Monday's Programme

Likely to be the most productive and most rewarding time

you and your colleagues spend off-site this academic year...

Book for one day or both days - Individual and team bookings are welcome.

Just £95 + Vat per day to attend! We look forward to seeing you in Brighton on 1st December.

See below for a packed Monday Programme full of best practice, tips, advice and solutions and an exceptional Speaker line-up you can't miss... or click here to view Tuesday's Programme...

Monday - 09:30-17:00 (1 December 2025)

(PLUS OPTIONAL NETWORKING & SOCIAL EVENT 17:00-18:30 - FOR ALL DELEGATES ABLE TO ATTEND)

08:30 - 09:30

> Exhibition Area

Registration, Refreshments, Networking, Meet Suppliers

09:30 - 09:45

> Main Stage Welcome

A1 - WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS: Engage Enrol 2025

Welcome and introductions with Matthew D'Arcy, Programme Director

09:45 - 11:15

> Main Stage Keynotes

09:45 - 10:25

* Keynote A2.1

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10:25 - 10:50

* Keynote A2.2

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10:50 - 11:15

* Keynote A2.3

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11:15 - 11:45

> Exhibition Area

A2 - OPENING KEYNOTES

A2.1 - A World Of Change & Choice 2025–2030: Fewer, Bigger, Better?

With Shaun Fenton OBE, Head of Reigate Grammar School (RGS) and Executive Head of the RGS Family of Schools (UK & Overseas) [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Shaun Fenton OBE, Head of Reigate Grammar School (RGS) and Executive Head of the RGS Family of Schools (UK & Overseas)

Description:

Things are ever changing for schools but never more so than now and for the Independent sector especially, which is in flux.

Pupil numbers are falling, fees are under pressure from VAT, and demographic shifts mean intake years are contracting.

International boarding remains vital but more volatile, shaped by global politics, visa policy, and currency trends.

At the same time, consolidation is accelerating: large, selective schools are still full, while many small, non-selective schools face merger or closure.

Reflecting on a world of change and choice, in his Keynote talk Shaun Fenton will offer a rare headteacher’s perspective on what this means for marketing and admissions.

He will trace the Independent sector’s long arc of change – from boys’ boarding to co-ed day, from stand-alone schools to groups – while also exploring primary and secondary education provision more widely, and show how identity, heritage and re-branding can be balanced with cultural distinctiveness.

Drawing on the RGS journey from one school to a UK group of six with eight international partners, Shaun will explore how to understand shifting markets, how recruitment differs across school types, and why planned, programmatic, data-led approaches are now essential.

Delegates will be challenged to reflect on their own strategies: which intake years matter most, how pipelines (from local to international) can be de-risked, and what real distinctiveness looks like in an era of “flight to quality”.

LinkedIn Profile: SHAUN FENTON OBE

Website: REIGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL (RGS)

A2.2 - The Psychology Of Choosing A School

With Maddie Lingard, Head of Marketing, UBIQ Education Ltd [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Maddie Lingard, Head of Marketing, UBIQ Education Ltd

Description:

Behind every enrollment decision lies a complex mix of logic, emotion, and perception.

In this Keynote Maddie Lingard will explore how families really make their choices and what this means for school marketing and admissions strategies.

Drawing on UBIQ's experience working with multiple schools and colleges, Maddie will break down the psychological principles that influence parents and students, including:

* Cognitive Dissonance – why parents wrestle with competing beliefs and how a school's messaging can resolve their doubts

* Social Proof – how testimonials, peer recommendations, and visible community buy-in tip the balance in a school's favour

* Anchoring Effect – the power of first impressions and how pricing, positioning, and early communications set the tone

* Scarcity & Urgency – why limited places or deadlines drive faster decisions

* Choice Overload – how to simplify complex options so families feel confident rather than overwhelmed

By unpacking these principles, Maddie will provide practical, actionable ways to align marketing strategies with the real decision-making journey of prospective families.

LinkedIn Profile: MADDIE LINGARD

A2.3 - I Thought I Knew Everything About Social Media - Then I Started Skateboarding In My 40s!

With Matt Horne, Head Of Digital Media, Newcastle University [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Matt Horne, Head Of Digital Media, Newcastle University

Description:

Having worked in social media for over 15 years, and headed up Newcastle University’s social for the past decade, Matt Horne thought he knew everything there was to know about digital marketing in the education sector.

