1-hour workshops will run on both Monday and Tuesday with a wide range of topics to choose from
Whoever books your ticket will need your workshop choices
Whoever books your ticket will need your workshop choices
Presented by Ben McGrath, Head of Monitoring and Kat Howard, Head of Education & Wellbeing at Smoothwall (our main conference sponsor) and Irene Farrager, Director of Student Services at Lakes College at 11.45am on Monday.
As someone responsible for safeguarding in your college, your ability to see online risks can mean the difference between a fast and successful intervention and a dangerous escalation.
Safeguarding tools like filtering are essential for blocking harmful content but can’t show risks beyond the search bar. That’s where digital monitoring comes in. Join this session to:
– Understand why digital monitoring is critical in FE
– Ensure your college is meeting the digital technology standards
– Experience a practical walk through of real FE incidents – diving into the data to explore early warning signs
– Learn how Lakes college have found digital monitoring to be a game changer
Smoothwall by Qoria is the leading provider of digital safeguarding solutions in UK education, offering the most comprehensive digital safety and wellbeing solutions in the world. Trusted by one in three colleges, our solutions play a crucial role in safeguarding tens of thousands of children in the UK every single day.
We’re dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in their digital lives. Working closely with college ITs and DSLs, we leverage the power of connection to provide them with seamless support and protect children from online risks they might encounter – at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
Presented by Mark Thomson, Managing Director and Steve Hockin, Consultant at Watchword Campus Security at 11.45am on Monday.
This workshop provides an overview of best practice in campus security management, highlighting the crucial links between organisational functions in FE colleges.
We’ll explore practical tools such as threat and vulnerability assessments, incident response, and how to build a confident, trained workforce able to respond to crises, from violence and weapons to suspicious behaviour, to extreme weather.
Topics we will cover:
– From front gate to classroom door – the art of influence
– The power of the Duty Manager
– Communal spaces with happy faces
– Operational Safeguarding vs Security
– Governors and the SLT – the custodians of campus security
– Students – participants not bystanders
– Traditional Security fundamentals
– Assignment Instructions
– Physical intervention
– Risk Assessments
– Emergency Planning
– Reporting
– Escalation procedures
We’ll also examine the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as ‘Martyn’s Law’, and its expected implications for FE colleges, including the new duties around security planning, training, and communications.
We draw upon real-world experience from a former Police commander and counter-terror expert, as well as our founder and FE security specialist. The session aims to move the conversation from compliance to culture, helping you build a campus where security is treated as a strategic and operational risk akin to Safeguarding, Finance and H&S.
Watchword is a consultancy supporting the Further Education sector with campus security, safeguarding integration and risk management. We help colleges assess and improve their security posture through structured risk assessments, strategic planning, and scenario-based training.
Hosted by Susan Churches, Head of Student Experiences at the The Isle of Wight College and Tom Lloyd, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Unloc at 11.45am on Monday.
In this workshop, you’ll discover how our collaboration with Unloc helped Isle of Wight College students find their voice, grow in confidence, and build a strong, active Student Executive. You’ll explore practical ways to engage young people in leadership, create meaningful opportunities for student voice, and turn ideas into real impact. Expect energy, interaction, and inspiration — leaving you with fresh strategies to empower your own students to lead, connect, and drive positive change in your college community.
Isle of Wight College, is based in Newport, has been supporting learners since 1951. The college offers a wide range of further and higher education courses for around 4,500 students each year. Through our partnership with the University of Portsmouth, our University Centre Isle of Wight provides local access to degree-level study.
Hosted by Kirsty McQueen, Specialist Consultant at Care Leaver Covenant at 11.45am on Monday.
This workshop explores how the Care Leaver Covenant supports care experienced students within colleges and universities. It highlights practical ways education providers can create inclusive environments, develop meaningful Covenant offers, and connect their work to the wider national network supporting care leavers.
Established in 2018 as part of the Government’s ‘Keep on Caring’ policy, the Care Leaver Covenant supports young people aged 16–25 as they transition from care into independent adulthood. Organisations from across the private, public and voluntary sectors join the Covenant by making tailored “offers” that help young people with experience of care take their next steps. This could be through employment, education, training, or wider life opportunities. The network spans a wide range of partners, from national employers such as Amazon, ITV, Superdrug and Sky, to local authorities, colleges, universities, charities, and a major national partnership with NHS England.
