building skills across boundaries and generations.
Chair:
- Jo Malone, FED Executive Team
Panelists:
- Michael Engelhard, UK CEO of Skills Builder Partnership
- Bogdan Pop, Skills for Life at INTEL
- Tara Jussa, Digital Inclusion Officer at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
The Big Literacy Conversation
What does it mean to be a literate 21st‑century citizen?
Chair:
- Eylan Ezekiel, Head of Hamilton Brookes
Panelists:
- Gavin Govinden, Principal at Furzefield Primary Academy
- Shareen Wilkinson, Director of Education at LEO Academy Trust
- Marlon James‑Edwards, Manager of Upward Bound UK
- Sally Burtonshaw, Director of Education at Public First
The Big Creativity Sprint
What does creativity mean in your setting?
Facilitator:
- Fran Wilby, Head of Rethinking Assessment
Lunch & Networking
The One Big Thing.
What’s the one big thing you would change in education?
A chance for you to make your suggestions, with guest contributors.
12.30pm –12.55pm and 1.00pm – 1.25pm
Educating for the Future.
Andreas Schleicher, Director of Education and Skills at the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD)
Impact Workshops - Choice of four
Secondary English – Increasing reading engagement
- Ian Fitzpatrick, Managing Director at Daisy Education
Reading with AI – Literacy research from Northern Ireland schools
- Eylan Ezekiel – Head of Hamilton Brookes
Building Belonging – Reshaping classrooms for inclusion
- Ellie Costello, Executive Director at Square Peg
The One Big Thing – What’s the one big change leading CEOs would make to improve schools?
- Emily Verow, CEO at Three Spires Trust
- Dan Morrow, CEO at Cornwall Education Learning Trust
- Philip Hedger, CEO at LEO Academy Trust
Educating for the future
Dina Ghobashy, Director of Global Education Transformation at Microsoft, in conversation with Professor Patrick Alexander, Professor of Education and Anthropology at Oxford Brookes University.
Closing remarks
Dr Carl Ward, Chair at the Foundation for Education Development
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