Edufuturists

What if the real reason children go to school isn't to get the grades, but to find out that they're enough?In this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Julian Reeve, former Hamilton music director turned international keynote speaker and author, to explore what Broadway can teach education about performance, perfectionism and human value in the age of AI. From a stress-related heart attack at 43 and a career-ending injury, to his children's book on self-compassion and his framework for "unmistakable identity", Julian makes the case that the capabilities AI can't replace start with knowing who we are.We cover:- What Broadway's rehearsal process teaches organisations about permission to play, explore and make mistakes- "Practice makes permanent" and why perfection is the wrong goal for learning- EduHam, 2,200 students in the theatre, and why every audience deserves a different performance- Why one-size-fits-all teaching strips out nuance, and how AI could shift the focus from skill to capability- Surviving a heart attack at 43 and rebuilding a career through acceptance, permission and personal strength- Why Julian wrote a children's book on perfectionism and self-compassion- The three types of perfectionism, and the question every parent should ask their child- Why leaders and teachers speak to themselves in ways they would never speak to anyone else- Too direct for Broadway: British leadership and the language of psychological safety- Unmistakable identity: how identity, creativity and judgement create human advantage as AI redefines work- Why only 12 to 15% of us are actually self-aware- What's left when we stop relying on grades and titles to measure value- Why burnout is systemic, and how leaders can drive change without disrupting learners- The myth that educators need all the answers before they can changeChapters00:00 Highlights01:14 Welcome to the Edufuturists podcast03:44 Meet Julian Reeve: from the West End to Hamilton05:54 The power of rehearsal - practice makes permanent11:12 Lessons from Hamilton - EduHam and reading the audience16:28 Standardisation vs personalisation in the age of AI19:01 A heart attack at 43 and a career cut short20:43 AD: Brilliant Festival21:54 Acceptance, permission and rebuilding from strength26:24 Captain Perfection and the secret of self-compassion32:39 The three types of perfectionism39:49 Unmistakable identity: identity, creativity and judgement46:50 AD: ISE 202747:59 Burnout is systemic: balancing consistency and change53:03 Quick-fire questions55:14 Wrap up and thanksGrab your free tickets for Brilliant FestivalGet a free ticket to ISE 2027 in BarcelonaThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookCome to Uprising 2027 in ManchesterJoin the Wolfpack Community

What if the best person to build a school is someone who has never taught in one?In this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Akida Mashaka, founder of Barcelona High School, to explore what happens when an entrepreneur with no education background tries to build a better school from first principles. From five students in a windowless basement during COVID to two campuses and almost 500 students, all without a single investor, Akida shares how listening to students, putting wellbeing first and rejecting one-size-fits-all education shaped a school where the director tells the children: "You are our bosses."We cover:- How a one-year move from LA to Barcelona turned into founding a school during COVID- Starting with five students in a basement co-working space, and why the original idea pivoted almost immediately- What families really wanted during lockdown: their children back, socially and emotionally- Why Akida refused to keep a waiting list, and the risk of moving to a much bigger building- First principles thinking: what outsiders bring to education without the "historic baggage"- The BHS method: Build, Harvest, Succeed, and how lean startup thinking shapes learning- Ditching the ego: empathy, feedback and iterating fast- Students as "bosses" and customers, not parents- Failure, shame and why fear of getting it wrong holds learners and educators back- Why safeguarding and feeling safe and supported must come before academics- Student-led extracurricular clubs that build initiative and confidence- Against one-size-fits-all: IB, AP and finding every child's superpower- Can initiative be taught? Life as a journey, from losing a scholarship to Harvard Law School- Scaling from an experiment to two campuses without investors- What entrepreneurs get wrong about teachers, and why teachers aren't startup employees- What schools could learn from restaurants about keeping their customers coming backChapters00:00 Highlights01:23 Welcome to the Edufuturists