The Edtech Podcast

Ever feel like education keeps moving forward, yet too many learners are still being left behind? Curricula feel disconnected from real life, assessment systems label students too early, while technology and AI are advancing faster than schools can adapt. The result is a growing gap between what learners need and what the system delivers. In this episode, Philippa has a conversation with Al Kingsley to explore those tensions head-on, from what truly defines a good school to why curiosity, human skills, and equitable access to technology matter more than ever. Together, they unpack the uncomfortable questions education often avoids and why now is the moment to rethink learning for a changing world. These conversations don't end with the podcast. Bett UK 2026 is where educators, leaders, innovators, and policymakers from around the world come together to turn ideas into action. From AI and edtech to curriculum and human-centred education, Bett is where the future of learning takes shape. Save the date and join Bett UK 2026 - because meaningful change starts with showing up. Don't miss the chance to experience the innovations shaping the future of education firsthand and be part of this global conversation. For full details and registration, please visit: https://uk.bettshow.com/

In this episode, Philippa Wraithmell and Rob Hughes, co-founder of Tandem, explore a revolutionary approach to screen time that challenges the narrative of "parenting guilt" and passive consumption. Rob explains how Tandem leverages generative AI not to replace parents, but to act as a "tech for two" bridge that sparks creativity, co-creation, and shared reading moments. The conversation also addresses complex emotional challenges such as hospital visits and family separation. As they delve into the ethics of AI guardrails and the crucial difference between a "digital pacifier" and a tool for connection, Rob issues a stark warning about the current trajectory of child development and the very real danger that lies ahead if children are allowed to form their first emotional attachments to robots rather than humans. These vital conversations around ethical AI and the preservation of human connection sit at the heart of Bett UK 2026, the world's leading EdTech event, taking place from 21 to 23 January 2026 at ExCeL London. Bringing together more than 35,000 educators, policymakers, and innovators, Bett UK serves as an essential global stage to address the very warnings issued by experts like Rob, exploring how we can harness the latest innovations without compromising child development. Featuring 600+ exhibitors and hundreds of expert speakers, the event offers hands-on demos, Tech User Labs, and the Connect @ Bett programme to foster meaningful collaboration—ensuring that the future of learning, and themes such as AI in education and inclusion, remain focused on empowering human relationships rather than replacing them. Don't miss the opportunity to experience the innovations shaping the future of education firsthand and be part of this global conversation. For full details and registration, please visit: https://uk.bettshow.com/

In this episode, our host Philippa Wraithmell is in conversation with Alina Sava, a Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank, discussing Alina's journey in education and the transformative role of AI in the sector. She emphasizes the importance of equity in education, the necessity of lifelong learning, and the evolving curriculum that incorporates critical thinking. Alina highlights the need for governments to create frameworks for AI integration while ensuring that teachers remain central to the learning process. The discussion also touches on the potential digital divide in AI access and the importance of preparing students for an AI-driven world. Are you an educator or innovator interested in how technology is shaping the future of learning? Bett UK 2026 is the world's leading EdTech event, taking place from 21 to 23 January 2026 at ExCeL London. It brings together more than 35,000 educators, policymakers, education leaders, and EdTech innovators from around the world, alongside 600+ exhibitors and hundreds of expert speakers. Bett UK showcases the latest innovations in education technology, with hands-on demos, Tech User Labs, TableTalks, and the Connect @ Bett programme designed to foster meaningful collaboration between decision-makers and solution providers. With a strong focus on themes such as AI in education, inclusion, and the future of learning, Bett UK continues to be a key global platform for inspiration, insight, and transformative conversations in education. Come to Bett 2026 and listen to the full episode to explore what needs to change now and what the future of learning could look like if we get it right.

Teachers today are genuinely time-poor. Between increasing administrative demands, constant assessment, and the rapid rise of AI, finding professional development that truly fits into a teacher's reality can feel impossible. Too often, CPD remains one-size-fits-all detached from linguistically diverse classrooms and the real challenges educators face every day. When professional learning fails to connect with practice, the impact goes far beyond wasted hours. Essential skills such as oracy, effective EAL strategies, and healthy digital habits are overlooked, contributing to teacher burnout and leaving students ill-equipped for life beyond the classroom. In this podcast episode, we speak with experts from Hachette Learning Academy about a more adaptive, teacher-led approach to professional learning one that prioritises what actually matters. Listen to the full episode to discover a powerful "hidden skill" that could matter more than reading or writing for students' future career success.

In many Western classrooms, the mobile phone is viewed as the "forbidden fruit", a primary source of distraction that must be banned, confiscated, or locked away in magnetic pouches. Teachers and parents alike are exhausted by the constant battle over "screen time," whilst struggling to engage students in an education system that hasn't evolved in decades. Lectures are often unengaging, leading students to drift away, yet we blame the device rather than the delivery. Is this prohibitive approach a catastrophic mistake? Stephen Hodges warns that Western nations risk being "digitally leapfrogged" by developing economies. In regions like rural Uganda or Brazil, the student's personal mobile is not a toy; it is a lifeline to quality education amidst a massive shortage of qualified teachers. By demonising the technology our children use most, we risk missing "the biggest opportunity in education that we've seen in millennia". Furthermore, focusing solely on restricting minutes creates unnecessary conflict at home, failing to teach the critical self-regulation skills young people desperately need. This episode of The EdTech Podcast offers a way forward by shifting the narrative from "Screen Time" to "Screen Purpose". Philippa Wraithmell sits down with three experts to explore how we can embrace technology rather than fight it: •    Stephen Hodges (Efekta): Reveals how AI teaching assistants on personal phones are solving the teacher shortage crisis and delivering personalised learning in emerging markets. •    Adam Huh Dam (Stick 'Em): Demonstrates how STEAM education is reaching the most remote areas using nothing but smartphones and internet access. •    Payal Patel (Digital Bridge): Provides actionable strategies for parents to build "digital confidence" and healthy boundaries at home without the conflict. Tune in to discover why the device in your pocket might just be the most powerful educational asset we have.