Refining his social strategy over the years he had perfected pleasing the ever changing whim of the algorithm gods, growing institutional accounts to nearly 1 million followers and running international paid campaigns to drive recruitment goals.

Then he found a 25 year old skateboard in his garage, and a new digital marketing journey began.

He challenged himself to not only learn to ride again, but to build a social media presence from scratch, in a world completely different from the one where he began my career.

This Keynote isn't just about skateboarding; it’s about the powerful learnings that emerge when a seasoned professional is forced to become a beginner and trades expertise for experimentation.

Matt will share how starting again with no budget and no brand recognition, influenced and improved the best-practice strategies he implements daily at the university - and how adapting a skateboarding mindset can excel your own social strategies.

He’ll use case studies from over 15 years of experience, to cover:

* How to apply grassroots community tactics to established institutional accounts

* A new mindset for creating lean, authentic content that truly connects

* The right metrics to measure what truly matters

* And just maybe, how to land an ollie

As a result Matt hopes you’ll gain a fresh perspective and a toolkit of strategies to build a more resilient and impactful digital presence for your School or College.

LinkedIn Profile: MATT HORNE

Website: NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

Refreshments, Networking, Meet Suppliers

11:45 - 13:00

> Main Stage Keynotes

11:45 - 12:10

* Keynote A3.1

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12:10 - 12:35

* Keynote A3.2

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12:35 - 13:00

* Keynote A3.3

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13:00 - 14:00

> Exhibition Area

A3 - MORNING KEYNOTES

A3.1 - The Age of Admissions Agility: Why Speed, Flexibility And Feedback Are Your Secret Weapons

With Gemma Woods, Senior Marketing & CRM Consultant, HubGem [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Gemma Woods, Senior HubSpot CRM Consultant, HubGem

Description:

In today’s competitive education landscape, families expect instant, personalised and seamless admissions experiences. Too often, slow responses, rigid processes and fragmented systems create unnecessary barriers.

In this Keynote, drawing on her experience and that of her colleagues working with the Admissions & Marketing staff at many schools and colleges, Gemma Woods will explore what true agility looks like in admissions: building trust through speed, scaling personalisation through flexibility, and embedding feedback at every stage.

She will share best practice examples and case studies illustrating how schools have transformed their admissions journeys, and explain three practical ways to be more agile that can be implemented right away, enabling you and your colleagues to stay ahead by working smarter, not harder.

LinkedIn Profile: GEMMA WOODS

Recommended Supplier: HUBGEM

A3.2 - Future First: Using Short-Form Video To Drive Engagement & Enrolment

With Jack Dougherty, Director of Marketing, Felsted School [ ABOUT ] and Amy Williams, Marketing Manager, Felsted School [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Jack Dougherty, Director of Marketing, Felsted School and Amy Williams, Marketing Manager, Felsted School

Description:

In this Keynote, Jack Dougherty, Director of Marketing at Felsted School, alongside Felsted's Marketing Manager, Amy Williams, will share how a top-level, digital-first strategy is transforming the way the school connects with prospective and current families.

Jack and Amy will explore how Felsted uses authentic value-led storytelling to drive admissions, strengthen retention, and bring the school’s ethos to life with a particular focus on the power of short-form video.

LinkedIn Profile: JACK DOUGHERTY

LinkedIn Profile: AMY WILLIAMS

Website: FELSTED SCHOOL

A3.3 - Working As One: Marketing & Admissions Aligned Through 'See, Think, Do, Care'

With Tracey Colbert-Smith, Director of Marketing and Communications, Dean Close Foundation Schools [ ABOUT ] and Rebecca Chaplin, Director of Admissions, Dean Close Foundation Schools [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Tracey Colbert-Smith, Director of Marketing and Communications, Dean Close Foundation Schools and Rebecca Chaplin, Director of Admissions, Dean Close Foundation Schools

Description:

In today’s competitive educational landscape, delivering an outstanding customer experience requires genuine collaboration across departments... something that has sometimes been lacking with an alternative mindset, separate budgets, different management and reporting and even long corridors separating those responsible for Marketing, Communications and PR and their Admissions colleagues.

