If you walked through the halls of Excel London during BETT 2026, the atmosphere was different from previous years. Many of the conversations have shifted. There is less talk of 'if' we should use EdTech or even 'which' new AI tool is the best.
Instead, the UK’s most experienced educational leaders—from trusts like Shireland Collegiate Academy and The Great Learners Trust are talking about strategy, culture, and pragmatism.
As we look toward the future of digital transformation in our schools, here are the four pillars of leadership that emerged from this year’s EdTech Hubs Bett Show Live Panel discussion.
ReWatch the Leadership panel discussion from the 2026 Bett show
featuring Leaders from across the EdTech Hubs programme
1. The "Hannah Montana" Philosophy: The Best of Both Worlds
One of the most refreshing takes from the Bett panel was the rejection of the "digital vs. traditional" debate. We need to stop viewing laptops and notebooks as enemies.
The goal is to create a digital 'safety net' that makes sure no student or teacher falls behind, providing tools that help everyone succeed."
This means:
- Purpose over Platform: If a tool doesn't help a teacher to be a more effective or demonstrably improve student outcomes, it should not be used.
- Dignity through Tech: For SEND and EAL students, EdTech can provide "invisible" support. Tools like real-time translation and text-to-speech aren't just "add-ons"—they are tools for independence that allow students to navigate the curriculum with dignity.
2. Leadership is the Power to "Stop"
We often think of leadership as the act of starting new initiatives. However, the panel argued that one of the most important leadership skills in EdTech is knowing what to stop.
To prevent "initiative overload," leaders are advised to audit their current technology use and stop using tools that aren't working, whether online or offline.
Fostering this approach can help create the "psychological safety" staff need to experiment. When teachers know that leadership values their time and isn't just chasing the next "shiny thing," they are far more likely to engage with new approaches that have a technology element.
3. Move Beyond the "Tech Person"
Digital transformation fails when it sits on the shoulders of the IT Coordinator. The most successful UK schools use a Distributed Leadership model:
- Digital Champions: Identifying grassroots advocates in every department or year group to trial new approaches and tools .
- The TA Factor: Training shouldn't be for teachers alone. Teaching Assistants often work most closely with the students who benefit most from assistive technology. If your TAs aren't part of your EdTech CPD, you’re probably missing out on a significant impact.
- Study Tours: Don't lead in a vacuum. The panel urged leaders to visit other schools, not just nearby ones, but schools with different approaches to implementation, to see how they’ve tackled similar hurdles.
4. Change is Key - How to Win Over the "Crossed-Arms Brigade"
Resistance to technology is rarely about the tech itself; it’s usually about fear of the unknown or concerns over ‘Screentime’.
To move the needle with sceptical staff and parents, we must:
- Shift the Language: Avoid talking about "technology, features and specifications" and frame the discussions around pedagogy.
- Parental Study Tours: Invite parents into school. Show them that digital learning is "curated and active, not passive content consumption with endless scrolling as is often the case with social media use outside of school.
- The Moral Imperative: Ultimately, the panel agreed that denying children digital fluency is a disservice. We are preparing them for a world that demands creativity and collaboration through technology.
Action Plan for Your Next SLT Meeting:
If you want to move your digital strategy forward this term, try these four actionable steps:
- Audit & Prune: Identify activities that teachers can stop doing this month to give teachers time back.
- Pilot Small: Don't roll out technology School-wide. At the start, smaller-scale pilots with one or two classes with a lead teacher can help to find the ‘friction points’ first.
- Include Support Staff: Where possible, ensure your next EdTech training session explicitly includes TAs
- Be Pragmatic: You don’t need a massive budget to get started with EdTech. Start with free platforms or low-cost solutions to prove the concept before investing heavily.
Is your school ready for the next step?
The journey isn't about becoming a "tech school", it's about becoming a school that uses every tool available to empower its pupils.
For more resources on AI Leadership and EdTech implementation, visit the LGfL/EdTechUk EdTech Hubs Portal
The Leadership panel was filmed at the Bett show on the 21st January 2026 at the Bett show at Excel
Re-watch the EdTech Hubs Leadership panel discussion from the 2026 Bett show, featuring Leaders from across the EdTech Hubs programme