Breakout sessions

This interactive workshop will move from theory to practice, providing educators with concrete frameworks and immediately applicable strategies for developing the meta-cognitive capabilities that enable true future-readiness. Participants will work through the “Three lenses of AI in Education” framework to understand how sophisticated self-awareness, self-regulation and adaptive thinking can be systematically developed alongside subject content.

The session addresses the real challenges teachers face:

• How do you teach metacognition and how can AI help when you have 30 students and limited time?
• How do you measure something as abstract as "learning to learn"?
• How do you do this without expensive technology or elaborate resources?

Participants will leave with useful tips about: how AI can help with assessment approaches that make meta-learning visible, classroom practices that develop self-directed learning alongside AI use, and strategies that work across contexts and resource levels.

This session is designed for both classroom teachers seeking practical tools and school leaders considering systemic implementation.

The Cambridge Pathway is designed to be both skills- and knowledge-rich, with these elements deeply connected. In today’s world, students need critical thinking and other higher order thinking skills to succeed, alongside strong conceptual knowledge.

In this interactive workshop, participants will:

• explore systems thinking and its role in understanding complex ideas
• examine kind and wicked problem-solving and the role of analogical thinking
• explore metacognitive skills
• review examples from Cambridge IGCSE and International A Level materials, including specimen papers and textbooks.

Participants will also discuss effective teaching practices and share experiences. The session will link these skills to the Cambridge learner attributes and consider how they prepare learners aged 11-19 for a future shaped by AI and uncertainty.

Students are increasingly using AI tools to find and understand information. While this can support learning, research - including recent Cambridge studies - shows that relying too much on AI may reduce comprehension and memory.

In this session, participants will:

• explore how students are currently using generative AI
• review research on the cognitive impact of AI use
• identify which types of knowledge are most affected
• reflect on how this influences critical thinking and classroom practice.

This workshop encourages educators to think carefully about how AI is used in learning and offers strategies to help students use it thoughtfully and effectively.

Assessment is evolving rapidly, with profound implications for our youngest learners who are at the start of their educational journey. Shifts in pedagogy, the demand for future-ready skills, and advances in technology are reshaping both the design and the use of assessment in education. When used well, assessment can do much more than measure performance, it can build confidence, deepen understanding and help teachers support every learner.

In this session, we will explore:

• how assessment supports subject mastery and develops future-ready skills in learners aged 5-14
• ways to use summative assessments in a formative way to guide teaching and learning
• how baseline and summative data can help identify and respond to learners’ needs
• strategies to support, stretch and challenge all learners to ensure they fulfil their potential.

This session will share practical ideas and examples from Cambridge’s work in primary and lower secondary education. Participants will leave with tools to embed a learner-focused approach to assessment that values progress, reflection and meaningful change.

The debate between teaching knowledge and developing skills has long shaped education policy and practice. This session challenges the idea that educators must choose between the two and explores how both can work together to support student success.

In this accessible workshop, participants will:

• understand key arguments in the knowledge-versus-skills debate
• explore academic perspectives and practical implications
• identify ways to integrate skills into knowledge-rich curricula
• discover strategies for curriculum planning, lesson design and assessment.

By the end of the session, educators will be equipped with ideas to strengthen both knowledge acquisition and skill development, helping students become confident and capable learners.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education, offering both opportunities and challenges for teachers and learners. We need to explore how AI can be used effectively, ethically, and creatively to enhance learning and teaching. From supporting learner agency and critical thinking to reducing teacher workload, AI has the potential to make education more meaningful and efficient.

In this session, we will:

• learn how AI can enhance lesson planning, personalised learning, assessment, and feedback and data analysis, including support for second language English speakers, to support diverse learner needs
• develop a framework for evaluating AI tools in education, ensuring alignment with Cambridge values & pedagogical approaches and ethical considerations
• explore use cases of practical classroom applications of AI, including tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, DeepSeek, Grok, NotebookLM, Diffit etc. from a teacher/school perspective, especially STEM teachers
• engage in hands-on activities of using AI in teaching practices.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have practical strategies and tools to integrate AI into their teaching in ways that enhance learning, promote independence and uphold ethical standards.

Mathematics is often taught as a quiet, individual subject focused on correct answers. However, when students are encouraged to explain and discuss their thinking, they develop deeper understanding and essential skills for life beyond school.

