Digital maturity gap: Digital Promise for Education Coalition response
10am – 2pm22 June 2026
London
techUK, 10 St Bride Street, London, EC4A 4AD
Join techUK for the Digital Promise for Education Coalition, bringing together leaders from education, industry, research and government to respond to the Digital Maturity Gap in England’s schools. Building on previous discussions and recent policy developments, this session will explore the structural barriers to digital progress and begin a shared conversation on defining a clear, collective direction for the role of technology in education.
Key takeaways
Understand the key barriers shaping digital maturity in schools
Explore insights from the Digital Maturity Gap discussions and Schools White Paper
Engage with cross-sector leaders on a shared vision for education and technology
Contribute to shaping a collective approach to improving outcomes for learners
England’s schools are navigating a complex and uneven digital transition. Previous discussions on the Digital Maturity Gap highlighted a set of interconnected challenges, including capability gaps among educators and leaders, uneven infrastructure, funding and procurement constraints, limitations in accountability, and the absence of a shared national vision.
At the same time, the Schools White Paper sets out a number of ambitions, including investment in connectivity, a national data spine, digital support plans for children with SEND, and a greater role for schools in delivering joined-up local services. While these initiatives signal progress, there remains a risk that, without a unifying framework, individual strands develop in parallel rather than as part of a coherent system.
This event brings together organisations from across the education and technology landscape to begin defining that shared direction. The session will explore how a collective approach can support more effective adoption of technology and deliver improved outcomes across the education system.
What will be covered
The structural challenges shaping digital maturity in England’s schools
The implications of the Schools White Paper for technology and education
The role of collaboration across education, industry, government and research
Opportunities to move from shared understanding to collective action
Agenda
10:00 Arrival and coffee
10:30 Welcome and scene-setting — Austin Earl, techUK
An introduction to the coalition conversation: the journey from diagnosis to commitment, the structural challenges the system faces, and why this moment matters.
10:50 The Coalition Case — Phil Hedger and Ty Goddard
Framing the ambition and the ask: what the Digital Promise for Education Coalition is seeking to achieve, and the role of the organisations in the room in making it real.
11:20 Break
11:30 Digital Elevation in Practice — Jisc
An introduction to Jisc's Digital Elevation Tool: what it measures, what it reveals about digital maturity across the sector, and what it offers as a shared instrument for the coalition's work.
12:00 Lunch
12:45 Structured Conversation
Drawing on the five barriers to digital maturity identified at last year's workshop, attendees discuss at mixed tables. Each group considers where their organisation is best placed to contribute, what mutual support could look like in practice, and what the coalition should build on rather than duplicate.
13:30 Close
Austin Earl
Senior Programme Manager, Education and EdTech, techUK
Austin Earl
Senior Programme Manager, Education and EdTech, techUK
Austin leads techUK’s Education and EdTech programme, shaping strategies that support the digital transformation of schools, colleges, and universities. His work focuses on strengthening the UK’s education technology ecosystem, enhancing core technology foundations, and advancing the adoption of emerging technologies to improve educational outcomes.
Austin also chairs the EdTech Advisory Panel for AI in Education, contributing to national discussions on the future of EdTech, AI, and the UK's Education system.
techUK’s Education and EdTech programmeseeks to address this challenges by bridging the gap between education, the tech industry, and policymakers. We ensure that education institutions can effectively adopt technology that enhances learning, streamlines operations, and supports skills development. Visit the programme page here
techUK has submitted its response to the Department for Education's Call for Evidence on the use of AI and digital technology in children's social care.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Senior Programme Manager, Education and EdTech, techUK
Austin Earl
Senior Programme Manager, Education and EdTech, techUK
Austin leads techUK’s Education and EdTech programme, shaping strategies that support the digital transformation of schools, colleges, and universities. His work focuses on strengthening the UK’s education technology ecosystem, enhancing core technology foundations, and advancing the adoption of emerging technologies to improve educational outcomes.
Austin also chairs the EdTech Advisory Panel for AI in Education, contributing to national discussions on the future of EdTech, AI, and the UK's Education system.
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