Hosted by Helen Challinor, Student Experience and Wellbeing Manager – Safeguarding and Rachel O’Riordan, Student Experience and Wellbeing Manager – Personal Development, at the Education Training Collective at 11.45am on Monday.
Discover how understanding trauma can transform your approach to student behaviour and wellbeing. This engaging session explores the impact of early childhood adversity on the brain, and introduces Carl Rogers’ principle of Unconditional Positive Regard—an approach that fosters acceptance, empathy and resilience without compromising boundaries.
The Education Training Collective (the Etc.) is a leading group of vibrant colleges and training providers offering high quality education and training opportunities for learners, communities, and businesses in Teesside and across the UK. Incorporating Bede Sixth Form College, Innersummit, NETA Training, Redcar & Cleveland College and Stockton Riverside College, we provide a full range of courses, training, and apprenticeship opportunities, as well as professional and commercial courses.
Hosted by Asini Wijewardane, Managing Director UK at Uwill (our Gala Dinner sponsor) at 4pm on Monday.
As mental health needs and risk grow across colleges, today’s leaders face a critical challenge: it’s not just about providing support, but how to provide support that modern students and staff will actually use and value.
How do we provide support that our multi-generational, diverse users will actually use? How do we engage users that do not usually access wellbeing support, such as male users? Finally, with persisting resource pressures, how can ensure solutions also optimise value for institutions?
Drawing on global research and best practices, this session will highlight how to design support that aligns with the behaviours and expectations of today’s students to enhance access, engagement, and outcomes. It will also explore models that deliver enhanced value for institutions as well as examples and case studies of principles in practice.
Recently recognised as the “new institutional standard in student support” in the UK, Uwill is the leading global mental health and wellness solution, supporting more than 4 million students at 500+ institutions worldwide. The world’s first student and counsellor matching platform, Uwill’s award-winning solution offers an immediate counselling appointments with accredited counsellors based on student preferences such as ethnicity and language. Unique to the sector, the solution also offers a direct crisis connection with accredited counsellors trained in crisis 24/7/365, student-focused wellness support, and realtime data and support. Uwill has been recognised across the sector with global awards including MedTech’s Breakthrough Award for best overall mental health solution, Edtech Digest’s Award for Best Higher Education Solution, Inc.’s Best in Business for health services, and Merit’s gold award for healthcare.
Presented by Scott Wilson, Associate Director Student Services and Gavin Hinchliffe, Associate Director Student Experience at DN Colleges Group at 4pm on Monday.
Scott and Gavin will provide a background of how the DNCG Continuum of need was created and embedded into the safeguarding and wellbeing culture of the organisation. The highly engaging and interactive workshop will cover:
– The reason for the creation of the DNCG Continuum of Need
– How this is applied to supporting students within our organisation
– The application and process within the organisation supporting safeguarding and wellbeing referrals
Working within the education sector Scott and Gavin have over thirty years combined experience with a focus on student support. The speakers will utilise their experiences and expertise to outline the creation, implementation and future planning of the platform which is used to support and provide targeted intervention to both further and higher education learners within the group setting.
DN Colleges Group (DNCG) is a major education provider in South Yorkshire, Greater Lincolnshire and the Humber Region, incorporating Doncaster College and North Lindsey College.
Every year, DNCG inspires thousands of students to develop skills that will help them reach their full potential. DNCG offers a wide range of further education, adult education and higher education choices, professional and technical qualifications, apprenticeships and bespoke courses, with a variety of full-time and part-time training options available.
Presented by Huw Hides, Head of Education Access and Ehsan Habibi, Further Education Coordinator at Refugee Education UK at 4pm on Monday.
This interactive workshop will explore common challenges and practical solutions around enrolment for learners from a forced migration background. Drawing on real examples from across the Further Education sector, we will look at how different immigration statuses affect eligibility and access to learning opportunities.