In this practical session, participants will:

• learn how to help students explain their reasoning and explore multiple solution methods;
• use classroom talk, group problem-solving and peer critique to build confidence
• encourage visual, written and digital representations of mathematical ideas
• support inclusive learning by valuing every student's voice
• develop future-ready skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and adaptability.

This workshop will demonstrate how communication can transform mathematics learning and empower all students to succeed.

Oracy is vital in all areas of life, yet it is often overlooked in primary education. This session focuses on how developing spoken language skills can help young learners express themselves clearly, work with others and connect more deeply with their learning.

Participants will:

• explore the importance of oracy for success in English-speaking classrooms
• learn how to recognise and support children who communicate well in English
• discover practical strategies for talk-focused classroom activities.

This workshop will provide useful ideas to help primary students build confidence and fluency in English through engaging and purposeful communication.

First developed in bilingual education over thirty years ago, translanguaging is now gaining renewed attention as schools look for ways to use students’ full linguistic repertoires for learning. This session will explore how home languages might work alongside English to improve understanding, build confidence, and support communication across the curriculum. Teachers and leaders will consider the benefits, challenges, and practical strategies so they can decide whether and how translanguaging could strengthen learning in their own contexts. 

Participants will: 

• debate the role of first and own languages in international school classrooms
• explore examples from language and content subjects including science, maths, and English
• learn practical strategies for planning translanguaging activities
• plan a short activity that develops both subject knowledge and communication skills

This workshop aims to help participants make informed decisions about using translanguaging as a resource for learning across the curriculum. 

Speaking and listening are vital skills for students to demonstrate understanding and succeed in assessment. Oracy enables learners to articulate their knowledge and thinking in ways that extend beyond written tests while also supporting exam preparation in a world of AI, social media, and increasing screen-time.

In this session, participants will:

• see why oracy is essential for meaningful assessment and exam preparation
• explore strategies for students to show learning through talk across all subjects
• discover how classroom dialogue enhances revision, group work, and formative assessment for 11–18-year-olds.

This workshop equips secondary school leaders and teachers with practical tools and ideas to integrate oracy into assessment, helping students prepare for exams, engage in assessment for and as learning, and express their knowledge with confidence and pride.

In this workshop, we will delve into the essential aspects of supporting learners' executive functions. We will:

• Recap the various executive functions, such as working memory, behavioural inhibition, cognitive flexibility, planning and emotion regulation.
• Identify where these executive functions act as enablers or barriers for learners.
• Reflect on additional strategies that educators can adopt to support learners in developing these transferable competencies.
• Explore how learners can create detailed plans for self-directed learning, such as organising an essay.
• Discuss ways to support learners during times of change, like working with a new group for a project, and how the physical space can promote focus rather than distraction.

Participants will leave the session with key reflections tailored to their own professional contexts, enabling them to better support their learners' executive function development.

Assessment is not just about measuring learning – it is a way for learners to take ownership of their progress and develop the self-management skills that prepare them for success. When learners are supported to reflect on their progress, use feedback and manage their own preparation, assessment becomes a tool for building agency, confidence and resilience. 

In this workshop, participants will: 

• explore how assessment practices can promote learner self-management, agency and metacognition
• examine how classroom environments and culture can support wellbeing and positive relationships
• consider how assessment for learning strategies (success criteria and feedback) can help learners monitor, plan and take responsibility for progress
• collaborate to develop practical tactics that connect formative strategies with summative outcomes.

This session will show how well designed assessment can shape and empower learners to become reflective, responsible and independent, while supporting teachers to create classrooms where self-management is at the heart of success. 

In a rapidly evolving and digitally stimulating world, supporting learners' wellbeing and self-management is essential for academic success and future readiness. This interactive workshop brings together insights from the Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary Wellbeing curriculum and international research findings based on PISA 2022. We explore how educators can nurture resilient, reflective, and digitally aware young people.

Through sharing and discussing our research findings, we reflect upon how digital habits, such as social media use and gaming, relate to different aspects of wellbeing. Through reflection on classroom practice, we unpack practical strategies for helping learners to:

• understand and self-manage their own emotional wellbeing
• build healthy relationships grounded in empathy and effective communication
• respond confidently to change and digital challenges.

Participants will gain practical tools for embedding wellbeing practices within everyday classroom activities, creating a culture of connection, engagement, and personal growth within school and in the wider digital world.

