Artificial Intelligence
Exceed Academies Trust, in partnership with TransforMATive, hosted our first AI in education conference on the 28th February 2025 at the University of Leeds. The conference was an opportunity for Exceed to share our AI journey and to help other schools and trusts start theirs or to take their next step on the journey. As an outward facing trust with a strong moral purpose to contribute to system wide improvements in education, we committed to not only sharing our journey but also publishing a wealth of resources and tools to support the wider sector.
The event held at the University of Leeds brought together educators, innovators, and system leaders from across the sector for an inspiring day of discovery, challenge, and opportunity.
TransforMATive believe that sharing what works—and what doesn’t—is critical. And this event did exactly that. We heard from schools at the very start of their journey and from those already embedding AI into daily practice with impact. There was a powerful sense of collective purpose: to better understand how artificial intelligence can support Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and transform education for staff and students alike.
The interactive nature of the event stood out. Attendees got hands-on with VR and AR headsets, explored new product demonstrations, and even had the chance to engage with neuroimaging technologies such as EEG—showcasing how deep cognitive insights could help personalise learning experiences.
With teacher workload at an all-time high, one of the central questions was: How can AI support those at the front line? Whether through intelligent automation, smarter lesson planning tools, or marking assistance, we saw examples of technology being used not to replace educators, but to amplify their impact and reclaim time for what matters most.
Our sponsors played a vital role in bringing this vision to life. They showcased cutting-edge tools and features, providing a tangible sense of what’s possible right now—and what’s just around the corner.
Above all, what made the day special was the willingness of participants to share, to challenge assumptions, and to reimagine what education could look like in an AI-augmented world.
We’re proud to be part of this movement—and even prouder to help connect the dots for MATs navigating this change. AI is not a distant future; it’s already reshaping how we think about teaching, learning, and leadership.
Let’s keep the conversation going.
