On Wednesday 5 July, almost 200 representatives of our member companies joined us in London for a fabulous day. Packed with interesting discussions and debates, it was a beautiful, hot summer day – perfect to enjoy a delicious barbecue in the company of flamingos.
Wonderful setting yesterday for #besainsight @besatweet summer day. And many great insights there were! #edchat #edtech #Kensington pic.twitter.com/eza0stsjkH
— Gill Budgell (@gillbudgell) July 6, 2017
https://twitter.com/Danielle_Mrgn/status/882619079311241217
With excellent speakers on the agenda, everybody was very much looking forward to the day.
The agenda for tomorrow's #BESAInsight Day looks very exciting indeed. Looking forward to it. https://t.co/KQnGg2Y5hD
— HES (@HES_orguk) July 4, 2017
And so, BESA members showed up en masse to listen to the fascinating talks.
Packed room today for #besainsight in the fabulous @TheRoofGardens pic.twitter.com/hDSWzikYiV
— Cleo Fatoorehchi (@CleoFatoo) July 5, 2017
Caroline Wright, Director General at BESA, kicked off the day reflecting on the past year and giving the directions for the year to come. She took that opportunity to announce that BESA is now a partner on the EDUCATE project, with UCL, Nesta and F6S.
Following Caroline, Rt Hon. David Laws, former Schools Minister and Executive Chair of the Education Policy Institute, delivered an insightful keynote address.
David Laws former Schools Minister now looking to education policy …#besainsight @besatweet āpower has shifted back from Number 10 to DfEā pic.twitter.com/aX7lxZ3GNv
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
Rt. Hon. David Laws, Exec Chair @EduPolicyInst explains that a hung parliament means schools might have room to breathe & focus #BESAInsight
— Graham Cooper (@G_Cooper) July 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/Danielle_Mrgn/status/882520599859519488
When it comes to EY funding, focus tends to be on childcare rather than EY development or closing the gap – David Laws #besainsight
— Danielle Morgan (@Danielle_Mrgn) July 5, 2017
Proxies we use to measure quality of #earlyyears education may not be very reliable – David Laws poses relevant questions #BESAINSIGHT
— Cleo Fatoorehchi (@CleoFatoo) July 5, 2017
David Laws EPI ā Teachers pay has had a real terms cut of about 10% over recent yearsā #besainsight
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
RT @tonyparkin: Extra Ā£1.3 billion needed to plug hole in school budgets, https://t.co/HzifAQoyHx #besainsight
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
Fascinating insights from David Laws on school funding. Expects clarity between now and the Autumn Statement #besainsight
— Danielle Morgan (@Danielle_Mrgn) July 5, 2017
"Governments can do things when they choose to make them priorities." David Laws on education policy outlooks @besatweet #BESAINSIGHT day pic.twitter.com/k7QfjmTNui
— Nina Iles (@NinaIles) July 5, 2017
Always enjoy the candid insights from former schools minister David Laws now @EduPolicyInst opening #besainsight pic.twitter.com/ci0NIpGax7
— Matt Koster-Marcon (@MatthewKoster) July 5, 2017
Next was the “Provocation Lecture”: Claire Fox, Director of the Institute of Ideas, took the stage to discuss the argument from her latest book, “I Find That Offending!” about a potential “Generation Snowflake”.
Now a lecture from @Fox_Claire on 'Generation Snowflake' at #BESAInsight day. Easy to lampoon today's young people.. but is it fair?
— Graham Cooper (@G_Cooper) July 5, 2017
80% of students reported suffering from mental health issues – a symptom of generation snowflake according to @Fox_Claire #besainsight
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
'Why do those on the brink of life's greatest adventure feel so cowed and want to stay safe'. @Fox_Claire speaking @besatweet #BESAInsight
— Graham Cooper (@G_Cooper) July 5, 2017
The child safeguarding industry is a major culprit in making our children "snowflake" & afraid of everything, says @Fox_Claire #besainsight
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
@Fox_Claire Entertaining #besainsight delegates with "Generation Snowflake" A difficult voice to ignore…but usually worth the effort!
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
A lesson in how to keep an audience on the edge of their seats. Opinionated, provocative, thought-provoking lecture @Fox_Claire #besainsight
— Danielle Morgan (@Danielle_Mrgn) July 5, 2017
.@Fox_Claire – as outspoken and marvellous as ever at #BESAINSIGHT. Her book here – https://t.co/S2DOfgtPYh
— Andrea Carr (@andreacarr1) July 5, 2017
Obviously, the delegates could not help but discuss Claire’s controversial ideas during the following break.
Break time now at #besainsight . The room is buzzing with chatter after that great talk from Claire Fox pic.twitter.com/mDnuf4cDmH
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
While this topic stayed on the participants’ mind throughout the day and into the night, they then listened to two panels of experts: the first one on education budgets – such a topical issue! For the second one, the panelists shared their vision of the future of learning, exploring the potential of EdTech and AI to change things.
