Education at a Turning Point: Key Insights from the Schools & Academies Show London 2026

Attending the Schools & Academies Show at ExCeL London this week reinforced something many across the sector are increasingly recognising: education is entering a period of major transformation.

The conversations throughout the day moved far beyond traditional discussions around attainment and accountability. Instead, there was a much stronger focus on inclusion, engagement, wellbeing, innovation, digital transformation and preparing young people for a rapidly changing world.

What became clear is that schools and trusts are now navigating a perfect storm of challenges –rising financial pressures, widening disadvantage gaps, changing student needs, workforce pressures, attendance concerns, evolving technology and increasing expectations around inclusion and SEND provision.

But alongside these challenges, there was also genuine optimism and a growing appetite to rethink what education could and should look like moving forward.

The Schools White Paper Stole the Show

The Schools White Paper remained one of the biggest talking points across the event. Much of the discussion centred around the government’s ambition to close the disadvantage gap “within a generation” - an aspiration that many welcomed, while also acknowledging the scale of the challenge ahead.

Speakers reflected on how the pandemic significantly widened inequalities between 2019 and 2023, particularly for disadvantaged learners. While recent data suggests some signs of improvement, there was consensus that long-term, sustained action will be required if meaningful progress is to be achieved.

The White Paper also places greater emphasis on curriculum reform, inclusion, digital transformation and Key Stage 3 engagement – all areas that many speakers felt have historically lacked sufficient attention. And on engagement, an especially striking statistic needing to be addressed is that by the end of primary school, around 84% of pupils report a strong sense of belonging, but by Year 9 that figure falls to approximately 58%. For disadvantaged students, this disengagement can become even more pronounced.

This shift in engagement raises important questions about whether education is truly evolving alongside the needs, interests and realities of young people today.

The Growing Importance of Enrichment and Real-World Learning

A recurring theme throughout the event was that enrichment is increasingly being recognised as a vital part of developing confident, capable and engaged young people. Many children are now entering school post-pandemic with lower levels of communication skills, resilience, confidence and interpersonal development. These challenges do not simply impact wellbeing, they directly affect learning, participation and long-term outcomes.

There was strong recognition that schools cannot focus solely on academic performance metrics if they want to genuinely improve life chances. Real-world learning experiences, creativity, enterprise education, leadership opportunities and adaptive learning approaches were repeatedly highlighted as critical tools for re-engaging learners – particularly those from underserved communities.

These conversations strongly resonated with our own work around entrepreneurship education and digital learning. We hear young people expressing the desire for learning that feels relevant, practical and connected to the real world they are growing up in. The future of education cannot simply prepare students to pass exams. It must prepare them to navigate uncertainty, solve problems, communicate effectively and adapt to change.

Managing Budgets in an Increasingly Volatile Landscape

Financial sustainability was another major topic dominating discussions throughout the conference. With rising operational costs, staffing pressures and falling pupil numbers affecting many schools and trusts, there was a clear sense that traditional financial models are becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

One speaker used the 1890s "Great Horse Manure Crisis" as an analogy to illustrate the need for new thinking. At the time, many people could not imagine cities functioning without horses – few predicted the transformational impact of cars. The comparison served as a reminder that education cannot solve modern challenges using outdated assumptions and systems.

There was a growing sense that schools and trusts may need to adopt more innovative and process-driven approaches traditionally associated with the private sector, while still remaining deeply values-led.

Discussions around the National Funding Formula also highlighted concerns that funding pressures do not exist in isolation. Financial decisions are now directly influencing staffing, SEND provision, enrichment opportunities, technology adoption and long-term strategic planning.

As resources become tighter, collaboration between schools, trusts, businesses and external organisations will likely become even more important.

Delivering Effective Digital Transformation

Digital transformation extends far beyond devices and infrastructure. The wider conversation focused on how schools can evolve to reflect the realities of the modern world.

With around 82% of jobs now requiring digital skills in some form, there was strong consensus that digital literacy can no longer sit on the periphery of education. Young people themselves are increasingly expecting more modern, flexible and digitally integrated approaches to learning and assessment. Discussions around digital exams reflected this shift, with many students reportedly preferring digital assessment environments.

There was a clear message that digital transformation is no longer optional – it’s becoming essential for future readiness, accessibility and inclusion. This reinforces the importance of combining digital learning with practical, real-world skills development that resonates with young people today.

Final Reflections

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the conference was that education cannot remain static while the world around it changes so rapidly. The conversations throughout the day highlighted a growing recognition that academic outcomes alone are not enough. Schools are increasingly being asked to prepare young people not just for exams, but for life, work, uncertainty and participation in a fast-changing society.

That requires innovation, collaboration and courage to rethink long-standing systems and assumptions. Most importantly, it requires a stronger focus on creating environments where young people feel engaged, included, confident and genuinely excited to learn.

Ultimately, when students feel connected to education and what they are learning, outcomes follow.