Agenda - Agenda | The Sydney Morning Herald Schools Summit

Streams

STREAM A – AI and The Future Classroom || CHAIR: Matthew Esterman - Founder and Director, The Next Word

STREAM B – School Improvement || CHAIR: Dr Keith Heggart - Director, Centre for Research on Education in a Digital Society, UTS

STREAM C – Wellbeing || CHAIR: Kathryn Taylor - Chair and Director, Wellbeing Australia

STREAM D – Civics and Character Education || CHAIR: Lucy Dalleywater - Director of Activities, Frensham

Topics

Challenges in running Schools in 2026

The Future of Assessments

08:20 - 08:30

WELCOME | Opening remarks from the Chair

08:30 - 09:00

In Conversation

09:00 - 09:30

Keynote Address

09:30 - 09:50

What next for the Australian Curriculum?

09:50 - 10:10

Towards an Equitable Assessment Culture: Recognising Effort as a Core Learning Outcome

10:10 - 10:50

Panel: The Future of Assessment: Transforming Student Evaluation for Tomorrow's Learners

10:50 - 11:20

Morning tea

11:20 - 11:40

Lighting Up Learning: Why Hands-On Experiences Matter More Than Ever

11:40 - 12:10

Principals’ Panel: Tackling the Challenges of Delivering Quality Education in 2026

12:10 - 12:30

Flipping the Script on AI: Getting Students to Check In, Not Check Out

12:30 - 13:00

Panel: Addressing workforce challenges and enhancing teacher satisfaction in NSW Schools

13:00 - 14:00

Lunch

Showing 2 of 2 Streams

STREAM A – AI and The Future Classroom || CHAIR: Matthew Esterman - Founder and Director, The Next Word

STREAM C – Wellbeing || CHAIR: Kathryn Taylor - Chair and Director, Wellbeing Australia

14:00 - 14:30

Preparing our Schools for an AI Future

14:30 - 15:00

Panel: Classroom 2030: Navigating the Transformation of Teaching and Learning in a Rapidly Evolving World

14:00 - 14:30

Successfully Aligning Wellbeing with Educational Outcomes

14:30 - 15:00

Panel: What’s Working and What isn’t in School Wellbeing Programs?

15:00 - 15:30

Afternoon tea

Showing 2 of 2 Streams

STREAM B – School Improvement || CHAIR: Dr Keith Heggart - Director, Centre for Research on Education in a Digital Society, UTS

STREAM D – Civics and Character Education || CHAIR: Lucy Dalleywater - Director of Activities, Frensham

15:30 - 16:00

Panel: Automaticity, Number Sense and Early Intervention in Foundation to Year 2 Mathematics

16:00 - 16:30

Panel: From Potential to Performance: Real Stories of Transformation and Sustained Excellence

15:30 - 16:00

From Classroom to Community – How Civics Education Can Transform the Next Generation of Students

16:00 - 16:30

Panel: Character Education - Transformative Practice or a Slick Marketing Tool?

16:30 - 16:35

Closing Remarks and Networking Drinks

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AgendaMonday, 2 March 2026