Richard Connor #besainsight ātwo years of negative sales in schools….loss of Ā£110m spend..positive movement in some areasā pic.twitter.com/9belXy7p8N
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
@NatlGovsAssoc Emma Knights āwe absolutely support the new funding formula but the arithmetic maybe wrongā #besainsight pic.twitter.com/KeJaFMk4rx
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
Reducing teacher workload contributes to teacher retention says Jason Gould @EdCoLtd #besainsight
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
Jason Gould @EdCoLtd highlights distinct move from MATs to recruit from within their Trusts to reduce recruitment costs #BESAInsight
— Danielle Morgan (@Danielle_Mrgn) July 5, 2017
Money and impact for pupils don't really relate, says Emma Knights @NGAMedia #besainsight
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
Should the appraisal system be refined in schools? Great question by @andreacarr1 #besainsight
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
#besainsight panel on school budgets is good prep for tonight's #MoralMaze on public service ethos/ pay but as always more qus than answers https://t.co/BANx8mvXK2
— Claire Fox (@Fox_Claire) July 5, 2017
Getting ready for a vision session on the Future of Learning at #besainsight. A collection of interesting speakers pic.twitter.com/TVjWuTZouG
— Graham Cooper (@G_Cooper) July 5, 2017
Some choice provocations from @bobharrisonset at #besainsight on the lack of evidence for #edtech improving pupil outcomes
— Sophie Bessemer (@sophiebessemer) July 5, 2017
There is no evidence of a CAUSAL link between technology and improved learning #besainsight
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
There is a CORRELATION between how teachers,schools use technology and improved learning #besainsight
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
āMachines are likely to take away the shit and allow teachers to focus on the really important thingsā #besainsight @LordJimKnight
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
Technology-free up time for teachers to do the human end of teaching. Lord Knight #gcsepod #BESAInsight
— Ian Rowe (@ianatpod) July 5, 2017
"Any teacher who can be replaced by a teacher should be" but technology can enhance teaching,learning and assessment #besainsight
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
'Teachers won't be replaced with robots. We undervalue intelligence these days.' Rose Luckin @ucl @besatweet #besainsight #education
— Nihal Salah (@Nihal_M_Salah) July 5, 2017
'Are schools overinvested in tech or underinvested in cpd?' @LordJimKnight @besatweet #besainsight #edtech #education #cpd #teachertraining pic.twitter.com/ECcr7rtkxR
— Nihal Salah (@Nihal_M_Salah) July 5, 2017
Call for more CPD coming up time and again this morning #BESAInsight https://t.co/wgAkbYnKPY
— Danielle Morgan (@Danielle_Mrgn) July 5, 2017
@bobharrisonset imagines education in 15 years with no pens or hard copy textbooks #besainsight
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
Lord Jim Knight: I'm a half full type of bloke and i trust you to create a learning society for the future #besainsight
— Cleo Fatoorehchi (@CleoFatoo) July 5, 2017
During the panel, Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner centred design, UCL Knowledge Lab at the UCL Institute of Education, explained the new EDUCATE project of which BESA is now a delivery partner.
Great to have @Knowldgillusion on our panel as @besatweet became new partner in EDUCATE project for evidence base of #edtech #besainsight pic.twitter.com/39jPCtBUKq
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
@Knowldgillusion now explaining to #besainsight about the Educate project and the golden triangle of evidence,technology,teachers….
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
To close the thought-provoking day, the brilliant comedian Timandra Harkness discussed Big Data, on which she recently wrote a book.
https://twitter.com/besamarky/status/882572680800739328
We are 3 clicks away from knowledge but is that knowledge true?
Big Data, Does size matter? Session @besatweet #BESAINSIGHT pic.twitter.com/is6uOgQGta— William Prieto-Parra (@justwilliamPP) July 5, 2017
"Yes, on average, if you're on Wikipedia and if you're a machine" @TimandraHarknes explains #BESAInsight https://t.co/yg03JpuRn8
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
The limit of #BigData: it won't know exactly what we feel or the most interesting thing about us – @TimandraHarknes #BESAINSIGHT
— Cleo Fatoorehchi (@CleoFatoo) July 5, 2017
Knowledge is a sphere of human activity – imp to remember in era of big data when Internet too often used as quick fix to know #besainsight
— Claire Fox (@Fox_Claire) July 5, 2017
@TimandraHarknes finishes by telling @besatweet members "You can't ladle out knowledge with your fact ladle like porridge." #BESAINSIGHT
— Abi (BESA) (@besaabi) July 5, 2017
All the speakers gave a lot of food for thought, and the delegates could not stop tweeting. So much so that #BESAInsight ended up trending at #3!
https://twitter.com/besamarky/status/882567814346936321
Then, finally, the time for BBQ and wine had come…
https://twitter.com/besamarky/status/882575878798151680
The infamous #besainsight BBQ has begun! pic.twitter.com/g2XJRn4fHa
— BESA (@besatweet) July 5, 2017
The BESA team was really pleased to read and hear so many positive comments and feedback!
fascinating to chat over lunch with delegates #besainsight about ideas for technology products/services to improve learning…@besarweet
— Bob Harrison (@bobharrisonset) July 5, 2017
Thanks for inviting me to speak @besatweet Great education event: stimulating panels, fruitful networking, superb location/food #besainsight https://t.co/eefGK8tq6W
— Claire Fox (@Fox_Claire) July 5, 2017