CONTENTS
Dear Reader, Welcome to the latest issue!
A well-deserved February half- term break is on the horizon – and in the meantime, we’ve got a packed issue full of the latest
sector news and insights, including a look at some of the highlights from Bett UK 2026 in London. It’s fair to say AI stole the show at the annual EdTech event this year – but are we getting ahead of ourselves? In our Intelligent Classrooms feature this month, Welbee’s Tim Handley, developer of Edu Intelligence’s AI, raises a crucial point: connected data needs to come before connected classrooms. Our Parental Engagement feature sees Bell Foundation Licensed Practitioner and Assistant Headteacher at Horton Grange Primary School, Saira Yousaf, discuss the importance of parental engagement when it comes to teaching EAL learners – and why a unique approach is required. As part of our Security feature, with the UK education sector facing new expectations regarding lockdown procedures, Alex Jay, CEO of Little Green Button, shares what schools can do to prepare. And Tony Anscombe, Chief Security Evangelist at ESET, reminds us about the cyber side of security in schools. The education sector is vulnerable – and he explains what can be done to change this. In our regular Buildings, Maintenance & Refurbishment feature, Claire Robinson, Sales Director of IAconnects, talks indoor air quality; and we explore the world’s largest Passivhaus school. And in our Computing & IT feature, Mat Pullen, Director for Education at Jamf, considers parental anxiety surrounding school tech and what schools can do to alleviate this; while James Griffin, CEO of CyberSentriq, discusses the significance of data recovery capability for schools under cyberattack. You’ll also find all the usual news and views – and please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email or @EdTodayMag on X.
Charlotte Westwood Managing Editor
On the cover...
Business Director: Carl Hearnden Managing Editor: Charlotte Westwood Artwork Editor: Kirsty Hood Secretary: Tracey Ballard Published by:
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Education today
FEBRUARY 2026
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04 . 12 . 2026
• Security • Parental Engagement • Intelligent Classrooms • News & Views
Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2026 Education Today Awards extravaganza Friday 4th December 2026, Park Plaza London Riverbank Hotel – we already can’t wait to see you all there to celebrate the best of the Education sector!
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With thanks to our sponsors and supporters u
educationtodayawards.co.uk/ In this issue... 4-10 NEWS
The latest from across the sector 22 WELLBEING
With Mark Solomons, creator of Welbee 14-15 CONTRIBUTORS
With Naomi Howells, Emma Sanderson and Sal McKeown
16 VIEWS
With LGfL and BBC Bitesize 17 SEND
With Dr Freya Spicer-White and Ashley Winters 18-19 VIEW FROM THE CLASSROOM
With Sim Street from Brocks Hill Primary School
20-25 WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Views and opinion from across the sector 26 BETT REVIEW
Highlights from Bett UK 2026
29-30 FEATURE: INTELLIGENT CLASSROOMS
With Tim Handley at Welbee 32-33 FEATURE: PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT
With Bell Foundation Licensed Practitioner Saira Yousaf 34 FEATURE: SECURITY
With Alex Jay at Little Green Button 36-37 FEATURE: SECURITY With Tony Anscombe at ESET
38 FEATURE: BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT
With BAM UK & Ireland
39 FEATURE: BUILDINGS, MAINTENANCE & REFURBISHMENT
With Claire Robinson at IAconnects 40-41 FEATURE: COMPUTING & IT
With Mat Pullen at Jamf 42 FEATURE: COMPUTING & IT
With James Griffin at CyberSentriq
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