In this Keynote Tracey Colbert-Smith and Rebecca Chaplin, who have worked together for over 20 years, will share how the Dean Close Foundation brings together Marketing and Admissions to guide families through every stage of the customer journey... the 'yin and yang'.

They will talk through their 'See, Think, Do, Care' model - a practical framework that maps how prospective families move from initial awareness and consideration to conversion and long-term loyalty.

Tracey and Rebecca will demonstrate how clear role ownership, joint planning and open communication underpin each stage of the model, from...

* from marcoms which builds awareness (See)

* to engaging touch points that develop consideration (Think)

* personalised follow-ups that nurture interest (Do)

* and authentic connections that strengthen retention and word of mouth (Care)

Attendees will see the value of a strong partnership that can build a seamless journey, and where every touchpoint works harder to turn interest into lasting community.

LinkedIn Profile: TRACEY COLBERT-SMITH

LinkedIn Profile: REBECCA CHAPLIN

Website: DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION SCHOOLS

Lunch, Refreshments, Networking, Meet Suppliers

14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Rooms

14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Room A4.1

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14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Room A4.2

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14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Room A4.3

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14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Room A4.4

14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Room A4.5

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14:00 - 14:45

> Workshop Room A4.6

14:45 - 15:00

>>> Move To Main Stage

A4 - FIRST WORKSHOP / BREAKOUT SESSION

A4.1 - Beyond The AI Chatbot: Advanced Ways To Use Chat GPT Practically In Your Daily Work

With Jose Ignacio Barrera, AI & Insight Lead (Market & Student Insight Team), The University of Manchester [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Jose Ignacio Barrera, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Insight Lead (Market & Student Insight Team), The University of Manchester

Description:

AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT can do far more than answer questions, they can transform the way we work, write, and analyse.

In this practical session, Jose Ignacio Barrera will explore how to move beyond the chat window to make AI an active assistant in your everyday tasks.

Through hands-on examples, participants will learn how to:

* Scrape and extract web data from screenshots

* Co-create content using Canvas Mode

* Schedule recurring prompts and reminders

* Customise your AI experience with Custom Instructions and Memory

* Use AI for data analysis and insight generation

* Boost productivity across Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint

By the end of the session participants will have a toolkit of practical techniques to integrate AI seamlessly into their workflow - saving time, enhancing creativity, and deepening analytical thinking.

LinkedIn Profile: JOSE IGNACIO BARRERA

Website: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

A4.2 - Lessons Learned From International Marketing & Admissions

With Jane Forster, Director of Marketing and Admissions, St Helen's, former Director of Marketing and Admissions, Wellington College Bangkok, Thailand [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Jane Forster, Director of Marketing and Admissions, St Helen's and former Director of Marketing and Admissions, Wellington College Bangkok, Thailand

Description:

British education is one of the UK's most successful exports and British international schools thrive the world over.

What lessons can we learn from these international school brands and businesses?

How can we take global standards and ensure they are replicated on a local level?

In this insightful, interactive Workshop Jane Forster will reflect on these questions and her time at various international schools in Asia prior to her recent return to the UK to take up her role at St Helen's.

She will share her own insights, best practice, ideas and tips and encourage Q&A and discussion between participants too, considering key questions and aspects of Admissions & Marketing such as:

* What does the international market look like? A brief overview of cities and countries of note and the main players

* Businesses for profit - Competition is high - what does this look like in practice?

* 5 Star service - it's a buyer's market and we need to make our families feel good, from welcome to graduation

* Know your product and its place in the market

* The value of Admissions and Marketing - a place on SLT

* Visuals and Aesthetics - Brand Appeal

* Clear Communications

In the international world the Admissions & Marketing teams have an exceptionally important role and they are treated as such.

This session aims to show the importance of these teams and their role and what they do to reflect that importance in a crowded marketplace.

LinkedIn Profile: JANE FORSTER

Website: ST HELEN'S

A4.3 - The Power of Personalisation

With Ben Russell, UK Partnerships Director, UBIQ Education Ltd [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Ben Russell, UK Partnerships Director, UBIQ Education Ltd

Description:

Schools are facing new pressures: declining enrolments, shifting parental priorities, and an increasingly competitive market.

Generic brochures and 'one-size-fits-all' Open events simply don’t cut it anymore.

Families want experiences that feel personal, relevant, and memorable, and the schools that deliver them will stand out.

