Teach Inspire Create Conference 2025: What our Chief Examiners had to say

Last month, we hosted this year’s Teach Inspire Create Conference at The Brewery, London. The day included keynote talks, breakout sessions, creativity and community. One of the standout features was the breadth of sessions on offer, giving educators space to explore new ideas around inclusion, weaving together sustainability and storytelling.

We asked some of our Chief Examiners to share their personal reflections on the sessions and speeches that inspired them throughout the event. Here’s what they had to say:

Marc Mollica – Chief Examiner for Performing and Production Arts

Marc attended the Leaders Unlocked breakout session - ‘Power in Participation: Embedding Student Voice for Racial Justice in FE’ - as one led by students who were “impressive, articulate, and courageous enough to stand before a room full of educators and guide a conversation about what meaningful student engagement should look like.”

Reflecting on the keynote speeches, he was struck by the way the speakers explored time as “an ever-moving current,” and how creatives “pause, observe, and capture the essence of the present.” He described them as witnesses who help us see the “beauty, wonder, and fragility” of the world around us, as well as the “dangers, injustices, and urgent realities that demand our attention.” Marc summed up the conference with warmth: “Absolutely loved the conference… already looking forward to next year!”

Vicky Cull – Chief Examiner for Art and Design

Vicky spent her breakout session with Ade A Sanusi from Art Meets Culture. ‘The Alternative Pathways Map: Careers Beyond the Obvious’ explored contemporary ways of working and being a creative. She found the session informative, noting that the examples shared - and the links provided - were “excellent.” What stayed with her most was hearing someone speak so openly about “the work they make and are involved with in a day-to-day way,” offering educators real insight into current creative practice.

For Vicky, the wider messages of the day emphasised community, kindness, opportunity and a broad, interconnected view of creativity - linking the global with the local and highlighting mutual support among creatives. Ultimately, they affirmed that “we are working toward common goals of creativity and inclusivity” and “are all on a common journey.”

She also saw clear links between these messages and UAL Awarding Body’s wider work: “We keep our students and teachers at the heart of what we do. We ask them to come with us on a journey of creativity, and we can all be inspired, excited, and learn along the way.”

Justine Head – Chief Examiner for Fashion Business and Retail

Justine attended ‘Write Your Letters to the Earth: From love to action’, facilitated by Kay Michael from Letters to the Earth. She described this as “deeply emotive, immersive and thoughtfully structured.” The room, she said, felt “calm, powerful, reflective,” and created space to “slow down, connect with our feelings about the climate and nature crisis, and express them openly.” She highlighted the “interactive elements,” particularly the small-group dialogues, which made the session feel “intimate, supportive, and energising.” Writing her own illustrated letter was “especially meaningful… reinforcing how creative expression can inspire both personal insight and actionable change.”

Nicolas Sykes – Chief Examiner for Music Performance and Production

Nic’s breakout session, ‘Holding Space: Lotus making and the practice of inclusion’ by Alison Lam, offered a quiet moment of reflection through lotus-folding. He found it “thought-provoking,” noting how the activity created a “quiet, reflective space” that felt distinct from the rest of the conference. Approached through a neurodivergent lens, it helped “reframe how learning can look and feel when sensory needs are centred.”

For Nic, the session reinforced ideas such as how “learning through sensory engagement… can be calming and supportive,” that “repetition and slowing down aren’t signs of disengagement,” and that “communication beyond traditional forms allows students to express understanding in ways that are inclusive and accessible.” He felt the themes of the session aligned strongly with “accessibility, inclusivity and a student-centred approach.”

A shared thread runs through each of these reflections: this year’s Teach Inspire Create Conference offered a space to think deeply about the role of creativity in education today – its power to inspire and give voice, preparing learners for any challenges ahead.

We’re already looking forward to bringing the community together again at Teach Inspire Create 2026. Until then, we hope these reflections offer a glimpse into the impact of this year’s conversations.