Featured article / School leadership
Don’t ask AI to write your SDP
Start with the evidence, not the template. Mike Ion’s guide uses AI to question school evidence while leaders decide what needs to change.
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Microsoft Teams / Meeting protection
Teams meeting defaults: who's checking the options?
Default meeting templates are due in November 2026. What school and trust leaders need to know about protection settings and Teams Premium licensing.
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AI adoption / Research
The UK ranks eighth for AI use. The map tells a different story.
Microsoft puts UK generative AI use at 43.7%, with a 23-point gap between regions. What school and trust leaders can take from the numbers, including how much use happens out of sight.
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AI adoption / Leadership
AI is in every department. The gains are stuck between them.
Harvard Business Review says AI results stall because tools go in one department at a time. What that means for schools, colleges and trusts.
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Cyber security / Account management
Password1 and a 12-year-old test account: a warning for schools
An ICO reprimand raises a practical question for schools and trusts: who checks the accounts your IT provider leaves behind?
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AI in education / Staff development
Europe's teachers score AI balance at 4.7 out of 10
New Epson research puts AI balance at 4.7 out of 10. What the findings mean for staff training, human judgement and technology choices in UK schools.
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In focus / AI and learning
Another day, another survey, another statistic
82% of students worry AI helps them work faster but learn less deeply. What HP Futures 2026 means for schools, colleges and training providers.
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Microsoft 365 / Education updates
What's new in Microsoft EDU: October 2026
Microsoft’s October education roundup covers Teach in Copilot, Learning Zone, Teams for Education and tools for study and note-taking.
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In focus / AI and digital transformation
UNESCO’s six pillars: what AI is changing in education
Six pillars, one question for school and trust leaders: which part of your digital transformation needs the most attention?
Read the article →In focus / AI policy and education
Only 6% of US teachers report very clear AI policies. What the AI Index 2026 says about education
What Stanford's education chapter tells school and trust leaders about AI policy, pupil use and the gap between access and understanding.
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In focus / AI in FE and HE
Jisc and Google announce a two-year AI partnership for universities and colleges
Staff skills, governance, fair access and a new buying route: what the two-year partnership means for further and higher education.
Read the article →In focus / Computing and careers
TechFirst for schools: what's on offer and how to take part
Free activities, computing resources and competitions for schools and colleges, plus the November 2026 dates to put in the diary.
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In focus / AI literacy
95% of UK undergraduates use AI. Who’s teaching them to use it well?
AI use has run ahead of understanding. Why staff confidence, assessment design and critical thinking matter more than completing a module.
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In focus / AI governance
Four meetings and no policy: what Lawrence's AI committee teaches UK schools
Lawrence's AI committee met four times without recommending a policy. Five lessons for UK schools and trusts setting up their own AI working groups.
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In focus / Digital learning
Running a learning group on WhatsApp? Here's how to share fewer phone numbers.
Communities and usernames offer different privacy protections. Check the group setup and whether usernames are active before promising a cohort that numbers are hidden.
Read the practical guide →Digital strategy / Perspective
Before you buy that AI tool: 11 questions to ask first
Costs, evidence, data and oversight: what to ask before signing.
Read the article →Ideas & perspectives
All 13 articles →Digital strategy · 24 October 2026
Don't ask AI to write your SDP
Mike Ion’s guide puts evidence before the SDP template. Use AI to question the evidence while school leaders make the decisions.
Read article →Digital strategy
Why Schools Don’t Need Digital Transformation (Yet)
Anyone who believes they can transform education through digital technology alone is, frankly, deluded. We have seen it too many times before: exciting new tools arrive with great promise, only to…
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Cyber security
Time to Get Back to Basics: Four Core Principles for Cyber Resilience in Education
In light of the recent cyber attacks affecting major retailers like M&S, Harrods and the Co-op, it's clear that no organisation is immune. Schools, trusts and other educational institutions may…
Read article →Web publishing
How I Built a Real Web Presence for Almost Nothing
When I first launched EdTechStuff, I went the straightforward route. GoDaddy. Domain, hosting, email — the whole package under one roof. And honestly? It worked fine. The setup was easy,…
Read article →The podcast
All 10 episodes →Featured conversation / Season 1
A digital strategy starts with people. Not a shopping list.
Brendan O’Keeffe joins Martin to discuss how schools can bring leaders and IT teams together around a clear plan.
▶ Explore the conversationEDTECHSTUFF / SEASON 1Start with the whyEPISODE 07
EDTECHSTUFF / SEASON 1Getting ready for CopilotEPISODE 04
Microsoft 365
Before you switch on Copilot, check who can see what
Austen Puleston on preparation, pilots and data access.
EDTECHSTUFF / SEASON 1Beyond the checklistEPISODE 10
Cyber security
Cyber Essentials: beyond the checklist
A practical look at Cyber Essentials and how schools can turn certification into everyday security improvements.
EDTECHSTUFF / SEASON 1Keeping watchEPISODE 09
Cyber security
A security operations model that works for schools
Monitoring, incident response and the challenge of finding a security model that education can sustain.
EDTECHSTUFF / SEASON 1What’s in your licence?EPISODE 08
Microsoft 365
Making sense of Microsoft A3 and A5
A conversation about education licensing, security features and getting more from the tools you already pay for.
Apprenticeship Insights
Your work. Your learning.
Your next step.
Practical guidance on portfolios, Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours, and making the most of your Digital Support Technician apprenticeship.
Explore Apprenticeship Insights →Behind the microphone
Hello, I’m Martin.
EdTechStuff is where I talk to the people making technology work in education.
I’m Martin Byford-Rew, an education technology consultant and coach. These conversations explore the decisions, challenges and lessons behind digital change in schools and trusts.Get in touch →