Dave Leonard, Steve Lancaster: Approaching AI with cautious optimism at Watergrove Trust

In this episode live from the Festival of Education at Wellington College 2026, host Daniel Emmerson speaks with Grainne Hallahan, Head of Community at Teacher Tapp. Grainne shares unique data-driven insights into how UK teachers feel about artificial intelligence, the shifting patterns in subject-specific AI adoption, and why asking precise, time-bound questions is essential for capturing classroom realities. She also offers practical guidance for school leaders on policy formulation, teacher anonymity, and effective survey design.

In this episode from the Festival of Education at Wellington College 2026, host Daniel Emmerson speaks with Dr Iro Konstantinou, Head of Research and Impact at Eton College. Dr Konstantinou discusses the role of artificial intelligence in education, highlighting findings from primary data gathered across diverse UK schools. She explores the concept of cognitive offloading, how students' perceptions of AI are influenced by their background and social media, and how schools can prepare students for an AI-impacted workplace by fostering critical thinking and transferable skills.

Episode Overview In this episode from the Festival of Education at Wellington College 2026, host Daniel Emmerson speaks with Victoria Hedlund, founder of GenEd Labs. Victoria discusses bias in generative artificial intelligence, the importance of inclusion, and what meaningful human oversight should look like in education. She also explores how educators can challenge AI outputs, balance productivity with equity, and preserve the essential human element in teaching. Key Topics & Timestamps 00:00 Putting Output on Trial 00:33 Introduction to Victoria Hedlund 01:37 Researching Bias and Human Oversight 03:11 Why Schools Must Focus on Bias 05:56 Sparks, Lightbulbs, and Gender Stereotypes 08:12 Frequency of Exposure: Teachers vs AI 09:09 Visual Representation and Image Bias 13:06 Questioning Assumptions and Model Iteration 17:09 Equity Versus Productivity 20:49 The Human in the Loop 24:30 Embracing Messy Humanness in Education

Foundational Impact is a Good Future Foundation podcast exploring how artificial intelligence is changing education. Through conversations with people whose work is shaping the direction education takes next, we examine the evidence, the challenges facing schools and the decisions being made across the sector. Hosted by Daniel Emmerson. Follow Foundational Impact on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Website: www.goodfuture.foundation

Episode Overview In this episode from the Festival of Education at Wellington College 2026, host Daniel Emmerson speaks with Daisy Christodoulou, Director of Education at No More Marking. Daisy discusses the role of artificial intelligence in educational assessment, emphasising the importance of actionable feedback over lengthy written notes, the mechanics of comparative judgment, and why handwritten work remains vital for learning. She also addresses the potential pitfalls of AI in schools and offers key guidance for school leaders navigating integration. Key Topics & Timestamps 00:00 Speed As Quality 00:36 Meet Daisy Christodoulou 01:57 Is Written Feedback Useful 02:29 Thermostat Feedback Model 03:32 Comparative Judgment Explained 04:53 AI Judges And Benefits 06:09 Avoiding The Doom Loop 10:48 Student Trust And Emotions 12:48 Fast Feedback Tradeoffs 14:59 Handwriting Versus Typing 17:14 Digitizing Handwritten Work 17:57 Assessment Tradeoffs And Standards 20:21 Advice For School Leaders 21:56 Hopes For AI In Schools