Teachers and Advisers' Conference 2025
Our conference is perfect for education professionals who support students in making GCSE, post-16 and post-18 decisions during school and college. The conference is free to attend and in-person and provides updates and advice on the recent (and planned) changes to the Higher Education landscape.
Talks, workshops and activities are offered on a range of topics, offering attendees the chance to find out more about options for students in KS4/KS5 and what universities are looking for.
You will have the opportunity to meet guest speakers and some of our staff, students and experts at Queen Mary from Admissions, Academic Schools, Support Services, Alumni and more. Complimentary breakfast, refreshments and lunch is provided throughout the day.
The full programme for the day can be found below.
You can also register for our Teacher and Advisers Newsletter below to be kept up to date on future conferences and events.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please email us at education-liaison@qmul.ac.uk
The Programme
| Time | Session | Location |
| 09:15 – 09:45 |
Registration & Breakfast During the breaks, we will have information stands with representatives from a variety of organisations and departments for you to engage with. |
Graduate Centre, Ground Foyer |
| 09:45 – 10:00 |
Conference Welcome and Plenary Jack Fox, Head of UK Student Recruitment and Widening Participation (UKSRWP) will open the conference by welcoming delegates and introducing the university and the work undertaken by the UKSRWP team at Queen Mary. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
| 10:00 – 10:30 |
Adapting to the Changing Landscape of Higher Education Admissions Join Kim Eccleston, Head of Strategy and Reform, UCAS and Carolyn Mindos, Admissions Reform Lead from UCAS in this session where they will delve into the rapidly changing higher education admissions landscape. They will share expert insights on current trends, challenges, and opportunities, while offering a forward-looking vision for UCAS and the future of admissions. This session will offer insights into the latest initiatives, challenges, and best practices relating to university admissions as well as tips to support you in your role and support your students. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
| 10:35 – 11:05 | Morning Sessions | |
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a) Empower Your Students: Guiding Future Legal Professionals Explore the diverse pathways into the legal profession, from undergraduate degrees and conversion courses to postgraduate qualifications and beyond with Professor Nigel Spencer. Whether your students are exploring law as a potential career or seeking advice on academic decisions, this session provides the insights and tools you need to support them confidently on their journey towards a career in Law. Nigel is a Professor of Education Innovation and Professional Practice at Queen Mary University of London. Since 2014, he has collaborated with the Law School, co-creating the Law in Practice programme with Reed Smith LLP. He is also the Director of Queen Mary's Hub for Professional Practice, focusing on research-informed lifelong education, and works closely with the School’s Legal Advice Centre, where he serves on its Advisory Board. |
Graduate Centre, 201 | |
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b) Engineering the Future: Putting Teachers to the Test Join our team from the School of Engineering and Materials Science to test your flying skills on our flight simulator, programme a robot to follow your commands and discover how your students could become the engineers of tomorrow though a range of courses, pathways and placements we have to offer. |
Engineering Building, G26 | |
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c) Advancing Access CPD: Writing effective UCAS references UCAS references are structured into three different sections. In this CPD session, you will learn how to write references in this format and gain insights into the information that selective universities are looking for and how you can adapt your references to meet the new requirements. |
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| 11:10 – 11:20 |
Break During the refreshment breaks, we will have information stands with representatives from a variety of organisations and departments for you to engage with. |
Graduate Centre, Ground Foyer |
| 11:25 – 11:55 |
Updating your careers programme to meet new career guidance policies and best practice Join David Morgan, Chief Executive, Career Development Institute (CDI) who will advise careers advisers, teachers, and leadership teams as to how they can update their careers programmes to meet new government policies and the revised Gatsby Benchmarks. He will cover the impact of policy changes on schools and colleges and share best practices to ensure students are prepared to make informed decisions and develop career management skills for life. David’s background includes a decade working in education, first at City & Guilds then at AQA, bringing experience of both vocational and academic education. David is a member of the Careers England Board, the Career Development Policy Group and advisory groups for WWF’s Sustainable Futures programme and Gatsby’s ‘Next 10 Years’ review. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
| 12:00 – 12:40 |
Research Showcase Queen Mary attracts world-class researchers from all corners of the globe. Their work has a far-reaching impact, improving health, social and living conditions, advancing technology and innovation, and influencing public policy and debate. In this session you will learn about some of the amazing research being conducted at Queen Mary and how our work is making a difference. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
| 12:40 – 13:40 |
Lunch During the breaks and lunch, we will have information stands with representatives from a variety of organisations and departments for you to engage with. |
Graduate Centre, Ground Foyer |
| 13:40 – 14:10 |
Harnessing the Power of Generative AI in Teaching & Learning In this session, Karen Hudson will equip FE educators and advisors with practical strategies for integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their teaching and administrative workflows, while promoting inclusive and responsible AI literacy among students. Karen will explain how AI can enhance teaching, assessment, and administration and identify AI tools or strategy that teachers and advisers can implement in their own work. The session will also critically evaluate AI’s limitations, ethical considerations, and impact on student learning. By the end of the session, attendees will have gained insight into practical AI applications and a network of peers to support their AI journey. Karen Hudson is the Innovation and Learning Manager at the Queen Mary Academy, where she supports excellence and innovation in teaching and learning. With a broad background in Further and Higher Education and Adult Community Learning, Karen is a strong advocate for inclusive, digitally enhanced teaching methods and is committed to empowering educators to provide transformative, world-class education. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
