24 hours of inspiration in Liverpool with Educake
If Travelman did education events, he’d pack light, wear his best outfit and spend 24 hours marvelling at the ingenuity of educators. As part of the Educake team, this feeling was the same for us, with a big splash of purple, of course.
Yesterday’s Brilliant festival was the place where ideas, innovation, and inspiring presenters collided with a generous sprinkling of caffeine and conversation.
A Wonde-ful start
We were delighted to meet with Ben Sinclair and Sam Dew from Wonde.
A valued partner whose vision for simplifying education technology aligns closely with ours. The evening set a positive tone for the festival ahead, reminding us of the impact of strong partnerships in driving real innovation in education.
Talks that sparked ideas
Between the Flat Whites and the Festival buzz, we joined some genuinely thought-provoking sessions. One standout was the panel titled “Inclusive AI Revolution: Shaping the Future of Equitable Education,” featuring Al Kingsley, Gemma Gwilliam, and Emma Darcy.
The conversation was as refreshing as it was real.
- Accessibility isn’t a feature; it’s a mindset that we need to adopt for all stakeholders.
- Keep the human in the loop because tech works best when it amplifies empathy and interpretation.
- I noted this statement, although I believe it was said at an earlier talk: “Get SLT to assess an orange.” Each person will say something different. A vivid reminder that consistency and education start with a shared understanding.
At Educake, we see the same principle in assessment. It works best when expectations are clear, feedback is meaningful, and every learner knows how to improve. We demonstrate this every day through simple, consistent question design, instant feedback, and insights that help teachers guide progress with confidence.
Gemma’s call to “think Bobby. But be mindful of who’s supporting the learner…the parents, the carers, and the teaching assistant around every student,” continues to give me food for thought. With 16% of the population functionally illiterate, every click, word, and interaction matters. That’s why we’re continuing to explore how Educake can support not just students but also the teachers, parents, and carers who guide them.
Innovation not limitation
It was great to meet Emma Darcy from Denbigh High School in person for the first time. Emma’s insights during the “Innovation Not Limitation” session were the sort that linger long after the event for everyone.
- A vision costs you nothing.
- Digital audits must include what’s giving you the most impact
- And maybe one of the most important: give your pupils a voice and listen to their recommendations.
Hearing Emma speak reminded me why innovation and education should always prioritise people. Her message about giving pupils a voice and really listening resonates deeply with our approach at Educake. Thank you again to Denbigh High School for continuing to utilise Educake as one of your chosen platforms
Standout moments (and people)
Back at the Educake stand, we had a steady stream of brilliant conversations.
A special mention to Martyn Collins, Congratulations on a brilliant event!. It was great to hear that we were one of the first to book our spot for yesterday’s excellent conference. Clearly, we have great taste in identifying the best events.
I also thoroughly enjoyed being on the Brilliant awards judging panel. Congratulations to Stuart Naismith for his amazing STEM with Mr N. A worthy winner of the Innovators in Science award.
And of course, hats off to the rest of the Brilliant events team for running everything with flawless cheer and organisation. It was clear that every session was high calibre. All of the educators I spoke to in the room were full of post-session buzz. Additionally, setup and pack-down went smoothly and seamlessly.
Finally, I must give kudos to our phenomenal Educake events team, who arrange all the logistics for every exhibition we attend. To Tam Callander and Cheryl Prior, we could not have exhibited without all your hard work and enthusiasm.
A final thought
The Brilliant Festival lived up to its name, full of connection, collaboration, and clever thinking. From AI to accessibility, from classroom impact to consistent frameworks, it reminded us why we do what we do at Educake. To make learning easier, more engaging and accessible for every student (and every Bobby out there).