In this Workshop Ben Russell will explore why personalisation has become essential (not optional) for school marketing teams.

You’ll learn how tailoring communications, online experiences, and admissions touch points can help your school build trust, strengthen relationships, and ultimately increase enrolment.

This isn’t about adding more to your already full plate, it’s about smarter, data-driven strategies that make families feel truly valued.

What you’ll take away:

* A clear picture of today’s challenges in the schools sector and why personalisation is the solution.

* Practical examples of how to implement 1:1 personalisation—from prospectus journeys to website experiences.

* Actionable strategies to help your School move beyond survival mode and start thriving.

LinkedIn Profile: BEN RUSSELL

A4.4 - Short-Form Video In Action: How To Plan, Shoot And Share Content That Connects And Engages

With Amy Williams, Marketing Manager, Felsted School [ ABOUT ] and Jack Dougherty, Director of Marketing, Felsted School [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Amy Williams, Marketing Manager, Felsted School and Jack Dougherty, Director of Marketing, Felsted School

Description:

Building on the strategic overview in their earlier Keynote session, this hands-on workshop will dive into the practicalities of creating effective short-form video content for schools.

Led by Amy Williams, Marketing Manager at Felsted School, accompanied by Jack Dougherty, Director of Marketing at Felsted School, this session will explore production techniques, platform-specific considerations, branding consistency, and how to align video content with key objectives - from awareness to admissions conversion.

Whether you're filming on a phone or briefing an agency, you’ll leave with the confidence and tools to create engaging video that reflects your school’s story and resonates with today’s families.

LinkedIn Profile: AMY WILLIAMS

LinkedIn Profile: JACK DOUGHERTY

Website: FELSTED SCHOOL

A4.5 - Turning Data Into Direction: Practical Insight & Best Practice For Better Admissions Reporting & Communications

With Tim Dixon, Co-Founder and Director, Applicaa [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Tim Dixon, Co-Founder and Director, Applicaa

Description:

Reporting is at its most powerful when it helps Schools & Colleges understand not just what is happening, but why it matters… but while all schools do it, some do it better than others (for all sorts of reasons).

In this Workshop Tim Dixon will explore how effective reporting can reshape the way Schools & Colleges approach Admissions, Marketing, Communications and strategic planning.

Using the development of Applicaa’s new reports dashboard as a case study, Tim will share unique insights and understanding gathered by the Applicaa team during the research and development process, highlighting which data is most valuable to collect and how you can use it yourself, and present it to your colleagues, the Senior Leadership Team and Governors/Trustees too, in ways that drive clarity and insight.

Tim will also dive into interpretation - how to move beyond the numbers to spot trends, uncover opportunities and support confident decision-making at every level.

Recommended Supplier: APPLICAA

A4.6 - Does Your Open Event Campaign Suck? (Or Is It ‘Okay’ But Could Be Better?!)

With Matt Horne, Head Of Digital Media, Newcastle University [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Matt Horne, Head Of Digital Media, Newcastle University

Description:

A School or College's Open Events are one of the most important marketing tools for recruitment.

They drive enquiries, secure registrations and convert enrolments.

So how do you make sure your open event promotion is working as hard as it should?

In this interactive Workshop Matt Horne will draw on over 15 years experience running Open Event campaigns across further and higher education to share some of his top tips for Open Event campaigns including:

* Setting up the right media mix and targeting strategies

* Utilising analytics and conversion tracking for ROI

* Creative considerations and tactics

* Key ways to work with support agencies

At the core of the session will be an ‘Ask Me Anything’ style clinic - your chance to bring any questions, worries, pains or brags about Open Event promotion and get actionable advice.

LinkedIn Profile: MATT HORNE

Website: NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

Move To Main Stage

15:00 - 15:45

> Main Stage Keynote A5

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15:45 - 16:15

> Exhibition Area

16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Rooms

16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Room A6.1

16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Room A6.2

16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Room A6.3

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16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Room A6.4

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16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Room A6.5

16:15 - 17:00

> Workshop Room A6.6

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17:00

17:00 - 18:30

> Exhibition Area

A5 - Successful StorySelling - What Schools Can Learn From Brands (and vice versa!)

