Technology experts and enthusiasts from across our network met at Google’s inspiring London office last week for the annual Lift Schools Festive Assemble and Hackathon. The event brought together digital innovators from our schools to learn, collaborate, and innovate in the ever-evolving world of education technology. With a diverse agenda focused on leadership, accessibility, inclusion, and creativity, the day promised to be both productive and transformative.
The day began with a warm welcome and keynote address from Martin Simpson, Director of Technology at Lift Schools. Martin outlined the Lift Schools’ Technology Strategy, underlining the critical role of diverse perspectives in fostering innovation. By challenging the status quo and seeking multiple viewpoints, Martin emphasised, educators and leaders can develop inclusive and forward-thinking solutions for today’s educational challenges.
The next session, led by Cat Lamin of Canopy CIC, showcased the accessibility features available to our students using Google Chromebooks. Cat shared valuable insights on using the classroom staple, Chromebooks, making digital tools and teaching practices more inclusive, particularly for students with special educational needs and disabilities. Her presentation underscored the wider need for practical strategies that ensure every student has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive environment.
Another highlight of the day was the hackathon, led by Daren White, Academic Technologies Lead. This interactive session encouraged participants to collaborate on solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in education. Teams explored issues such as SEND and accessibility, personalised learning, digital creativity, marking efficiency, and collaborative teaching and planning.
Attendees began by brainstorming a variety of ideas in a fast-paced activity. These ideas were then developed into prototypes, tested with user feedback, and refined for final presentation. After a networking lunch, teams prepared three-minute presentations to showcase their work. Each presentation included a problem statement, a proposed solution, and, where possible, a visual or interactive demonstration. The energy in the room was infectious as educators worked together to tackle shared challenges and learn from one another’s perspectives.
Later in the day, Richard Sparks, Head of Digital, delivered an inspiring talk on the next steps for achieving Lift Schools’ mission. He reflected on how time, technology, talent, and trust are essential to fulfilling our nationwide commitment to provide an excellent education to every child, in every classroom, every day.
The day concluded with tours of Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre, giving participants a behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s leading technology hubs.