Together, we’ll discover how fostering self-management skills empowers learners not only to succeed academically, but also to flourish personally, navigating the digital world safely and critically. They will not only be prepared for the future, but ready to shape it!

Resilience helps young people manage challenges, adapt to change and succeed in a complex world. It supports emotional wellbeing, strengthens social connections and promotes long-term academic progress. 

In this session, participants will: 

• understand what resilience is and why it matters 
• explore how the Cambridge learner attributes support resilience 
• discover practical strategies to build resilience across the curriculum. 

This workshop will provide senior leaders and teachers of all stages tools and ideas to help learners become confident, adaptable and ready for the future. 

AI can answer questions instantly - but does that mean learners are really learning? In a world where information is easy to access but hard to retain, teachers play a vital role in helping students take charge of their own learning. This interactive workshop explores how metacognition - the ability to plan, monitor, and evaluate thinking - strengthens memory and fosters independence. We also examine how AI can support, rather than replace, this process.

Together, we will explore how to:

• build memory through metacognitive strategies
• use AI tools to encourage self-regulation
• guide learners with simple teacher prompters
• reflect on practice and commit to one actionable change.

Participants will leave with practical tools to embed metacognition in everyday teaching, empowering learners to think critically, manage their learning, and thrive in a future-ready world.

Self-management is a vital skill for both adults and children in schools. Without it, stress and conflict can increase, affecting mental health and relationships. This session explores how schools can promote wellbeing and build positive relationships through everyday practices. 

Participants will: 

• define the types of wellbeing and relationships needed in schools 
• discuss how to promote wellbeing for all members of the school community 
• consider the role of basic counselling skills for teachers and leaders 
• explore how parents can support wellbeing and relationships at school. 

This workshop will help educators create a healthier, more connected school environment for everyone. 

Implementing the Cambridge Pathway effectively requires thoughtful adaptation to local contexts. This session shares the journey of SIS Palembang, a Cambridge-accredited school in Indonesia, which successfully integrated the curriculum with a fully local teaching team and a commitment to affordability.

Participants will:

• explore strategies for aligning Cambridge with local staffing and curriculum requirements
• learn how leadership and systems supported sustainable implementation
• discover capacity-building approaches that strengthened delivery across year levels.

This session offers practical insights for schools of all sizes and settings looking to enhance their Cambridge curriculum delivery.

In today’s shifting global education landscape, traditional study destinations such as the US, UK, Australia, and Canada are becoming harder to access due to rising costs, complex visa processes, and changing geopolitical dynamics. This creates a unique opportunity to explore new pathways and emerging destinations that offer high-quality education, cultural richness, and alignment with students’ academic and career aspirations.

This interactive breakout session will highlight how schools can:

• expand awareness of emerging study destinations and diverse higher education models
• explore Transnational Education pathways - including offshore campuses, joint degrees, and foundation or Stage II diploma programs - that provide structured access to reputable institutions
• equip counselling teams with the tools and strategies to guide families in making informed decisions
• reframe perceptions of quality and prestige to empower future-ready, adaptable learners.

School leaders play a vital role in shaping the vision for global education. By embracing diverse pathways, they can broaden opportunities for students, strengthen family trust, and prepare learners for success in a dynamic and interconnected world.

This session invites school leaders and teachers to reimagine professional development as an adventurous journey of growth, resilience, and transformation. Drawing on Cambridge's Future-ready learners report, we will explore how to lead PD that is purposeful, personalised and sustainable.

In this workshop participants will:

• understand professional development as a process of learning, growth, and improvement
• identify the needs, goals, and context of your school community
• design professional development that builds skills, confidence, and collaboration
• celebrate progress and encourage reflection to support long-term impact.

Participants will leave with a renewed vision for PD, as well as practical frameworks informed by Cambridge's expertise in areas such as oracy, metacognition and wellbeing.

Exams officers play a vital role in ensuring the success of the Cambridge Exams Cycle. Their work - from minimising errors to supporting candidates - has a direct impact on learning outcomes and school reputation. Senior leaders are key to empowering exams officers and creating a secure, smooth exam experience. 

In this interactive session, participants will: 

• discuss practical ways senior leaders can support exams officers and reduce errors 
• share best practice and brainstorm ideas to take back to school 
• learn about free resources and support available for exams officers and leaders 
• have an opportunity to network and ask subject matter experts questions. 

This session offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships between exams officers and senior leaders, ensuring successful exam delivery across all stages of the Cambridge Exam Cycle.