With Luke D'Arcy, Innovation & Growth Evangelist, Founder of Rubber Duck Global, Board Advisor for madSense, former President and EMEA Growth Officer, Momentum Worldwide [ ABOUT ]

KEYNOTE: Luke D'Arcy, Innovation & Growth Evangelist, Founder of Rubber Duck Global, Board Advisor for madSense, former President and EMEA Growth Officer, Momentum Worldwide

Description:

After 25 years working globally with brands like American Express, Microsoft, Nike, Samsung, Xbox... in this keynote talk Luke D'Arcy will lift the lid on brand storyselling secrets - building on successful storytelling - and how the approaches and techniques used by brands can be applied to how schools and colleges communicate effectively, grow their reputation and engage and enrol prospective families.

Drawing on inspiring brand story case studies and methodology, from the Pixar narrative frameworks to Netflix season playbooks, Luke will unpack how to apply this thinking to the work you and your colleagues do day-to-day in your school or college, group or Trust, growing your ‘brand' or brands in an evermore competitive and challenging environment.

LinkedIn Profile: LUKE D'ARCY

Website: RUBBER DUCK GLOBAL

Refreshments, Networking, Meet Suppliers

A6 - SECOND WORKSHOP / BREAKOUT SESSION

A6.1 - Working As One: Delving Deeper... Marketing & Admissions Aligned Through 'See, Think, Do, Care'

With Tracey Colbert-Smith, Director of Marketing and Communications, Dean Close Foundation Schools [ ABOUT ] and Rebecca Chaplin, Director of Admissions, Dean Close Foundation Schools [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Tracey Colbert-Smith, Director of Marketing and Communications, Dean Close Foundation Schools and Rebecca Chaplin, Director of Admissions, Dean Close Foundation Schools

Description:

Following on from their Keynote, in this Workshop Tracey Colbert-Smith and Rebecca Chaplin, who have worked together for over 20 years, will delve deeper into how the Dean Close Foundation brings together Marketing and Admissions to guide families through every stage of the customer journey... the 'yin and yang'.

They will talk in more detail about 'See, Think, Do, Care' model - a practical framework that maps how prospective families move from initial awareness and consideration to conversion and long-term loyalty - and explore how other schools might benefit from such an approach, while also being keen to learn what other schools are doing through Q&A and discussion with those attending the session.

Through explaining their approach Tracey and Rebecca will demonstrate how clear role ownership, joint planning and open communication underpin each stage of the model from marcoms which builds awareness (See), to engaging touch points that develop consideration (Think), personalised follow-ups that nurture interest (Do), and authentic connections that strengthen retention and word of mouth (Care).

Those attending will see the value of a strong partnership that can build a seamless journey, and where every touchpoint works harder to turn interest into lasting community with the opportunity to discuss this, ask questions and share their own experience with Tracey and Rebecca.

LinkedIn Profile: TRACEY COLBERT-SMITH

LinkedIn Profile: REBECCA CHAPLIN

Website: DEAN CLOSE FOUNDATION SCHOOLS

A6.2 - 3 x Paid Media Channels You Should Be Using... Before Your Competition Does

With Matt Horne, Head Of Digital Media, Newcastle University [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Matt Horne, Head Of Digital Media, Newcastle University

Description:

When it comes to digital advertising, many Schools and Colleges will be using the power pair of Meta Ads and Google Search.

And that's a problem.

More ad auction competition means higher costs and lower ROI.

What if there were other platforms where you could reach your audience at scale, that are just as easy to use, but more cost effective?

And how do you get started before your competition jumps in?

In this Workshop Matt Horne will introduce 3 of the most important self-serve digital advertising platforms available in 2025 you've probably never considered and how to harness their power before your competitors do!

For each of the channels Matt will cover:

* Key targeting strategies and tactics

* Creative options and best practices

* Measurement and ROI expectations

...giving you all the knowledge you need to take back to the office and explore the power of these platforms today.

LinkedIn Profile: MATT HORNE

Website: NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

A6.3 - Mastering Reels And Shorts: Bite-Sized Content, Big Admissions Impact

Tom Strudwick, Chief Storyteller, Interactive Schools [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Tom Strudwick, Chief Storyteller, Interactive Schools

Description:

Attention spans are shrinking, but your school’s message doesn’t have to. In this fast-paced session Tom Strudwick will unlock the power of short-form video - Reels, Shorts, TikToks - and how they’re transforming the way schools connect with prospective families.