podcast02:05 Family travels and the Uprising 2027 announcement04:22 Meet Akida Mashaka: from Los Angeles to Barcelona05:47 Five students in a windowless basement08:11 From one son's education to a whole community09:06 Finding a superstar teacher13:08 Why he refused to keep a waiting list14:14 Outsiders, entrepreneurs and first principles thinking17:21 Learning from outside education18:43 The BHS method: Build, Harvest, Succeed21:53 Harvest: empathy, feedback and dropping the ego23:43 "You are our bosses": students as customers26:37 AD: Brilliant Festival 202627:50 Failure, shame and building the plane while flying it30:02 Why failure carries a stigma in Spain31:13 Safe and supported comes first34:03 Student-led clubs and building confidence35:23 Against one size fits all: IB, AP and every child's superpower39:17 Pick 'n' Mix Education and the football analogy42:53 Can initiative be taught?45:33 Losing a scholarship, Harvard Law and life as a journey49:09 From experiment to two campuses and almost 500 students53:03 What entrepreneurs get wrong about teachers56:10 Quick-fire questions1:00:59 Wrap up and thanksThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xFind out more about BHSConnect on InstagramConnect on TikTokCheck out the BHS methodCheck out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch Grab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookCome to Uprising - 25-26th June 2027Join the Wolfpack

What if the most useful AI tutor is the one that refuses to give your child the answer?In this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Ashish Bansal, co-founder and CEO of StarSpark AI and former Google, Twitter and Amazon engineer, to ask what AI tutoring should really look like when learning, not engagement, is the goal. From his son gaming an online algebra course by memorising a seven-question bank, to why most AI chatbots are built for the wrong purpose entirely, Ashish makes the case for purpose-built, Socratic AI that makes students think harder, not less.We cover:- Why "solving is not tutoring" and great mathematicians don't automatically make great teachers- What parents and technologists misunderstand about pedagogy and age-appropriate learning- How StarSpark refuses to be an answer machine and uses Socratic questioning instead- Sequencing question difficulty using Webb's Depth of Knowledge- Why multiple choice encourages guessing, and how his son gamed an online algebra course- The 80% problem: how learning gaps compound year after year in maths- Personalised learning versus group instruction, and Bloom's two sigma problem- Socrates, gurukuls and why our school systems are built around a cost model- Flipping the classroom: AI teaches the concept, the teacher helps when students get stuck- Why the school year is still nine months, and whether learning should be continuous- Why general-purpose chatbots are built for engagement, not learning outcomes- Purpose-built AI vs wrappers: grounding in textbooks, computer algebra systems and avoiding emotional dependence- The Star Wars role-play that got one student through 119 maths problems in two days- Practical things teachers can do with AI tomorrow to give every student more individual attentionWhy you should listenIf you're a teacher, school leader or parent trying to work out whether AI will help young people learn or simply do their thinking for them, this conversation offers a rare inside view from someone who builds the technology and still puts pedagogy first. You'll come away with sharper questions to ask of any AI product and practical ideas you can try in your classroom straight away.Chapters00:00 Highlights 01:01 Welcome to the Edufuturists podcast 02:17 Community updates and XP School 04:08 Meet Ashish Bansal: from Google to StarSpark AI 05:33 How being a dad fuelled the mission 06:43 Why solving is not tutoring 09:02 What parents and technologists miss about pedagogy 11:25 Lessons from Google, Twitter and Twitch 14:08 Is AI stopping students from thinking? 15:50 No answer machine: building a Socratic tutor 17:41 Sequencing difficulty with Webb's Depth of Knowledge 18:41 Why multiple choice fails, and gaming Khan Academy 19:56 The fastest route vs the learning process 22:24 What does it actually mean to learn? 23:36 Personalised learning vs group instruction 24:29 AD: Brilliant Festival 25:33 The 80% problem: how maths gaps compound 26:59 Is personalisation the future of education? 27:50 Socrates, gurukuls and the cost model of schooling 29:50 Bloom's two sigma, Biesta and learning in community 32:18 The future of education: humans and AI together 35:45 Flipping the model: AI teaches, teachers unstick 36:50 Mastery, grade boundaries and the nine-month school year 38:40 AI adoption in schools: square peg, round hole 40:50 Chatbots built for engagement, not learning 43:14 Purpose-built AI vs wrappers 44:30 Not your friend: guardrails and the Star Wars story 47:02 What teachers can do with AI tomorrow 50:16 Quick-fire questions 51:58 Wrap up and thanksThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xJoin us at Brilliant FestivalCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchUprising tickets are LIVEGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack

What if the most valuable thing at an EdTech festival isn't the tech, but the conversation with the stranger sitting next to you?In this episode, Ben and Steve are joined by three people who know the Brilliant Festival inside out: Andy Miah, Melanie Tagg and returning guest Trudi Barrow. Festival director Martyn Collins was unwell and couldn't join, so the panel stepped in to explain why Brilliant has become one of the UK's most distinctive education events. They cover why educators, tech companies, charities and employers need to be in the same room, why creativity and technology belong across the whole curriculum, and how to get the most out of a packed day. The festival is free and runs on 10th November in Liverpool, and the link to book is below.We cover:- Why a northern, free-to-attend EdTech festival feels different from the big London shows- How Brilliant puts frontline teachers, primary and early years practitioners in direct conversation with CEOs and tech providers- Chester Zoo, Johnny Vegas and why cross-sector collaboration sparks the best ideas- Why children don't live in silos, and why EdTech can't be a bolt-on in 2026- The shift from "what is the technology?" to "is it improving learning outcomes?"- The disconnect between school skills and employer expectations- Connect, Collaborate and Create, a new closing session hosted by Edufuturists- Inside the Brilliant Awards: 20 categories and an exceptionally high bar- This year's themes: AI, SEND and inclusion, esports, industry engagement and STEAM- Practical advice for getting the most out of the dayGet your free Brilliant Festival ticketsChapters0:00 Welcome to the Edufuturists podcast01:05 Astronaut costumes and Starbucks training sessions03:12 Meet Andy Miah, University of Salford04:47 Meet Melanie Tagg, Futuresource Consulting07:27 Meet Trudi Barrow, CLEAPSS09:16 Is there something special about a northern event?10:08 Hopes for Brilliant 2026: bigger, broader, more frontline voices11:20 Access to senior people and bridging the skills gap14:05 Chester Zoo and the magic of cross-sector conversations15:26 Putting the A into STEAM17:49 Martyn Collins and a community bigger than one person18:28 AD: Brilliant Festival19:33 Why educators, tech and employers need to be in the same room21:06 Children don't live in silos22:47 Beyond the tech: learning outcomes, training and guardrails25:41 The pace of change and taking the pulse of the nation27:33 Connect, Collaborate and Create: the new closing session31:10 How to navigate a packed festival day33:42 Inside the Brilliant Awards36:31 Themes for 2026: AI, SEND, esports, industry and STEAM38:41 Final advice: comfy shoes, open minds, talk to everyone40:55 Book signings and Pick & Mix Education42:32 Wrap up and thanks#BrilliantFestival #EdTech #Edufuturists #FutureOfEducation #AIinEducation #STEAM #EdTechUK #Liverpool #EducationConference #SEND #TeacherCPD #EsportsThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack

#Edufuturists #FutureOfEducation #AIinEducationWhat if the biggest problem in education isn't workload, personalisation or even AI, but the things we've simply never stopped to question?In this episode, Ben and Steve are back in the studio for The Big Review Part 18, looking back at eight recent conversations on the future of education. From heart-led leadership and the myth of AI personalisation to Pick 'n' Mix Education in real life, evidence-based teaching and inclusive learning for neurodivergent children, they pull out the big ideas, the moments that stuck with them, and the threads connecting them all: human first, professional second.We cover:- Why the hardest part of teaching might not be workload, and why teachers need safety to try new things- Leading with heart: character, humility over ego, and psychological safety in schools and organisations- Why we should stop calling it "personalisation" and put human wisdom at the centre of AI strategy- Being interviewed about Pick 'n' Mix Education: one size fits all means one size fits none- Why education and school are not the same thing, and why parents need a permission slip to choose differently- Trudi Barrow on creative fidelity, the DfE AI toolkit, and getting our Sundays back- Pick 'n' Mix Education in real life: hybrid, online and home learning with Minerva Virtual