Refugee Education UK (REUK) is a national charity that works to ensure all refugee children and young people are able to access and thrive in education in the UK at a level that’s right for them – from primary school through to university. As experts in the intersection of education and migration, we work directly with 2000 young refugees and asylum seekers each year providing advice, guidance and advocacy. We also provide training to practitioners and education institutions, and conduct and publish research that is formed by our frontline work with the aim of creating lasting change.
Presented by Aimey Adamson, NAMSS Executive, Vice Principal at Middlesbrough College and Ofsted Inspector at 4pm on Monday.
This session aims to give an overview of the renewed framework and help to identify key aspects for Student Services teams. Aimey will be joined by NAMSS members who have already been inspected under the new regime so that they can share their real life experience!
Hosted by Sue Alder, Head of Professional Development and Standards at the CDI and Pippa Allner, Student Experience Manager and Careers Lead/ DDSL at Bournemouth and Poole College/ Board of Directors at the Career Development Institute at 4pm on Monday.
Apprentices are employed and on programme – but are they getting the same quality of careers guidance and personal development as your full-time learners? This practical workshop will explore how colleges can embed meaningful careers support for apprentices, using the Gatsby Benchmarks as a framework. Through case studies and short activities, we’ll identify where apprentices already feature in your careers programme, where the gaps are, and share realistic, low-cost ideas to strengthen progression, wellbeing, and personal guidance for this often-overlooked group.
The Career Development Institute (CDI) is the UK’s professional body for careers practitioners, setting standards, providing qualifications, and supporting high-quality careers guidance across education, employment and training. We champion professionalism, offer CPD, and lead national work on careers standards and practice.
Presented by Christine Lenehan, Strategic Advisor SEND at the Department for Education at 10.30am on Tuesday.
This workshop presents an opportunity to hear about the latest reforms planned for SEND and how they may impact on the work you do.
DFE are currently leading on significant reforms for the Schools System including SEND with a White Paper due in Autumn 2025.
Hosted by Lisa Humphries, Chair of NAMSS and Associate Principal at Chichester College Group at 10.30am on Monday.
For any organisation, culture is driven by how well we focus on what we do well and areas we need to improve, tackling difficult conversation at every level and setting standards for how all customers, including students, should interact with your College. Lisa will share CCGs journey towards outstanding customer service and particularly focus on the importance and approach to difficult conversations.
Chichester College Group consists of 7 colleges, across 10 sites and has over 25,000 students, including 11500 16-18 year olds.
Hosted by Zubeda Limbada, Director at ConnectFutures CIC at 10.30am on Tuesday.
How do we talk to college students about rapidly evolving public debates and shifting social norms? How can teachers respond to polarising issues in ways that help young people find their voices, whilst staying safe both online and offline? Our long-term experience gives us an unusually holistic view of how misogyny forms, embeds and escalates. We have seen these shifts at every stage – from the early normalisation of misogynistic humour to the entrenchment of manosphere-influenced worldviews that undermine female authority and, in some cases, progress toward threats or acts of violence. Further, how can colleges better instil critical thinking skills, enabling young people to actively and responsibly shape digital spaces on many of these intersectional topics? With so much happening in the mis/dis/mal information sphere, alongside AI development and youth trends, come and listen to how we at ConnectFutures try to equip and enable both teachers and students to effectively navigate and develop confidence on these hard-hitting topics.
ConnectFutures, founded in 2013, is a global leader in youth-focused solutions against mis/mal/disinformation, extremism, antiracism, misogyny, hate and violence. We undertake research and training through creative educational methods and we build resilience to equip individuals with the skills needed to thrive into adulthood.
Hosted by Roddy Peters, Group Head of Digital Skills at Windsor Forest Colleges Group at 10.30am on Tuesday.
Step into the world of AI by demystifying the magic and discovering how to turn routine tasks into an art of automated efficiency. This isn’t about replacing the human touch, it’s about letting technology handle the mundane so your team’s brilliance can shine. We’ll explore a few key “incantations” to solve common problems and conjure time-saving solutions, whether that be automating back-office work, streamlining communications, or bringing posters to life. Through hands-on demos, we’ll build your confidence with these powerful tools, so you can help support students in their own voyage of discovery, and navigate safeguarding conversations. Even if you’re wary of tech, come along, kiss the toad, and become a prince of digital enchantment!