From strategy to scripting, filming to formatting, they’ll walk you through how to create scroll-stopping, brand-right short videos that build awareness, boost engagement, and drive inquiries.

Bonus: You don’t need a production team to get started.

In this workshop, you’ll learn:

* Why short-form video is your secret admissions weapon

* How to storyboard and script for maximum impact in minimal time

* Practical tools and tips for creating polished content with a smartphone

* What kinds of stories, formats, and hooks work best for schools

* Ways to repurpose and promote your Reels across channels

LinkedIn Profile: TOM STRUDWICK

A6.4 - Independent Education 2025–2030: Collaborating Strategies For Resilience And Growth

With Philippa Watkins, Director of Marketing and Admissions, Reigate Grammar School [ ABOUT ] and Julian Baker, International Registrar, RGS Surrey Hills

[ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Philippa Watkins, Director of Marketing and Admissions, Reigate Grammar School and Julian Baker, International Registrar, RGS Surrey Hills

Description:

With VAT pressures, demographic shifts, consolidation, and international volatility reshaping the landscape, no single school in the independent sector has all the answers.

Following Shaun Fenton’s earlier keynote on the seismic shifts facing our sector, this interactive Workshop forum, facilitated by Philippa Watkins and Julian Baker, is therefore intended to give delegates the chance to explore solutions together over the session, with participants able to share challenges and test ideas in a collaborative setting, focusing on:

* Creative approaches to pupil recruitment in shrinking intake years

* Strengthening international pipelines while managing volatility

* Building resilience through partnerships, distinctiveness, and data-led strategies

At the end of the session you should leave with practical insights, fresh thinking, new ideas and potential collaborations to help you and your colleagues navigate the "fewer, bigger, better" future of independent education.

(This session will not comprise a formal presentation but an open exchange of perspectives across schools and roles.)

LinkedIn Profile: PHILIPPA WATKINS

Website: REIGATE GRAMMAR SCHOOL (RGS)

PROFILE: Julian Baker

Website: RGS SURREY HILLS

A6.5 - Modelling Prospective Student & Parent Perceptions: A Psychological And Behavioural Perspective

Jose Ignacio Barrera, AI & Insight Lead (Market & Student Insight Team), The University of Manchester [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Jose Ignacio Barrera, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Insight Lead (Market & Student Insight Team), The University of Manchester

Description:

How can we turn student survey data into meaningful insights about attitudes, motivations, and decision-making?

In this hands-on session Jose Ignacio Barrera will explain how he and his colleagues at the University of Manchester have created a new, much more insightful and beneficial approach to researching prospective student (and parent) expectations and perceptions resulting in practical actions and improvements their marketing and admissions colleagues can act on... and demonstrate how you can too.

He will introduce the essentials of psychological and behavioural modelling using Likert-scale data and explain how you and your colleagues can design and interpret a model that connects underlying (latent) factors, such as perceptions, beliefs, and intentions based on prospective (and current) student and parent responses.

Over the workshop Jose will guide participants through the full process:

* Designing the 'Instrument': How to create Likert-scale items that capture attitudes and perceptions, determine dimensions, and consider appropriate sample sizes

* Exploratory Analysis: Understanding the purpose of early-stage exploration—identifying how items cluster together and validating your initial assumptions

* Factor Analysis Made Simple: An accessible overview of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (how they help you test whether your data supports the dimensions you expect)

* Structural Equation Modelling (SEM): How to interpret a model that links latent variables, read path diagrams, and understand what relationships mean in practice

By the end of the session participants will have a basic roadmap for turning survey responses into structured insights that reveal how prospective students and parents are thinking, feeling, and (ultimately) deciding on their next school or college.

LinkedIn Profile: JOSE IGNACIO BARRERA

Website: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

WORKSHOP: Jose Ignacio Barrera, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Insight Lead (Market & Student Insight Team), The University of Manchester

Description:

How can we turn student survey data into meaningful insights about attitudes, motivations, and decision-making?

