Five key takeaways from Schools Now! 2024

Each year the British Council hosts the Schools Now! global conference, driving educational innovation in our Partner Schools network. Our latest Schools Now! conference in February 2024 was a huge success, with over 1500 attendees both in-person and online.

The conference theme was “Enriching Your Curriculum”, which guided the discussion for the conference thematic building blocks of:

• Digital learning
• Well-being
• Leadership
• Safeguarding

Over the two days of the conference, we had talks, panel discussions, workshops and seminars exploring these ideas in the context of global education. Educators from all over the world were able to exchange ideas and network with one another, learn about current topics in education, and how to apply them in the classroom. So, for anyone in our community who was unable to attend the Schools Now! conference, here’s a recap of the key takeaways from the event.

Takeaway no. 1: Enriching your curriculum can make learning more relevant to students 

Victoria Pendry kicked off the conference with a discussion about how to create an enriched, innovative curriculum, drawing on her experience as CEO of the Curriculum Foundation, which provides training and support to help schools all over the world to design learning programmes.

In her discussion, Victoria Pendry defined an enriched curriculum as one that’s equitable, fulfilling, and relevant to every learner. Progress towards international expectations is enhanced by learning that embraces the local context. Learners can see features of their own social, political, historical, cultural, and environmental landscape in the programme and materials. Watch Victoria Pendry’s full talk on enriching your curriculum on the British Council’s Online Support for Schools (OSS) or read our blog with five suggestions on how to enrich your curriculum here.

Takeaway no. 2: Use digital learning judiciously

Tatiana Popa joined us virtually and carried over the theme of enhanced curriculum into her discussion on AI in education. As new technologies have been emerging, Tatiana Popa has been at the forefront of the changes. She helped her centre, the Heritage International School in Moldova, move online in just one day in March 2020. Now she delivers seminars and workshops on how best to use AI in education.

In her session, Tatiana Popa explored whether technology could ever replace teachers in providing the social and emotional side of learning. She looked at the different ways that AI can complement learning — providing educators model healthy practice, and avoid becoming over reliant on AI. She argued for the judicious use of edtech in the classroom, for example when a technological solution presents a clear advantage to alternative teaching methods.

For our resources on Artificial Intelligence, we have just added a series of four webinars on AI in the classroom to the our Online Support for Schools platform. 

Takeaway no. 3: Well-being can support overall student outcomes

During her session, Dr. Funke Baffour-Awuah focused on the importance of integrating well-being into an enriched curriculum. Aside from being the Head of the Well-being Division at her school, Dr. Baffour-Awuah is a renowned clinical psychologist, author, and speaker. Her range of books aim to promote positive mental health by providing practical guidance for educators.

Her talk was rooted in practical detail, as she shared her own experience of designing a well-being curriculum at the Al Rayan International School in Ghana. The project revealed that supporting the whole school’s mental, emotional, and physical health achieved the best overall outcomes, rather than purely focusing on grades. 

The project was most successful when the programmes and resources were tailored to the specific needs of the learners and the challenges faced by the school community.

Catch all of Dr. Baffour-Awuah’s keynote speech on developing a well-being framework.

Takeaway no. 4: Both students and educators benefit from leadership 

Dr. Naomi Adjepong explored the theme of leadership in education. She shared several inspiring anecdotes from the track she designed - the Adinkrahene Leadership Programme at the Alpha Beta Education Centre in Ghana. In her succession, she discussed how both educators and young students can benefit from leadership, and looked at how those benefits can extend outwards to impact the wider community.

Naomi posits that cultivating leadership in learners is a powerful way to support the community. Many young people aren’t aware of the opportunities available to them. Even a two-day intensive course can help them see the possibilities available to them and kickstart a fulfilling career.

Peer-to-peer training and support are powerful tools to raise up other members of the learning community, but Dr. Adjepong says this can go beyond simply offering free classes. She offers plenty of examples from her own experience such as sharing resources or training teachers at less privileged schools. 

Learn more about fostering leadership skills by watching Dr. Adjepong’s talk.

Takeaway no. 5: Safeguarding and well-being go hand-in-hand

Closing off the conference was Pamela O’Brien’s session on safeguarding. Uniquely qualified to lead this discussion, Pamela O’Brien is both Deputy Head and the person responsible for Quality of Experience at the British Council School Madrid. She explored how schools can develop policies that not only comply with laws and standards but also actively promote learner well-being.

During her talk, Pamela O’Brien foregrounded learners and their interests, underlining the importance of showing young students that their voices are heard and valued. The best way of determining whether a safeguarding policy has been successful is by looking at the impact on the learners, and ultimately, safeguarding and well-being go hand-in-hand as part of an enriched curriculum. She summarises her key recommendations on safeguarding and well-being in the short video below.

What was the biggest takeaway from Schools Now! 2024?

If Schools Now! 2024 taught us anything, it’s that the seeds of innovation often sprout in the classroom. New ideas often come from observing your learners and their response to the curriculum. 

By giving a platform to these expert insights, the British Council aims to foster more innovation in classrooms. We’re committed to giving educators and schools the resources they need to turn these ideas into everyday teaching practices.

For resources on well-being, leadership, digital learning, safeguarding and enriching your curriculum, check out the Online Support for Schools (OSS) or if not already a Partner School educator, contact us to find out more about becoming one.