The Windsor Forest Colleges Group serves a diverse student body across multiple campuses: BCA, Slough & Langley, Strode’s, and Windsor Colleges. We offer a wide range of academic and vocational courses to 7000 students (including 16-19, schools, adults, apprenticeships and more) providing exceptional education and training. Our group name is now synonymous with AI following our innovative approach to launching ‘Winnie’ for all staff, and guiding hundreds of institutions to get started with AI. It’s all part of our mission to empower students through innovative teaching and learning experiences, fostering personal growth and career success.
Hosted by Tanya Harn & Anisha Murday from the Protect & Prepare Team and Mark Haddon & Daniel Stoddart from National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), Lead Government Department Liaison Unit at 10.30am on Tuesday.
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, will require certain premises and events to comply with a minimum legal standard of protective security for the first time. It will improve protective security and organisational preparedness by requiring those responsible to take steps to consider terrorist risk and how they would respond and reduce vulnerability to an attack. We will cover which education settings are in scope of the legislation and what planning and preparation is required in order to comply.
The Protect & Prepare team at the DfE work to protect settings, supporting them to prepare for and respond to terrorist incidents, in line with the Government’s counter terrorism strategy. We provide resources including the Protective Security and Preparedness Guidance for education settings, ACT for Education and ACT for Youth. We are also supporting the sector to prepare for Martyn’s Law.
Presented by Sarah Stott, Head of Pastoral and Lee Smart, Campus Culture & Community Team Manager at Halesowen College at 12noon on Tuesday.
In response to the evolving challenges faced by young people and the Further Education (FE) sector. Halesowen College has restructured its approach to student engagement and campus culture. This workshop will explore the creation and impact of the College’s newly formed Campus Community Team.
Halesowen College operates across five sites in Halesowen – Whittingham Road, Shenstone House, Coombs Wood, Trinity Point and Bradfield House. The college serves a broad catchment area including Halesowen, Dudley, Sandwell, Birmingham and Wolverhampton. Its strong focus on employer engagement supports a growing apprenticeship programme, from level 2 through to higher-level apprenticeships.
Presented by Polly Harrow, Assistant Principal at Kirklees College and Student Support Champion at the Department for Education at 12noon on Tuesday.
This workshop will introduce the RSE Toolkit, curated for the FE sector to support tackling misogyny and gender based violence and include current data and trends to evidence the growing need to educate young people in this space.
Presented by Sharon Cousins, NAMSS Executive Member & Vice Principal Student Experience & DSL at Newham College at 12noon on Tuesday.
We will explore the context and meaning of the various Bursary Guidance, discuss systems and processes, including using Pay My Student, and share best practice. During the session there will be an opportunity to share challenges and look at solutions together.
Presented by Solat Chaudhry, CEO of the National Centre for Diversity and James Smythe, Vice Principal Student Experience at Sheffield College at 12noon on Tuesday.
This interactive workshop explores how FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement) has been embedded across an FE college and the impact this has had on student experience, staff culture, and organisational performance. Delegates will take part in practical activities and leave with ready-to-use approaches.
At the end of this session delegates will takeway:
– A short FREDIE organisational diagnostic
– Practical strategies used successfully at Sheffield College
– A personal micro action-plan to kickstart change
– Clear insights into how to lead meaningful, inclusive improvements
The National Centre for Diversity’s mission is to transform organisations into fair, equitable and inclusive places for everyone. We have been helping companies benefit from friendlier, fairer, more diverse workplaces since 2005.
Presented by Simon Brown, Director of SEND and ALS at Chichester College Group and Jane Ragless from Natspec at 12noon on Tuesday.
In the past, Specialist FE was perceived as “discrete provision” and lived alongside but not within General Further Education. We are now in a world where learners are able to progress from specialist FE into cross college provision, but what can we learn from the “experts by experience” in terms of inclusive and adaptive practice? This session delves directly into this sphere with a focus upon the new OFSTED framework and “Inclusion”.
Chichester College Group consists of 7 colleges across 9 sites spanning West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, providing inclusive and aspirational education pathways to over 25000 learners. Natspec are the national association for specialist colleges and specialist FE, providing support, advice, guidance and advocacy for the specialist sector.