| 14:15 – 14:45 | Afternoon Sessions | |
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a) In the Spotlight: Paving a Career in the Arts Join us for a hands-on workshop hosted by Queen Mary’s School of the Arts, offering valuable insights into pursuing a degree in the creative industries. Explore pathways in drama, physical and technical theatre, film, creative writing and more. Learn how to best support aspiring artists from the application process to navigating the challenges and opportunities of studying and building a career in the Arts. |
ArtsOne Building, BLOC | |
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b) Advancing Access CPD: Supporting Students to write personal statements This session will help teachers and advisers support students with the new UCAS personal statements structure for 2026 entry and beyond. It will cover structure, key characteristics of successful statements, and how they are used. The session includes example responses and practical tips to help provide a competitive edge. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre | |
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c) Nurturing them to thrive: Supporting your students’ journey to higher education The Brilliant Club is a charity dedicated to mobilising the PhD community to engage with state schools and support talented students from underrepresented backgrounds in their journey to some of the country’s top universities. Join Lindsay Rose, Strategic Partnerships Lead at The Brilliant Club, to explore the charity’s range of programmes that connect schools, colleges, and universities to create a supportive network for students—particularly those facing significant barriers. Discover how these initiatives can support schools and empower teachers to help nurture the next generation of university graduates. |
Graduate Centre, 204 | |
| 14:50 – 15:00 | Closing remarks – Thank you and goodbye! | Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
| 15:00 – 15:30 |
Campus Tour (optional) Join our student ambassadors as they show you around our Mile End campus and facilities, letting you see first-hand what life is like living and studying at the only campus-based Russell Group University in London. |
Graduate Centre, Peston Lecture Theatre |
Meet our Speakers
Kim Eccleston
Kim leads on UCAS work on Admissions Reform, Fair Access and Policy. Kim joined UCAS at the end of 2019 having previously been Head of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Admissions at the University of Warwick for five years. During this time, Kim represented the sector in roles including member of the Clearing Working Group and Chair of the UCAS Undergraduate Advisory Group. Kim has worked in various areas in Higher Education administration, including roles in university governance, and in outreach and widening participation, and has a particular interest in process review and efficiency. Kim graduated with a degree in Mathematics in 2005 as one of the first generation in her family to access Higher Education.
Carolyn Mindos
Carolyn leads on Admissions Reform at UCAS – working across the sector to deliver a student-centric programme of reform that delivers improvements, best practice and efficiencies to all users. Carolyn joined UCAS in 2023, having previously been Head of Recruitment and Admissions at Arts University Plymouth, where she sat on various UCAS working groups, including the Admissions Development Group. After reading Jurassic Park and deciding that she could do better, Carolyn graduated with a degree in Genetics from Cardiff University. Since then, Carolyn has spent most of her career in HE, first as a researcher, and then in roles across communication, outreach, planning and strategy. Career highlights include starring in a viral video with 1,500 exploding ping pong balls, working on the JISC/HESA analytics lab initiative, implementing two CRM systems, and working at a national level to drive positive, data-led change in admissions, recruitment and fair access.
David Morgan
David is Chief Executive at the Career Development Institute (CDI) where he leads the CDI team, focusing on strategy and policy, strategic stakeholder management, partner relationships and media engagement. David joined the CDI in April 2021 after a decade working in education, first at City & Guilds then at AQA, bringing experience of both the vocational and academic arenas. As Chief Executive of the CDI he is responsible for steering the UK-wide professional body for the career development profession, delivering services and support for CDI members and championing career development with stakeholders and the public. David is also the Chair of Trustees for Climate Ed, a climate education charity, and a Trustee of The Rainforest Foundation, protecting the rights of indigenous people to sustainably manage the rainforests they inhabit.
Karen Hudson
Karen Hudson is the Innovation and Learning Manager at Queen Mary Academy, where she provides strategic support for teaching and learning excellence in alignment with the university's Strategy 2030. Her role focuses on building capacity for innovative pedagogy, including the use of AI in education. With extensive experience in Further and Higher Education and Adult Community Learning, she previously worked as a Lecturer in Learning Development at the University of Essex, integrating academic and healthcare numeracy skills into nursing programs. A passionate advocate for inclusive, digitally enhanced pedagogy, Karen holds a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education, an MA in Education with e-learning, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is also a Certified Practitioner in Learning Development and a member of the ALDinHE LearnHigher Working Group.
Nigel Spencer
Nigel Spencer is Professor of Education Innovation and Professional Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He has been working closely with the Law School since 2014 and co-created the School’s innovative Law in Practice programme with global law firm Reed Smith LLP. Nigel is also Director for Queen Mary's Hub for Professional Practice, which aims to impact the future of practice through research-informed life-long education, and works closely with the School’s Legal Advice Centre, and sits on its Advisory Board. Following an early academic career leading international, inter-disciplinary research projects exploring cultural change, identity and group dynamics, Nigel worked in Professional Services Firms for 20 years, initially in a client-facing role at PricewaterhouseCoopers. For 13 years, he then held senior talent development roles at two international law firms.