Naace Newsletter

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the summer Newsletter. I hope you are managing to enjoy the sunshine? As we approach the summer break, please accept NAACE’s thanks for all you do for your schools, colleagues, students and NAACE! We really appreciate your help. Enjoy the break when it comes and let’s hope the weather continues to be good rather than surprisingly going cooler (or worse wetter) when the school holidays start!!

I hope you enjoy the articles below.

Phil Blackburn

Chair – NAACE Board of Management

NAACEMark Schools

Congratulations to all our NAACEMark Schools!!

Aquinas Grammar School
Ashley High School
Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary School

Callis Grange Nursery and Infant School
Castle Hill School
Delamere School
Devonshire Park Primary School
Fordbridge Community Primary School
Holy Trinity Primary School
Knockevin Special School
Lagan College
Moira Primary
Oakfield Preparatory
Orchard House School
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School

Oxford Grove Primary School
Royd Nursery Infant School

St Bede's Catholic Junior School
St Hilary School

St. Andrews School
St. Ronan's College
Yew Tree Primary School

Ysgol Gymraeg Trelyn

If you have NAACEMark and your school’s name doesn’t appear in the list above please check that your subscription is still in date by logging on to the website. If you encounter any problems, please contact membership@naace.org.uk

New to the EdTech Review Framework? Join Our Getting Started Session!

We’re excited to invite all new users of the Naace EdTech Review Framework (ERF) to a special online session designed to help you get up and running with confidence.

Event: Getting Started with Using the EdTech Review Framework
Date & Time: Sept 23rd - 1.30pm
Cost: £86.30

See full details and register here!

This session is perfect for schools and educators beginning their ERF journey. As well as a 1 year licence to the ERF tool itsef (worth £100), we’ll walk through the core features, best practices for gathering and uploading evidence, and how the Framework can support your strategic development and self-review.

We’d also like to give a huge thank you to Richard Smith for leading this session. Richard brings extensive experience from his work supporting schools through his consultancy AmazingICT - do check out the fantastic work he’s doing to promote impactful and meaningful use of technology in the classroom.

If you’re just starting out with the ERF, don’t miss this opportunity to build your confidence and make the most of the platform.

Welcome to Norfolk ICT Solutions

Over the last few months, we have been working with colleagues from the Norfolk IT Support Team so as to enable schools they support to use
the EdTech Review Framework (ERF). Seventy-seven schools supported by the team are now able to use the ERF, so welcome to all of you. We look forward to working with you.

The ERF (formally the SRF) is usually updated every three years. This timescale is intended to allow each school a period of three years to work their way through the framework, without the content changing. The next set of changes are due in the 2025/26 school year. The obvious topics that will feature in any changes are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Digital and Technology Standards in Schools. We will be engaging with a team of writers in the next few weeks and will publish the writing team and the timescales for changes in the next Newsletter. In the meantime if you have any suggestions for the writing team to consider please send them to: Gavin.Hawkins@naace.org.uk

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is a very popular topic and the moment across all parts of society, both face to face, online and in social media. It is one of the areas that our writing group that is updating the content of the EDTech Review Framework (ERF) is working on at the moment.
Recently the Department for Education released a number of documents to support schools and educational settings in the use and understanding of AI.

From the DfE website:
Free support materials for staff in schools and colleges, developed by the Chiltern Learning Trust (CLT) and Chartered College of Teaching (CCT), to support the safe and effective use of generative AI in education.
The materials balance the need for staff and student safety with the opportunities AI creates. They feature:

activity focused slides
video presentations with accompanying transcripts
summaries of the information presented
activities to consolidate knowledge, such as multiple-choice questions
templates to help you reflect and plan

You can work through the modules to build your knowledge and experience as you go.

The documents can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/using-ai-in-education-settings-support-materials

There has also been a HMG consultation (now closed) about Management Tools for AI. Details can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/ai-management-essentials-tool/guidance-for-using-the-ai-management-essentials-tool

Curriculum review:
The DfE Curriculum review – interim report was published just after we sent out the last newsletter so if you haven’t had a chance to look at it you can find it here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report

The final report is due later in 2025.

Meet NAACE at ICT for Education Conferences 2025.

NAACE have partnered with ICT Media, hosts of the regional ICT for Education Conferences.

Since 2012 ICTfE have hosted over 120 events. Over 10,000 delegates from over 8,000 schools have registered to attend these events and over 200 technology suppliers have showcased their products and services.

ICT for Education conferences and seminars are now widely recognised as the leading regional technology events for teachers and schools in the UK.

We are pleased to announce that NAACE will have a stand at the ICT for Education conferences being held at Newcastle, Salford, and Birmingham during Autumn 2025 ICT for Education Conferences look to inform and inspire the teaching of computing and the use of ICT across the school curriculum. They also work to address the use of
technology in the running of a school.

Keynote speaker sessions are delivered by expert and experienced speakers who understand first-hand the demands and challenges faced in schools, in the classroom, and beyond.

Subjects covered at conferences include: The use of AI in the classroom;The importance of digital & media literacy; Creating a buzz around computing: Boosting primary and secondary engagement; Teaching code to neuro-diverse children; Cyber security in schools; 1:1 learning and digital technology; the transformative power of Ed Tech for SEND pupils; Developing a curriculum fit for purpose; free resources available to teachers to inspire and motivate students... and much more!

All those attending can enjoy live product demonstrations and product reviews where the credentials of the latest technologies are put to the test. Alongside the Conference is an exhibition where teachers and all those from schools can meet knowledgeable and established technology suppliers in a relaxed and friendly environment.

Attendance is free and complimentary refreshments are provided. So, register to come and visit the NAACE stand and see the latest classroom and school technologies and hear expert speakers at one of the upcoming ICT for Education conferences in your region.

Newcastle – St. James’ Park on September 19th, 2025
Salford – The Bell Stadium on October 9th, 2025
Birmingham – Villa Park on November 7th, 2025

Delegates wishing to register for a conference can also do so by contacting Ian Loosemore directly at il@ictforeducation.co.uk

Future Developments

Colleagues on the Board of Management, along with members are working on a number of developments that we hope to be able to share with you during next academic year….. but just to give you a taster before the summer break……

The ERF update will continue so that the new version is available from early in 2026. The current version will still be useable for NAACEMark Assessments until the end of the summer term in 2026, so that school shave plenty of time to gain the award using the current framework. Your passwords won’t change, neither will the web site address, but the content of some of the elements will be changing to bring it up to date. We’ll keep you posted as the development continues and provide all the information you need for a gradual changeover.

We are looking at a number of initiatives to help schools starting to use the ERF. This might include videos, surveys etc. So if you have any ideas we’d be very pleased to hear from you. Please contact membership@naace.org.uk

Childcare & Education Expo Midlands

Childcare & Education Expo is the only early years and education event you need in your calendar - join us on 26-27 September 2025 at the CBS Arena, Coventry. Combining an innovative exhibition floor with a world-class content programme, you will discover a truly valuable experience.

As an award-winning and longest-running event for the industry, we invite you to connect, learn and discover everything to help you excel in education. Explore CPD seminars with leaders in early education, test and try resources with 100+ suppliers in a free exhibition, dive into hands-on learning in free workshops and more. There's also an exclusive free seminar with Ofsted - bringing you the latest updates and the chance to ask your burning questions.

Find out more and register for free here!