​At the BESA Awards 2926, the energy in the room was palpable. Leaders and suppliers from across the education and technology sectors were asked by our CEO and event keynote speaker, Phillip Hedger, to tackle one fundamental question: How do we ensure that education technology genuinely serves our pupils, supports our teachers and drives meaningful outcomes?

​For us at LEO Academy Trust, digital transformation has never been about chasing trends; it has always been a deliberate, pedagogy-first journey. But as Phillip shared on stage at BESA, the national conversation needs to evolve. We cannot let the introduction of education technology slip down the priority list just because budgets are tight and schools are stretched.

Moving From the Gap to the Promise

​We must now move from the Digital Maturity Gap to the Digital Promise. Where the gap describes what is currently holding our schools back, the promise sets out what becomes possible when organisations align around a shared vision: that every child, in every school, benefits from technology that is well-led, well-resourced and purposefully deployed. A promise is both an acknowledgement of what is not yet true and an absolute commitment to change it.

​Crucially, this is a promise for education that doesn’t just deliver for children, but one that also provides support and hope for parents, for teachers, for our communities and for Britain as a whole.

​A Civic Response to a Fragmented System

​Let's be completely realistic: we cannot achieve this in silos. No single multi-academy trust, no matter how large, and no single supplier, no matter how innovative, can fix a fragmented system alone. We need a digital coalition to unite our sector and empower educator leadership.

​Right now, the ecosystem of organisations that exists to support schools is incredibly rich in intention, yet fundamentally siloed in effect. We currently have somewhere between 50 and 75 different bodies - including charities, unions, government departments  and research institutes - often working in isolation. Historically, BECTA performed the central coordinating function for this landscape, until its closure in 2011.

​Furthermore, we must recognise that funding alone will not resolve this complexity. Additional funding is desperately needed, yes, but money does not automatically equate to sustainable implementation. It does not build the capability, the governance, or the strategic confidence that allows a school to make technology work over the long term, rather than just in the year of the initial procurement.

​What we need today is a civic response, designed and owned by the sector itself. We need a coalition that brings together school leaders, technical experts, and educational suppliers to create a self-sustaining infrastructure that can outlast policy cycles and political shifts.

​Partnering for Purpose

​That is why LEO Academy Trust is incredibly proud to be working in partnership with techUK and EdTechUK to lay the foundations for the new 'Our Digital Promise Coalition'.

​We believe that true, scalable impact is never achieved in isolation. By bringing together the sector's brightest minds, innovative companies and visionary school & trust leaders, this coalition aims to build a clearer national ambition for education technology and the ethical use of AI across England. We are moving away from fragmented, short-term initiatives and toward a sustainable, system-wide framework that puts pedagogy first.

​Building on EdTechUK’s EdTech Hubs Programme

​The foundation of this coalition rests heavily on the brilliant concept of Our Digital Promise - a framework formulated by Ty Goddard. This milestone is the culmination of over a decade of relentless hard work, advocacy and visionary leadership from Ty and the entire team at EdTechUK.

​Ty has always cut through the noise, reminding us of what truly matters. As his insights highlight, we are at a pivotal crossroads:

​"The UK government’s White Paper signals a genuine shift in direction - an opportunity to move beyond fragmented initiatives and towards a clearer national ambition for education technology and the use of Ai across England."

​Ty reminds us that teachers across the country are making a serious, evidence-led case for tools that support real classroom outcomes, noting:

​"Because EdTech, done right, is not about shinier tools. It is about: reducing workload; improving inclusion; strengthening teaching practice; and helping every child achieve more."

And the good news is, that we are not starting from scratch. Over the last five years, schools and trusts from across the country have been developing and sharing innovative and highly inclusive classroom practice through the EdTechUk and LGfL EdTech Hubs Programme.

​Weaving the Promise into Our Classrooms

​To make this promise a reality, we must change how we approach technology in education. At LEO, we are actively weaving the core pillars of this shared vision into our everyday strategy:

• ​Empowering Our Teachers: Technology only supports schools when staff feel confident using it. We must prioritise continuous professional development so that digital tools become practical assets in the classroom rather than theoretical extras.

• ​Involving Parents in the Conversation: Families are often the most underused advocates for digital learning. When parents understand how digital tools support accessibility, progress and future skills, the dialogue completely shifts from cost and concern to value.

• ​Stopping the 'Extra' Mentality: This is the moment to stop talking about EdTech as an optional add-on. Digital capability is fundamental to school improvement, student opportunity and long-term digital literacy.

​Watch This Space This September!

​The foundations have been laid, but the real momentum begins soon. We strongly encourage school & trust leaders and everyone else across the sector - from classroom teachers to education suppliers and researchers to professional bodies, to watch this space this September and get involved. This is our collective opportunity to turn fragmented policy into national progress.

​Discover More & Get Involved

​To explore the incredible work already happening and find out how you can be a part of Our Digital Promise, check out these excellent resources from EdTechUK and the EdTech Hubs Programme:

• ​Gain insights into the future of the landscape via the EdTech Futures Strategic Framework.

• ​See the evidence-led impact happening in real classrooms inside the EdTech Futures Supplement.

• ​Read more on th context behind Our Digital Promise.

• Discover the work iof the EdTech Hubs Programme.

​Together, let's turn this promise into a reality for every child.

​LEO Academy Trust Google Classroom Case Study

​This video provides a practical look at how LEO Academy Trust translates digital strategy into real classroom success, demonstrating the exact principles behind Our Digital Promise.