New ideas, open-air conversations and resources designed to make a direct impact in classrooms. This was the atmosphere at the first edition of the Festival of Education Spain, held on 13 June at The British School of Barcelona (BSB) campus in Castelldefels. The event was organised by EducationScape in collaboration with The British School of Barcelona, with the support of Wellington College Education.
The Festival also received support from educational partner organisations, including EPIC (Associació d’Escoles Privades Independents de Catalunya), which participated as an Educational Partner in this first Spanish edition, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, the exchange of best practices and fostering connections among education professionals and schools.
More than 260 attendees, including teachers, school leaders, speakers, partners and education professionals, took part in a day that combined keynote presentations, practical workshops, panel discussions and numerous opportunities to share experiences.
The event also featured strong institutional representation led by Manuel Reyes, Mayor of Castelldefels, accompanied by Nico Cerpa, First Deputy Mayor; Ramon Amador, Councillor for Education, Cooperation and Solidarity; Sonia Expósito, Councillor for New Technologies; Cristian Hundamal, Councillor for Culture and Youth; and Eduard Carbonell, Education Inspector for the Baix Llobregat Territorial Services, together with other representatives from the local council.
During the opening session, the Mayor highlighted the significance of bringing an international educational festival to Castelldefels, as well as the role of The British School of Barcelona as a leading school in the municipality. He also emphasised the city’s cosmopolitan character and its growing reputation as a hub for education, science, technology and innovation.
The keynote sessions focused on four topics that are particularly relevant in education today. Richard Culatta reflected on the use of technology in the classroom and the value that devices can bring to learning; Owen O’Kane shared strategies related to wellbeing and resilience; Francesca Martinez explored themes of inclusion, belonging and difference; and Geoff Barton concluded the programme by highlighting the importance of speaking, listening and thinking critically in the age of artificial intelligence.
Each keynote was followed by a panel discussion on the same stage, broadening the conversation and incorporating new voices and perspectives.
More than 50 sessions to learn and put ideas into practice
The Festival featured more than 50 sessions and workshops covering artificial intelligence, leadership, assessment, sustainability, inclusion, wellbeing, learning science and professional development for educators.
A practical approach defined much of the programme. Participants explored ideas, methodologies and resources designed to be implemented in schools and classrooms, while also exchanging experiences with professionals from other institutions and countries.
Posts shared on LinkedIn by organisers, speakers and participants consistently highlighted the diversity of the programme, the quality of the sessions and the practical value of the workshops. Among the most appreciated aspects were the opportunity to discover new methodologies, compare experiences with other professionals and return to schools with concrete ideas to test, adapt and further develop.
BSB shares its expertise within an international programme
In addition to hosting the first Spanish edition of the Festival, The British School of Barcelona (BSB), played an active role in the programme through four of its professionals. Neil Tetley, Executive Principal of BSB, discussed the integration of sustainability into school strategy; James Petrie, Deputy Executive Principal, shared the work undertaken to embed oracy across the curriculum; Marija Kovac, International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Coordinator, reflected on wellbeing and belonging; and Margarita Sardá Frouchtman, Psychology teacher and educational psychologist, presented the school’s emotional intelligence programme.
Their participation brought to the international discussion examples of initiatives developed at BSB in key areas such as sustainability, oracy, wellbeing and school culture.
“Hosting the first Spanish edition of the Festival of Education is a privilege that reflects BSB’s commitment to educational excellence and to remaining at the forefront of innovation, equipping our students with the tools they need to thrive in a world that is evolving faster than ever,” said Neil Tetley, Executive Principal of The British School of Barcelona. “With more than sixty speakers, it was an inspiring day not only for our staff, but also for educators from Barcelona and across Spain. We hope everyone left with new ideas that will help continue improving the educational experience of their students.”
A festival inside and beyond the classroom
Between sessions, the outdoor spaces across the campus helped maintain the Festival’s vibrant atmosphere. The exhibition area, food trucks and pleasant weather encouraged networking and allowed conversations sparked during the sessions to continue informally.
The combination of knowledge sharing, collaboration and a relaxed environment ensured that the Festival maintained its identity from the outset: not as a traditional conference, but as an open space to listen, question, share and return to the classroom with fresh ideas.
The success of this first edition leaves a clear image: 260 professionals dedicating a Saturday to learning from one another, building new connections and thinking together about how to improve education.
Castelldefels: a hub for education, knowledge and innovation
The Festival further strengthens Castelldefels’ connection with education, research and innovation. The city is home to the Baix Llobregat Campus of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), located within the Mediterranean Technology Park, an environment where educational institutions, scientific organisations, research groups and technology companies coexist.
Among these are the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering and the Barcelona School of Agricultural Engineering and Biosystems Engineering, alongside research institutions such as the Institute of Photonic Sciences. The campus also hosts a business incubation centre run by the European Space Agency, created to support the development of projects related to space technologies and applications.
The presence of The British School of Barcelona and the arrival of the Festival of Education further expand this ecosystem through school education and professional development, connecting Castelldefels with an international educational community.
About the Festival of Education
The Festival of Education, brought to Spain by The British School of Barcelona, marks the arrival of a well-established international format in the country for the first time. With more than fifteen editions held in the United Kingdom in partnership with Wellington College, the Festival has expanded internationally to countries including the United States, Thailand, China and the Netherlands. Each edition is designed to inspire those who are reimagining education.