Over the workshop Jose will guide participants through the full process:

* Designing the 'Instrument': How to create Likert-scale items that capture attitudes and perceptions, determine dimensions, and consider appropriate sample sizes

* Exploratory Analysis: Understanding the purpose of early-stage exploration—identifying how items cluster together and validating your initial assumptions

* Factor Analysis Made Simple: An accessible overview of Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (how they help you test whether your data supports the dimensions you expect)

* Structural Equation Modelling (SEM): How to interpret a model that links latent variables, read path diagrams, and understand what relationships mean in practice

LinkedIn Profile: JOSE IGNACIO BARRERA

Website: UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER

A6.6 - How To Use AI Solutions To Solve Common Pain Points Within Marketing & Admissions Teams

Chris Knight, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Innermedia [ ABOUT ]

WORKSHOP: Chris Knight, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Innermedia

Description:

Over this workshop, Chris Knight will share real case examples of AI solutions and lead attribution models (a suite of tools Innermedia call 'aiSolutions') that can help solve the main pain points preventing Marketing & Admissions teams from working at their best, while also saving time, saving money, and reducing stress.

There will also be a chance for Q&A and discussion around AI solutions, with participants encouraged to identify processes in their working day that can be made more efficient through the use of AI and automation, and to plan strategically for implementation and integration over the rest of the academic year and beyond.

LinkedIn Profile: CHRIS KNIGHT

Recommended Supplier: INNERMEDIA

END OF MONDAY CONFERENCE (Day 1) - Thank You For Coming!

POST-CONFERENCE: Networking & Social Event (Drinks & Nibbles!)

All those able to attend are welcome to stay for this networking and social event with complementary drinks (and nibbles!) at the end of Monday's Engage Enrol - Delegates, Speakers, Sponsors and Suppliers attending the Conference on Monday and/or Tuesday.

(Please note... if necessary we may adjust the Monday Speaker roster and Programme, particularly if adding even more expert speakers in due course, and so we reserve the right to make adjustments without notice, if required.)

Click For Tuesday's Programme

6 Keynotes - 12 Workshops

Including... Chris Rose, Charles Kerr, Courtney Knight, Hugh Viney, Priya Patel, Simon Noakes,

Maxy Fernandes, Claudine Hakim, Kieran Orwin, Emily Morgan, Chris Knight, Ben Lutteman,

Kel Meredith, Matt Horne, Harry Cooke, Gemma Woods, Ben Russell, Tom Strudwick

CLICK TO VIEW FULL TUESDAY PROGRAMME

Previous Delegate Comments

> Just Some Of The Comments From Delegates Attending Previous 'Know Your Audience' Conference...

"Breakouts were sooo useful. The speakers were amazing, I really found the presentations from speakers at ACS so informative and helpful. The speaker from Young V&A was so inspirational also."

"Lots of breakouts which was great (as not every breakout is applicable to all attendees) and a good range of keynote speakers covering a wide range of topics."

"It seemed very relevant to my job - I am relatively new and therefore have a lot I can still learn. There was a lot of food for thought in the meetings."

"I am the only Marketing person in our setting and so it's important (and interesting personally) to see what other schools are doing. It's much more efficient to attend a conference like this than spending days of doing my own research. Even then I wouldn't find the quality of information I have received during the conference."

"The schedule was very packed and kept me busy - in a good way. With too much time in between I would probably have gotten sucked in to work and not be as present as I was!"

"I am now mapping a new social media strategy in my head! We are also going through a brand refresh so I found the presentations very useful."

"Relevant content, chance to share experience and connect to other schools."

"Excited to pass on what I have learnt and to discuss lots with my colleagues about the day. I’ve definitely taken away ideas to consider going forward and sharing practice with others in similar roles is helpful."

"New insights and experience gained!"

"I took back home a few ideas that are applicable right away like how to improve my organic communication on social media and how to connect better with the neighbourhood that my school is set in."

"Plenty of content, with knowledgeable and approachable speakers."

Sponsors & Exhibitors - Recommended Suppliers

PLATINUM SPONSOR - UBIQ	PLATINUM SPONSOR - EdMentions	PLATINUM SPONSOR - Interactive Schools	GOLD SPONSOR - Innermedia	SILVER SPONSOR - HubGem
SILVER SPONSOR - Applicaa	BRONZE SPONSOR - The Schools Platform	BRONZE SPONSOR - Holmes Partners	BRONZE SPONSOR - TryBooking	BRONZE SPONSOR - Impamark
BRONZE SPONSOR - EdAINews	BRONZE SPONSOR - Digital Scanning Group