Steplab Conference 2026

Great teaching transforms children’s lives - and great professional development makes it possible. Join educators from across the community to explore what truly effective PD looks like, and how it helps teachers thrive.

Trust leaders, school leaders, middle leaders, coaches, mentors, teachers and PD professionals. There’s something for everyone, whether or not you are currently part of the Steplab community. 

Be inspired. Be challenged. Build your expertise.

The Steplab Conference brings together the education community to explore what drives great inclusive teaching, uncover the secrets of high-quality professional development, and learn how to lead PD that really works. Join us, connect with leaders in education, and leave ready to deliver real impact.

Secure your spot today! Book now to take advantage of Steplab subscriber discounts  - and grab early bird pricing before 30th December. Don’t wait, spaces are limited!

The conference is built around three key strands: inclusive teaching, great professional development, and effective PD leadership. Stick with one strand or mix and match - the choice is yours! With 12 engaging sessions and a special keynote from the incredible Daisy Christodoulou, author of Seven Myths and Making Good Progress?, plus more speakers still to be announced, there’s something for everyone.

Exclusive highlight: Be among the first to see a brand-new episode of Steplab’s Great Teaching, Unpacked documentary, following one school’s journey to create a culture of powerful, sustainable professional development.

This strand dives into the theory and practice of teaching that really works, grounded in research and proven classroom strategies. Explore our six universal teaching problems through hands-on workshops that focus on effective, inclusive practices and how to bring them to life in your school and classrooms. 

Sessions in this strand will be led by Siobhan Meredith, Emma Starkey, Rachel Ball, Tom Sherrington, Carl Hendrick, Harry Fletcher-Wood, Ania Townsend and brilliant school and trust leaders from across the country.

In these sessions, we’ll bring effective professional development to life, showcasing the full spectrum of practices that make it work - from group rehearsal and expert modelling to coaching, decision-making, and developing adaptive expertise. See theory in action and discover how to build PD that really works.

Sessions in this strand will be led by Dr Arielle Boguslav, Josh Goodrich, Sarah Cottinghatt, Adam Kohlbeck, Sarah Dickinson, Anya Thomas and school leaders who have harnessed these mechanisms to deliver high-impact PD.

This strand is all about brilliant school and system leaders driving high-quality PD and outstanding results. Dive into workshops on scaling PD across schools, supporting pupils with SEND, and unlocking the strategies that make leadership truly effective.

Hear directly from leaders across our network of schools and trusts, and join an expert panel featuring Margaret Mulholland (ASCL), Hilary Spencer (Ambition Institute) and Dr Jen Barker (Ormiston) as they explore the future of SEND and inclusion.

Be inspired. Be challenged. Build your expertise. Book your place today. We can’t wait to see you there!