On 13 June, The British School of Barcelona welcomed more than 260 educators, school leaders, speakers and education professionals to our BSB Castelldefels campus for the inaugural Festival of Education Spain.

For 15 years, the Festival of Education has brought together the education community in the UK to share ideas, challenge thinking and celebrate the profession. This year, thanks to EducationScape, Wellington College Education and the Festival of Education team, that experience came to Barcelona for the very first time, creating a unique opportunity for educators from Spain and beyond to learn, connect and collaborate closer to home.

A Day Full of Ideas and Conversation
Throughout the day, our campus buzzed with activity as attendees moved between keynote talks, workshops, panel discussions and networking spaces. With more than sixty speakers and over fifty sessions, the programme explored a wide range of topics, including artificial intelligence, wellbeing, inclusion, leadership, sustainability, and the science of learning.

Four internationally recognised keynote speakers led thought-provoking conversations on some of the most pressing issues facing education today. Richard Culatta reflected on the use of technology in the classroom and the value that digital devices can bring to learning, Owen O’Kane shared practical approaches to wellbeing and resilience, Francesca Martínez reflected on inclusion and belonging, and Geoff Barton closed the festival with an inspiring discussion on the importance of oracy and critical thinking in the age of AI.

Between sessions, the outdoor spaces, exhibitor area and food trucks helped create the distinctive atmosphere that has made the Festival of Education such a successful event in the UK, encouraging informal networking and extending conversations beyond the conference rooms. This combination of knowledge sharing, professional exchange and a relaxed environment reinforced the Festival’s identity as an open space where educators can listen, question and share ideas.

Participants particularly valued the quality of the speakers, the diversity of perspectives and the practical focus of the workshops. Many left inspired by new methodologies and practical ideas to adapt and develop in their own schools and classrooms.

BSB Sharing Its Expertise
As hosts, BSB was proud to contribute to the programme through sessions led by members of our own team. Neil Tetley, Executive Principal, James Petrie, Assistant Executive Principal, Marija Kovac, IBDP Coordinator and TOK Teacher, and Margarita Sardà Frouchtman, Teacher of Psychology and Educational Psychologist, shared insights into BSB’s work in sustainability, oracy, wellbeing and emotional intelligence.

Innovation was visible throughout the event, including the presentation of Pocket Debate, the AI-powered oracy app developed by BSB students. The project demonstrated the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation and communication skills that we strive to foster across our school community.

Education, Innovation and Community
The festival was also honoured by the presence of Mayor Manuel Reyes and representatives from Castelldefels Town Hall, highlighting the close relationship between education and the local community.

The celebration of the Festival further strengthens Castelldefels’ connection with education, research and innovation. The city is home to the Baix Llobregat Campus of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), located within the Mediterranean Technology Park, an environment where educational institutions, scientific organisations, research groups and technology companies work side by side.

Among the institutions based there are the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering and the Barcelona School of Agri-Food and Biosystems Engineering, alongside research centres such as the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO). The campus also hosts a business incubation centre of the European Space Agency, established to support projects linked to space technologies and applications.

Bringing the Festival of Education to Spain for the first time was a landmark moment for BSB. More than a conference, it was a day of shared learning, meaningful conversations and new connections — and we are delighted to have played a part in bringing this celebrated event to a new audience in Europe while reinforcing Castelldefels’ growing reputation as a hub for education, research and innovation.