Last Friday, a group of our Year 10 students stepped into the future of education at the BETT Show 2026 in London. While the event is known for showcasing the latest in EdTech, the real stars of the show were our very own pupils, who proved that they aren't just using technology they are mastering it.

Leading the Way on the Google Stage

In a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity, our students took to the Google for Education stage alongside Mr. Clarke. They acted as expert demonstrators, presenting professional-grade Google Vids they had meticulously crafted in their Computer Science and Creative Media lessons.

The students didn't just show their work; they explained the process. They discussed how they use Google’s suite of tools to:

• Collaborate in Real-Time: Using Google Classroom to share ideas and edit projects simultaneously, ensuring every voice in a group is heard.
• Streamline Creativity: Moving seamlessly between Docs, Slides, and Vids to turn research & revision into compelling visual stories.

During their talk, the pupils highlighted how Google Classroom serves as the "digital heartbeat" of their studies, enabling them to produce excellent, high-quality work with confidence.

Rubbing Shoulders with Industry Giants

Following their successful presentation, our student speakers and a group of hardworking Year 9 students embarked on a focused tour of the massive exhibition space. This was a unique chance for them to meet the faces behind the platforms they use every day in school. They engaged in sophisticated discussions with industry partners such as BBC Bitesize and Kahoot!, sharing their user perspectives with the people who actually build these tools. It was a brilliant moment of "full circle" learning—moving from being students who use these platforms to being young consultants providing feedback to global tech giants.

Hands-On with the Future

The tour wasn't just about software; our Year 9s got stuck into the physical world of future tech. The students:

• Interacted with cutting-edge robotics, testing their logic and programming knowledge in real-time.
• Explored immersive VR/AR setups, sparking ideas for future creative media projects.
• Discovered new STEM innovations that left them buzzing with possibilities.

What’s Next? Bringing the Inspiration Home

The journey doesn't end at the ExCeL Centre. To ensure the whole school benefits from this "electric" energy, our Year 9 attendees and student speakers are currently preparing a special keynote video. They will be sharing their findings with their peers, demonstrating the new gadgets they encountered, and explaining how every student can use our school's digital tools to become creators, not just consumers. We are incredibly proud of our #FutureReady innovators and can't wait to see how they inspire the rest of the school!