Monday 24 February 2025 9-4.30pm
EDFEST 25: CREATING AND MAINTAINING AN INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
We are delighted to invite you to join us at EdFest 25, the third edition of our festival of education at Exeter School. This year’s conference centres on the vital themes of mental health, neurodiversity, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), reflecting our deep commitment to fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments.
At EdFest 25, you’ll have the opportunity to explore key strategies and practices that contribute to positive mental health and wellbeing in schools, with a special emphasis on inclusivity. The event also includes practical wellbeing activities to emphasise the importance of self-care and the development of sustainable, positive habits—essential not only for our pupils but for educators, too.
Accessibility is at the heart of this conference. To ensure that budget constraints are not a barrier, educators from maintained schools and colleges are invited to send their first delegate free of charge, with additional delegates at £50 each. For our colleagues from
independent schools, the fee is £125 per delegate.
We have an exciting programme planned, featuring inspirational speakers such as:
• Michael Barton (Opening Address)
• Lisa McCullagh from Southwest Autism
• Dr Vicky Hill and Dr Kare Street from Epic Solutions talking about mental health and ADHD
• Kate Parker from Thomas Hall School talking about literacy and dyslexia
• Nicola Keeler and Lucy Jones from Ted Wragg Trust talking about adaptive teaching
• Rob Jennings from The Dyscalculia Network
• Associate Professor Anna Adlam and Dr Alex Boyd, talking about neuroscience
In addition to these engaging sessions, there will be plenty of networking opportunities over coffee and lunch, as well as a chance to participate in a practical wellness session.
We believe this event will provide invaluable insights, strategies, and inspiration to educators working to create truly inclusive environments for every learner.
We hope to see you at EdFest 25 –together, let’s champion inclusivity, wellness, and the power of education.
Please do join us.
Louise Simpson Head, Exeter School
RUNNING ORDER
08.45-09.30 Registration – refreshments available Speaker and topic (title to be confirmed by speaker)
09.45-10.45 Keynote A personal reflection Michael Barton
10.45-11.15 Coffee break
11.15-12.15
Workshops – choose from:
1. Lisa McCullagh – Southwest Autism. Autism and sensory processing difficulties
2. Dr Vicky Hill and Dr Karen Street – Epic Solutions. Mental health with a spotlight on ADHD
3. Kate Parker – Thomas Hall School. Literacy and dyslexia
4. Nicola Keeler and Lucy Jones – Ted Wragg Trust. Adaptive teaching
5. Rob Jennings – The Dyscalculia Network. Numeracy and dyscalculia
12.20-1.10
Wellness, a practical session. There will be a selection of activities to choose from
1.55-2.55
Workshops – choose from:
1. Lisa McCullagh – Southwest Autism. Autism and sensory processing difficulties
2. Dr Vicky Hill and Dr Karen Street – Epic Solutions. Mental health with a spotlight on ADHD
3. Kate Parker – Thomas Hall School. Literacy and dyslexia
4. Nicola Keeler and Lucy Jones – Ted Wragg Trust. Adaptive teaching
5. Rob Jennings – The Dyscalculia Network. Numeracy and dyscalculia
3.00-4.00 Keynote
Celebrating and supporting the teenage brain
Associate Professor Anna Adlam and Dr Alex Boyd
4.00-4.25 Tea, cake and optional departure
4.30 Parents’ session, open to conference delegates Dr Vicky Hill and Dr Karen Street, Epic Solutions –Mental health with a spotlight on ADHD
5.30 Conference close
Michael Barton
Michael Barton is a keynote speaker, author, and advocate for autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and neurodiversity. Over the past decade, he has toured the UK, delivering hundreds of talks and sharing his lived experience as an autistic person. Michael has appeared on Channel 4, the BBC, and in New Scientist, and gave a TEDxOxford talk in 2023. He is a patron of CASPA, a charity supporting autistic individuals, and has authored three books, including What Has Autism Ever Done For Us? A jazz musician and black belt judo coach, Michael’s insights inspire optimism and foster greater understanding of neurodiversity worldwide.
Lisa McCullagh
Lisa co-founded South West Autism with her husband, Greg, in 2011.
Lisa has over 20 years of experience in the field of autism and is mum to a now adult child with Asperger’s syndrome. Lisa has worked with young people on the spectrum in a variety of settings including education, social care, and the local community. She supports young people with sensory processing difficulties, anxiety, social interaction, and sexual understanding through 1:1 mentoring as well as boys’, girls’, and young adults’ groups. She runs support sessions for parents and bespoke training sessions for schools and colleges. Lisa leads parents’ sessions at Exeter School, exploring a wide range of topics which have included sibling relationships, managing the festive period, homework, and sensory needs.