Academy families- What if nothing we do in education has ever been tested like a new drug? Randomised trials, AI tutors and social mobility- Fleeing Ukraine, navigating autism, and building inclusive learning systems used by hundreds of thousands of learners- A sneak peek at upcoming guests, including Hamilton musical director Julian ReeveWhy you should listenIf you only have time for one episode, make it this one. It's a fast, honest tour through some of the most important questions facing schools, colleges and families right now, and a perfect starting point for diving into the 350+ episodes in the Edufuturists back catalogue.Chapters0:00 Welcome to The Big Review Part 1801:16 Why we keep doing this: the best CPD there is03:11 Building the rocket ship: organised chaos and the new Edufuturists website04:30 The hardest part of teaching isn't workload with Grant Wootten09:05 Character, heart and leadership with Dave Jones and Stephen Klemich11:15 Leading with love: humility over ego14:38 Stop calling it personalisation with Laura Knight16:56 Human first, professional second17:43 Brilliant Festival (ad)18:44 AI reviews in schools: culture, not tick boxes20:23 Ben and Steve in the hot seat: David Cameron on Pick 'n' Mix Education21:07 One size fits all means one size fits none23:18 A permission slip for parents: education isn't the same as school24:29 Edufuturist of the Year 2026 Trudi Barrow27:46 AI policy gaps, the DfE toolkit and creative fidelity29:41 Live at Minerva Virtual Academy's fifth anniversary31:39 Pick 'n' Mix Education in real life34:03 Testing education like medicine with Dr Yusuf Ben-Tarifite36:13 Social mobility, randomised trials and AI versus human tutoring38:01 Inclusive STEAM learning with Mykhailo from UNOWA40:48 Fleeing Ukraine, autism and navigating change42:06 Coming up: Ashish Bansal, Julian Reeve and more43:05 Wrap up, Wolfpack and Uprising 2027 #EducationPodcast #EducationLeadership #PickAndMixEducation #EdTech #InclusiveEducationGrab your free ticket for Brilliant Festival on 10th November in LiverpoolThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about Edufuturists at our new websiteWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack

What if inclusion can't wait for a diagnosis, a plan or a nine-month waiting list, and every week we wait is a week a child loses?In this episode, Ben and Steve are joined by Mykhailo Kalitkin, a Ukrainian education entrepreneur who has spent more than 20 years working in education. After his son Kirill was diagnosed with autism and given a prognosis that he would never speak, Mykhailo set out to change what was possible. Kirill now studies in an international school. After relocating from Ukraine to Poland and then Portugal because of the war, Mykhailo is turning his family's story into inclusive education and STEM projects used across more than 40 projects worldwide. He explains why schools are losing the fight with entertainment, why buying technology on its own never works, and why inclusion has to look at the whole child, not just their academic gaps.About our guestMykhailo Kalitkin is an education entrepreneur, scientist and founder with a background in physics and more than two decades of experience in education. Originally from Ukraine and now based in Portugal, he works across inclusive education and STEM. He has led national-scale programmes in Armenia, Kazakhstan (with the World Bank) and Ukraine, and developed a six spheres of development framework for assessing and supporting students with special educational needs.We cover:- How his son's autism diagnosis, and a prognosis that he would never speak, reshaped Mykhailo's life and work- Rebuilding a family and a business after relocating twice because of the war- Why falling STEM attainment means schools are "losing the fight with entertainment"- His core philosophy of spaces, knowledge and innovation, and why schools fail when they buy only technology- How AI took his business from 200 employees to 60 in-house- A Lego-style approach to implementation, and why good equipment should show scratches after a year- The case for learning from inclusion systems around the world, from Kazakhstan to Canada- The six spheres of development framework: cognitive, social, sensory, daily living, physical and speech- EHCPs, Individual Support Plans and the UK SEND white paperWhy you should listenIf you work in SEND, inclusion, STEM or school leadership, this episode offers a rare international view of what inclusive education can look like at scale. It comes from a parent who built the system he needed for his own son and then offered it to others. It is a reminder that the goal is not only academic progress but a child who is happy and successful in school.Chapters0:00 Highlights0:50 