WELCOME TO NOVUS EDUCATION
Why School Leaders Are Registering for This Event
School leadership today means responding to multiple major changes at once. Technology is evolving rapidly through AI in education. Teacher recruitment and retention challenges are increasing. Schools are also supporting pupils with more complex SEND needs than ever before.
This school leadership event in Bristol brings these conversations together.
In just two hours, you’ll hear from expert speakers who bring perspectives from technology leadership, teacher career transitions and specialist SEND provision. You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with other school leaders from Bristol and Bath facing the same pressures.
The aim of the morning is simple: to help school leaders better understand the changes affecting schools and respond with greater clarity and confidence.
What you'll gain from this event
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Practical insight into AI in education
Understand what AI really means for schools, workload and leadership decision-making. -
Honest perspectives on teacher retention
Hear directly from someone working daily with teachers who are leaving the profession. -
Actionable SEND thinking
Learn how schools can create environments where pupils with SEND don’t just participate but genuinely thrive. -
Peer connection with other school leaders
Meet headteachers, senior leaders and school business managers from Bristol and Bath and share experiences in a supportive setting.This is not a conference or sales event, it’s a focused leadership conversation designed specifically for schools in the region.
MEET YOUR SPEAKERS
Matt Stone — AI Strategy Expert
Former Vice President at GoCompare, where he operated at senior leadership level in data-driven, AI-influenced commercial environments. Now advises organisations on ethical, practical AI adoption.
Matt brings real-world insight from leading teams through AI transformation. His session focuses on what school leaders genuinely need to understand about AI right now — cutting through both hype and fear to help you make informed decisions about technology integration, workload impact and future planning.
What you'll learn: How AI will reshape education work, what to prioritise now, and how to lead your school through technology change with clarity.
Mike Leaman — Teacher Retention Specialist
Former classroom teacher and founder of Classroom Exit Coach, a business supporting teachers considering or making the decision to leave education.
Through working closely with hundreds of departing teachers, Mike has developed an unusually honest perspective on why educators really leave, what schools unintentionally get wrong, and what genuinely improves morale, engagement and retention.
What you'll learn: The real reasons behind teacher departures and practical strategies that actually support retention.
Stephanie Wheen — SEND Inclusion Expert
Founder of Gympanzees, an award-winning charity supporting children and young people with disabilities and additional needs through play, physical activity and social connection.
Stephanie brings extensive experience creating environments where pupils with SEND don't just participate, they genuinely thrive. Her work focuses on practical, sustainable inclusion that works in real-world school settings.
What you'll learn: Experience-led strategies for building SEND provision that supports both pupils and staff effectively
Who Should Attend
This CPD session is designed specifically for:
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Headteachers and Deputy Heads
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Senior Leadership Team members
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School Business Managers
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MAT leaders and trustees
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Anyone responsible for school strategy, staffing or SEND provision
If you're making decisions about your school's direction, people or provision, this morning will be directly relevant to your work.
Event Programme
09:30 — Arrival, refreshments & networking
10:00 — Welcome from NOVUS
10:10 — AI: Friend or Foe?
Matt Stone | Former VP, GoCompare | AI Strategy Expert
Cut through the confusion. Understand how AI will reshape education workload, what you need to know now, and how to lead your school through technology change with confidence.
10:25 — Why Teachers Are Leaving and How to Combat It
Mike Leaman | Former Teacher | Founder, Classroom Exit Coach
Unfiltered truth about teacher departures from someone who coaches educators out of the profession. Learn what schools unintentionally get wrong and what genuinely supports retention.
10:40 — Creating Environments Where Pupils with SEND Thrive
Stephanie Wheen | Founder, Gympanzees
Move beyond policy compliance. Discover practical, experience-led strategies for building truly inclusive provision that works for pupils and staff alike.
10:55 — Closing remarks
11:00 — Open networking
11:30 — Close


