The Schools & Academies Show Birmingham 2021 took place on 17th & 18th November at the NEC in Birmingham and for the first time ever, was co-located with the first in-person version of the EdTech Summit.
Collectively, the two events attracted over 4,000 attendees and provided an exciting platform for senior education leaders, school suppliers, and wider education stakeholders to meet, in person, for the first time in almost two years.
It was an exceptional occasion to celebrate the 10th year of the Schools & Academies Show providing the sector with unrivaled content, networking opportunities, and a chance to tackle the biggest challenges facing schools and multi-academy trusts.
Across the two days, there were over 100 workshops, case-study-led presentations, debates, and keynote sessions from over 200 speakers which took place in 9 dedicated and themed theatres. The exhibition floor showcased over 170 leading education suppliers providing a wide array of innovative and exciting products and solutions and we hosted some new and returning networking features to give attendees ample opportunities to meet. The incredible content at the show is only possible due to the expert support, guidance, and expertise of the GovNet Education Advisory Board and the EdTech Steering Committee.
Feature areas on the show floor included the EdTech Demonstrator Programme, the Government Education Village, hosted by the Department for Education, the MAT Matchmaking Area, sponsored by AQA, the ConnectEd Lounge, sponsored by Capita, the CPL Village, hosted by CPL Group, and the Speaker Lounge, hosted by LinkyThinks.
It truly was an epic event and built into the theme of this year’s show, which was to move beyond recovery to re-discovery and once again bring together pioneers and leaders from the sector to collectively move education forward. After the previous 18 months of upheaval, lockdowns, and what can only be described as turmoil, this really did feel like a big occasion and a chance to highlight the sector moving back to a sense of normality.
The show this year was also co-located with the first face-to-face version of the EdTech Summit which was perfectly timed to provide solutions to the growing number of tech-related questions that have arisen due to the rapid take-up of EdTech solutions during multiple lockdowns. This new addition to the already popular Schools & Academies Show spanned all education age ranges, from Primary and Secondary through to FE and HE, and provided in-depth sessions and workshops to help educational institutions deliver innovative and practical digital strategies. Our Digital Event Partner; Microsoft, also delivered two keynote presentations and provided visitors with the first glimpse in the UK of their new Surface Laptop SE.
A big thank you to our supporters, the Department for Education, Education & Skills Funding Agency, ASCL, Association of Education Advisors, ISBL, NAHT, Nasen, National Governance Association, Incensu, IG Schools, Naace, EdTech Impact, and Crown Commercial Service and our media partners; Education Technology, University Business, Independent Education Today, Education Today, Education Business, the Educator UK, Governors for Schools, SEN Magazine and Schools Week.
The shows could not happen without the support from our 170 leading education suppliers and sponsors and their continued efforts within the sector have been invaluable for schools throughout the past two years, so we look forward to working together again in 2022.
Plans are already underway for the 2022 portfolio of events which will see the two flagship shows in London on 27th April at ExCeL and Birmingham on 16th November at the NEC continue to provide a platform for the education sector to address and overcome the biggest challenges affecting schools and MATs. We will then also be running a wide array of webinars, forums, and conferences, including the Skills & Employability Summit in July, the Independent Schools Marketing Forum in June, the Higher Education Conference in October, the Independent Schools Conference in November, and the National Schools Awards in December.
If you would like to find out more about how you can join the leading education suppliers already benefiting from exhibiting at the shows, then please contact enquiries@schoolsandacademiesshow.co.uk or call 0161 200 8689.
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