Spencer Academies Trust Annual IT Conference

The day celebrated the achievements and contribution of our IT teams and highlighted the important role they play in providing safe, reliable and effective digital services for our schools.

Matthew Taylor, Executive Director of Digital Transformation and Infrastructure, shared updates on the team’s achievements, including progress with infrastructure improvements, service delivery and the Trust’s wider Digital Strategy. Colleagues also looked ahead to future priorities, considering how individual school IT roadmaps can support the ambitions of our wider One Spencer Plan

Reflecting on the day, Matthew said: “This year’s ITS Conference has been an important opportunity to bring our colleagues together, reflect on how far we’ve come and, more importantly, consider the difference we want to make next.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our team continues to achieve, but I’ve always believed that our greatest strength isn’t the technology we deliver. It’s the people behind it.

“One of the key messages at this year’s conference was the importance of empowering our people. We have incredibly talented colleagues, and we want to continue building a culture where they feel trusted, their expertise is recognised and they have the confidence to take ownership, challenge ideas and help shape the direction of our service.

“It’s about creating the conditions for people to grow, encouraging aspiration and giving everyone the opportunity to lead improvements and make a meaningful difference in our schools.”

Safeguarding remained a key focus throughout the conference. Fiona Hallam, Head of Safeguarding, led an interactive session exploring everyday scenarios and the vital role IT colleagues play in keeping pupils safe. The session encouraged colleagues to consider how to challenge unsafe practice, recognise potential concerns and ensure these are reported appropriately.

The conference also welcomed a range of guest speakers who shared their expertise and insights into the latest developments in technology and digital safety.

Tom Newton and Josh McTighe from Smoothwall explored the future of digital safeguarding and online safety, highlighting the importance of keeping pupils protected in an increasingly digital world.

Chris Mellowship and Mark O’Neil from BenQ discussed the management of classroom technology, exploring how effective solutions can support teaching and learning and help colleagues make the most of the technology available in their schools.

Mark Wainwright, Anton Beehl and Symentha Chandwani from Syscomm delivered a session on cyber security, drawing on real-life incidents to highlight potential risks, lessons learned and the importance of maintaining strong security practices across the Trust.

Alongside the presentations and training, a networking lunch gave colleagues the opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences and strengthen connections with IT teams from other schools. The day concluded with a team technology trivia challenge, bringing everyone together for a fun and engaging end to the conference.

The conference reinforced the importance of collaboration across Spencer Academies Trust, recognising that effective technology is about more than systems and infrastructure. By investing in our people, sharing knowledge and continually developing our approach, our IT Services teams help ensure technology makes a positive difference to colleagues and pupils every day.