Welcome to the Edufuturists podcast2:23 Community events update from Steve3:13 Thanking our community leaders and the Wolfpack4:48 Meet Mykhailo and his son Kirill7:06 From "he will never speak" to an international school8:51 The journey behind the projects9:18 STEM education and losing the fight with entertainment11:10 A family story turned into a global project12:27 From one child to children all over the world14:29 Spaces, knowledge and innovation: the core philosophy16:43 How AI changed the shape of his business17:58 A Lego approach to implementation19:53 Why we need inclusive education frameworks22:50 Learning from Kazakhstan, Canada and beyond23:59 Context matters: Finland vs England25:31 The six spheres of development framework27:37 EHCPs, ISPs and the SEND white paper30:12 Impact: projects, teachers trained and hours of practice31:44 Reaching 1,000 schools in Armenia33:34 Ukraine's inclusive reform and what relocating families discovered35:33 Quick-fire questionsFind out more about UNOWAThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack

What if the biggest problem in education isn't AI, it's that almost nothing we already do has ever been tested for evidence the way a new drug would be?In this episodeIn this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Dr Yusuf Ben-Tarifite - A&E doctor, social mobility researcher, and founder of Ava - to talk about what happens when you apply medical-grade evidence standards to education. From email-blasting a thousand consultants to get work experience, to building the UK's first randomised control trial comparing AI tutoring against video, Yusuf makes the case that education's real crisis isn't too much AI scepticism; it's not enough rigour applied everywhere else.We cover:- Yusuf's journey from a Hertfordshire state school to Oxford medicine, and why he founded Aspiring Medics a week before Freshers' Week- The Diana Award, Prince William, and "leaving the ladder down" for others- Ava's mission: equality of opportunity, not just support for disadvantaged students- Why AI is a continuum, not a chatbot and how Ava uses it as a Socratic tutor and interview coach- Building an actual evidence base: doubling Oxbridge odds, and the UK's first randomised trial of AI vs video tutoring- The real hope for AI in education and the risk of turning students into "AI zombies"- Why writing and thinking are the same skill, and what that means for assessment- "I call bullshit": how often is high-quality face-to-face teaching actually happening?- The GCSE resit numbers that expose a one-size-fits-all system already failing thousands- Why cognitive discomfort, like progressive overload in the gym, is the point of learning, not a bug- The shrinking half-life of technical skills, and what it means for lifelong learningChapters0:00 Highlights0:58 Welcome 3:20 Introducing Dr Yusuf: A&E doctor, researcher and founder of Ava3:57 From a Hertfordshire state school to Oxford medicine5:33 Who Ava is for: narrowing the gap, or equality of opportunity for all?7:15 The AI revolution and democratising education8:17 The Diana Award, Prince William, and "leaving the ladder down"10:25 What still drives him after the recognition11:44 From Aspiring Medics to Oxbridge: his North Star for social mobility13:33 Mirroring the Edufuturists journey, and the shrinking half-life of skills16:18 Why social mobility is complicated and why tech alone won't fix it18:04 Inside Ava: a "training course" for university applications19:38 The "who you know" problem, and levelling the playing field20:56 AI as a Socratic tutor and why "the genie can't go back in the bottle"22:49 Building the evidence base: doubling Oxbridge odds, and the UK's first AI vs video trial23:44 Beyond the hype: the real hope for AI in education, and the risk of "AI zombies"26:33 Outsourcing the doing, not the thinking28:13 Teaching cognitive biases, and why writing is thinking29:58 Is high-quality face-to-face learning really happening as often as we assume?31:47 The longitudinal evidence question, and a one-size-fits-all model that's already failing33:04 Why AI should face the same scrutiny as every other intervention34:07 The COVID hangover, and why we're asking the wrong question about online learning36:10 Is there a gap between policy and technology?37:35 Cognitive discomfort: why learning should feel like exercise41:28 Has the fundamental nature of learning really changed?42:43 Quickfire QuestionsFind out more about AVACheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touch Grab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Edufuturists Wolfpack