Dr Vicky Hill
Vicky is a Consultant Psychiatrist with extensive training in Experimental Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology, earning her Honours degree and Doctorate at St Hugh’s College, Oxford. She later completed her medical training at Trinity College, Oxford, and Imperial College, London, graduating with an MBBS in 2002. Specializing in Psychiatry through rotations at the Maudsley and St Mary’s Hospitals in London, Vicky has held Consultant roles in Kent and Devon, including as Clinical Director for CAMHS. She has a passion for Adolescent Community Psychiatry, Eating Disorders, and complex emotional or physical presentations. She also holds a Master’s in Ethics and Law from King’s College London.
Dr Karen Street
Karen qualified in medicine from Christ Church and Green College, Oxford, in 1994 before specialising in Paediatrics and Child Health. She has been a Paediatric Consultant in Exeter since 2007, managing general paediatrics (0–18 years) and developing NHS pathways for young adults up to 25. Karen has a special interest in eating disorders, persistent physical symptoms, and the link between physical and mental health but welcomes a wide range of paediatric cases. Passionate about holistic care, she works closely with multidisciplinary teams. Karen also holds a master’s in medical education from Bristol University.
Kate Parker
With over 30 years of experience in teaching, leadership, and consultancy, Kate is dedicated to enabling every child to reach their full potential. Her career spans 10 educational settings, including specialist, mainstream, and independent schools. She conducted research on multi-agency collaboration at Great Ormond Street Hospital School as part of a Master’s in Special Education. With extensive experience across London, Oxfordshire, West Sussex, and Devon, Karen has led SEND and literacy initiatives, chaired SEND governance, and advised on school improvement. She currently serves as Assistant Head, Inclusion, and SENDCo at a 5-16 school within Reach South Academy Trust.
Nicola Keeler
Nicola is a Director of Education for the Ted Wragg Trust, where she leads the development and implementation of the Special Educational Needs Strategy across the trust’s schools. Since qualifying as a teacher in 2009, she has dedicated her career to improving education in some of Plymouth’s most disadvantaged communities, working across several primary schools. With over a decade of experience as a SENCo, Nicola was appointed Co-Headteacher at Marine Academy Primary School, where she has been instrumental in shaping a culture of inclusion and support for all learners. Nicola’s leadership is driven by a belief that every child should feel a sense of success and belonging. Her work focuses on breaking down barriers to education, particularly for students with additional needs, and ensuring they are empowered to reach their full potential. In addition to her school-based work, she plays a pivotal role in mentoring
and developing future teachers and SENCos, ensuring that inclusive education remains a central focus across the wider education system.
Rob Jennings
Rob is the co-founder of The Dyscalculia Network, which supports teachers and parents of students with maths difficulties
through training and advice. With over 15 years of experience in special needs education, Rob has focused on helping children with maths challenges in both state and independent schools. A Certified Educational Assessor and member of The British Psychological Society, he co-authored The Maths Difficulties and Dyscalculia Assessment (2025). Rob has presented at major education events, including the TES Show and Dyscalculia Show, and serves on the Crested Council, advocating for dyscalculia awareness across specialist schools in the UK.
Associate Professor
Anna Adlam
Anna is a Clinical Psychologist (HCPC registered) and academic Neuropsychologist specializing in paediatric brain injury. With a Ph.D. from UCL investigating memory dissociations in developmental amnesia, Anna’s career spans postdoctoral research at the MRC-Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge and clinical roles, including work with the Cambridge Centre of Paediatric Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. Since joining the University of Exeter in 2012, Anna has advanced to Associate Professor, leading research on neurocognitive interventions for children and young people. Her interests focus on memory, executive function, mood, and social processes, using innovative methodologies such as neuroimaging and randomized controlled trials to improve young lives.
Dr Alex Boyd
Alex is the Co-Director of the Children and Young People’s Psychological Training Programmes and the Director of Perinatal Clinical Psychology Training. She is a Clinical Psychologist and BABCP accredited CBT therapist. She is a Senior Fellow with the HEA. She oversees the development and delivery of courses designed to improve access to psychological therapies and increase the workforce of psychological practitioners and therapists supporting children, young people, parents and carers. She has extensive clinical experience both within the NHS and private sector alongside her current role.
Maintained schools and colleges
• Free of charge for the first delegate from each school or college
• £50 for each subsequent delegate
Independent schools
• £125 per delegate
Please register for your place by visiting https://bit.ly/EdFest25
For more information email conference@exeterschool.org.uk
www.exeterschool.org.uk
@ExeterSchoolUK
