GST Leaders gathered at Google’s London headquarters for an inspiring Heads Seminar. Hosted in partnership with the Google for Education and Canopy Education teams, the discovery day focused on the safe, ethical, and impactful integration of technology and artificial intelligence in the classroom.
The day’s agenda balanced forward-thinking visions for pedagogy with practical insights from the Trust’s groundbreaking six-month Gemini Pro Pilot program.
Exploring Google’s Vision for Education
The seminar featured introductory sessions from Google for Education leaders, including Anu Manthri (UK & Ireland Regional Lead), Fiona Law (New Partnerships and Engagement Lead) and Luke Craig (Communities and Programme Lead), as well as Andrew Caffrey (Canopy Education CEO and Global Program Lead for the Google for Education Certified Innovator Program). They outlined Google’s core learning science principles: managing cognitive load, inspiring active learning, and preparing pupils to be curious and critical, digital citizens in a fast-evolving world.
Throughout the day, attendees explored the extensive Google Workspace for Education toolkit, focusing on accessibility features and classroom tools. Leaders previewed advanced features within Google Classroom, such as integrated audio/video recordings to personalise lessons, and interactive “Read Along” features designed to support independent reading skills.
The group also discussed how built-in Chromebook accessibility features, like voice typing, screen magnifiers, and live-translated captions, can close the divide and support inclusive education for SEND students.
Pioneering AI in the Classroom: The Gemini Pilot Results
A major highlight of the seminar was the presentation of findings from the Trust’s Gemini Pro Pilot, which launched in October 2025. Over the course of six months, 30 staff members across eight schools and the central team trialed Google’s generative AI assistant to streamline workflows and augment strategic thinking.
The pilot data revealed a transformative impact on teacher workload and output quality, showing that 93% of respondents felt Gemini Pro improved their work as a strategic “thinking partner,” while participants saved an average of 5.3 hours per week, with school leaders achieving the largest efficiency gains at 6.1 hours per week.
Grounding Innovation in Human Critical Thinking
While celebrating technological capabilities, the seminar remained deeply anchored in pedagogical responsibility. Trust leaders engaged in critical discussions regarding the risks of over-digitisation of classrooms, screen time balance and the effect increased reliability on technology can have on memory retention.
It was a thought-provoking day for all in attendance, with lots to take back to our schools. We are deeply grateful to Google for hosting us.