What if the man who invented modern American schooling didn't actually believe in it, not enough to send his own kids?In this episode, Ben and Steve take Edufuturists live on stage in front of an audience at Minerva Virtual Academy's (MVA) 5th birthday celebration, launching their new book, Pick 'n' Mix Education. They're joined by MVA founder and CEO Hugh Viney and home educating parents Hannah and Olivia for an unfiltered conversation about why "one size fits all" schooling is failing families and what choice actually looks like in practice.About our guestsHugh Viney is the founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy (MVA), returning for his second appearance on the Edufuturists podcast. MVA has been named Edufuturists Online School of the Year for two years running.Hannah has home educated her children for nearly 16 years, previously worked in behaviour management at a pupil referral unit, and now has two of her older teens studying at MVA. She is on social mediaOlivia is a home-educating mum of two who built an online following around family life before opening up about choosing education outside the mainstream system. She is on social mediaWe cover:- The Woolworths "pick and mix" analogy at the heart of Ben and Steve's new book- Horace Mann: the godfather of standardised American schooling who homeschooled his own kids- Why every penny of profit from Pick 'n' Mix Education goes to youth mental health charity Beyond- Hannah's move from unschooling to MVA, and the exam results that surprised her- Redefining success beyond grades and dismantling the "they won't socialise" mythAnd lots more!Why you should listenRecorded live in front of a festival field full of parents, educators and home-schooling families, this is Edufuturists at its most unfiltered - real stories from people who've chosen a different path, not theory about it. If you've ever wondered whether there's a genuine alternative to "the school at the end of the road," this conversation makes the case, live, warts and all.Chapters0:00 Introduction1:17 Welcome live from the MVA stage2:27 Meet your hosts: Ben and Steve3:52 The Woolworths analogy: what "pick and mix" education means5:18 New book: Pick 'n' Mix Education and where the profits go6:13 The Horace Mann paradox: he built standardised schooling, then homeschooled his own kids7:47 Bringing the panel to the stage: Hugh, Hannah and Olivia8:32 Hugh Viney: founder and CEO of MVA9:45 Hannah: 16 years of home educating, now at MVA10:32 Olivia: home-educating mum of two11:28 The End of Average: the cockpit built for everyone that fit no one12:39 Hannah's story: relationships, safety, and the results that surprised her14:01 Beyond grades: celebrating the whole learner, and choosing rather than rejecting school15:42 "But how will they socialise?"17:26 What if parents controlled a share of education funding, like some US states allow?19:06 What pick and mix actually looks like, day to day20:24 Curiosity, autonomy, and the bedtime analogy22:04 Inside MVA: weekly mentors, live lessons and self-directed learning24:23 Why the trip is remembered and the lesson isn't26:11 From unschooling to formal learning: what the transition actually looks like27:50 Deferred starts, academy takeovers, and choosing freedom29:12 "What works for my child" not what works at scale30:27 MVA's mission for the next five years: first choice, not last resort32:23 Quickfire Questions36:35 MVA 5th Birthday Highlights VideoFind out more about MVAThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Edufuturists Community

What if the real danger of AI in schools isn't plagiarism, it's your own child telling you off for not saying "thank you" to Alexa?In this episode, Ben and Steve sit down with Trudi Barrow - Edufuturist of the Year 2026 - to talk about the messy, brilliant middle ground between traditional craft and generative AI. From a late-night Midjourney experiment for a Year 10 design class to co-authoring the DfE's national AI toolkit now reaching over 30,000 schools and colleges, Trudi explains why she refuses to pick a side in education's most polarising debates.About our guest:Trudi Barrow is a former Head of Design & Technology turned AI and creativity specialist, trained at RADA in theatre design before moving into the classroom. She co-authored the Department for Education's national AI toolkit with Chiltern Learning Trust and Charter College, coined the concept of "creative fidelity," and was crowned Edufuturist of the Year 2026 in June.We cover:- How a rushed exemplar for a Year 10 D&T class led Trudi into her first real experiment with AI image generation- Why she refuses to be labelled an "AI evangelist" and how she holds two opposing truths at once- What it's really like being a woman walking into a D&T workshop- Inside the DfE's national AI toolkit: reaching 30,000+ schools, and the subjects still being left out of the conversation- Why anthropomorphised