Education Today Education Today Magazine
On 24-26 January, 30,000 of the global education community gathered at Bett UK for the world’s biggest week in education.
Education leaders, policymakers, and innovative EdTech providers from 129 countries united under one roof to explore pressing issues facing the sector – from the impact of generative AI to EdTech’s potential for increasing inclusivity, there’s no topic too big for Bett.
World-class speakers
On Day One, we witnessed a world exclusive as Louis Theroux discussed with Loyle Carner his challenging journey through education and how he ended up founding his very own ADHD school – you could hear a pin drop in the room. Inspiring for educators and children around the world, Loyle left us with some key takeaways and actions, including our favourite quote of the week: “ADHD is like a big coat, you grow into it. The turnout for Day Two was incredible, with more visitors ready to engage in excellent conversations. Bett tackled bias and broke down barriers with Alex Scott MBE and heard from inspirational tech-prodigy Namya Joshi. As a Minecraft Student Ambassador at Microsoft, Namya has trained thousands of teachers and students worldwide – at just 16 years old! She shared her expertise on building engaging gamebased lesson plans that support social emotional development: “We are witnessing a boom in the digital gaming industry. Not only have games evolved technologically, but their stories, characters, and worlds have also become richer. Gaming has deepened its place in our world, providing children with both entertainment and opportunities for professional development.”
For the third and final day, Baroness Floella Benjamin moved the audience to tears as she recounted her incredible life story and the hot topic on everyone’s lips, and sure to make its way to the Arena – AI! AI will indeed revolutionise our lives, but will it make it harder to differentiate the truth from the lies? Dan Fitzpatrick, the AI Educator, explored insights and strategies for harnessing AI in education. “We don’t know exactly how AI will transform our education systems, but one thing is certain: there will be change,” he concluded. Dan stressed the importance of teaching children how to spot a deepfake or disinformation as it becomes more prevalent in daily lives.
The launch of TableTalks & Tech User Labs
Brand-new programmes, TableTalks and Tech User Labs, were a roaring success – and the highlight of the show for many! Tech User Labs connected over 1,600 educators with the top education technology
experts in the world across 16 sessions. With session from Microsoft, AWS and Meta, educators loved the opportunity to get hands-on with worldwide tech experts and learn how to make the most of their existing tech. TableTalks connected peers through powerful conversations. Sharing experiences, openly discussing challenges, and tackling these together with peers from around the world is a rare opportunity for educators. With 10 trending topics on the table, 1,000 educators joined 130+ roundtables creating a space where their voice counts. Keep your eyes peeled for more in 2025!
And more…!
It wouldn’t be Bett without a huge array of opportunities. Esports explored the power of play in education and hosted the annual Rocket League Tournament – the atmosphere was electric! Congratulations to winners, Barnsley College and York College. The beloved Kids Judge Bett returned and with judges aged 7-13 from 14 schools across the UK. The winners selected showcased the transformative impact technology can have on young learners, and seeing the curiosity and excitement amongst the pupils as they toured the exhibition floor reaffirmed Bett’s belief that, together, we can make a real positive impact on the lives of learners worldwide.