AI - and her daughter telling Alexa to say thank you - worries her more than most classroom AI use- Safeguarding in the AI era: "same risks, different vectors"- The truth about AI and sustainability, beyond viral "one image = boiling a kettle" stats- What it actually felt like to be named Edufuturist of the Year 2026Why you should listenIf you've ever felt caught between the AI hype and the AI fear, or wondered how creativity, craft and technology can genuinely coexist in the classroom, this conversation offers a rare, grounded middle ground from someone who has lived both sides.Chapters0:00 Highlights1:14 Welcome back and Wolfpack community updates2:40 Introducing Trudi Barrow, Edufuturist of the Year 20263:52 From RADA and theatre design to Head of D&T6:35 Discovering Midjourney and Discord as a non-gamer8:06 The Year 10 keyring exemplar that changed everything13:46 Holding two truths: neither AI evangelist nor AI sceptic15:34 Being a woman in a Design & Technology workshop18:29 Pottery wheels and AI awards: why both fit20:37 Knowledge vs skills, and finding a third way23:55 Co-writing the DfE's national AI toolkit27:27 The subjects still missing from the AI conversation30:06 Creativity isn't just for the "creative subjects"31:58 Inside the toolkit: reaching 30,000+ schools35:55 The Alexa story: anthropomorphising AI at home39:03 Safeguarding: same risks, different vectors42:27 Why sustainability has to be part of the AI conversation48:05 What winning Edufuturist of the Year 2026 really meant53:17 Quick-fire questionsConnect with TrudiFind out more about herCheck out the DfE AI Toolkits she co-authoredThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xCheck out all about Edufuturists Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Edufuturists Wolfpack

What if the biggest problem in education isn't too much choice but not enough of it, for the people who need it most?In this episode, we sit on the other side of the mic as David Cameron puts our new book, Pick 'n' Mix Education, under the microscope. Built around the analogy of choosing sweets at Woolworths, the book argues that education shouldn't be something done to parents and young people - it should be something they actively navigate. David pushes back hard, and the conversation ranges from school choice and social mobility to "place not politics," community regeneration, and why the book ends up working more like a permission slip than a manifesto.We cover:The Woolworths "pick and mix" analogy at the heart of the bookWhy we wrote it for parents, not educatorsParental choice vs. parental choices and why the distinction mattersHow supplementary education (tutoring, enrichment) favours families with moneyTurning choice into an engine for equality rather than inequalityWhy the book isn't proposing a new pathway, just permission to choose oneThe link between active parenting and continuous, revisable choice"Place not politics": rethinking education around community, not just the individual"It takes a village" - why schools can't carry social care and mental health aloneA real-world regeneration case study rebuilding a whole community at onceThe Open School concept and expanding access beyond your local catchmentVouchers, online learning, and rethinking who gets access to whatWhy listen?If you've ever felt like education choices are something that happen to your family rather than decisions you get to make, this conversation reframes the whole picture. David Cameron doesn't let Ben and Steve off easy - he opens by saying he fundamentally disagrees with the book's premise - and what follows is a genuinely challenging, well-argued debate about choice, community, and what parents are actually entitled to ask for.Chapters0:00 Intro2:21 A Birthday, the Fringe, and a Lifetime Achievement Award6:11 What Is Pick 'n' Mix Education? The Woolworths Analogy Explained10:06 Parental Choice vs Parental Choices: Why the Distinction Matters14:18 Turning Choice Into an Engine for Equality, Not Inequality19:04 Active Parenting: Why Choice Should Never Be a One-Off Decision23:40 Place Not Politics: Rethinking Education Around Community25:46 "It Takes a Village": Why Schools Can't Fix Everything Alone32:26 Accrington, Regeneration, and Rebuilding a Whole Community37:22 The Book as a "Permission Slip," Not a Manifesto40:50 The Open School Vision and the Girl Who'd "Never Been to Edinburgh"44:51 Coffee Shops, Vouchers, and Rethinking Access to Learning49:11 Bringing It Together: Choice, Compassion, and CommunityThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xFind out more about Crown House PublishingCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work? Get in touchGrab your copy of the new Pick 'n' Mix Education bookJoin the Wolfpack Community