Julie Carson

Director of Education, The Woodland Academy Trust

Julie leads on school improvement, curriculum development and digital transformation across five primary schools in Bexley and Kent. With over 25 years’ experience in education, including 18 years in leadership roles such as headteacher, executive headteacher, and school improvement advisor, she has a strong commitment to inclusion and innovation. Julie specialises in AI and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), developing a trust-wide pedagogical framework that led to one school being named an Apple Distinguished School and the Trust becoming an Apple Regional Training Centre. Julie holds an MA (with distinction) in Educational Leadership and the NPQEL. She was awarded a Silver Award for Digital Innovation in the 2025 Pearson National Teaching Awards in recognition of her pioneering work.

Hall 8b

1 Series one

Flourishing through innovation: AI lesson planning to support every learner

This session shares early insights from a major research project led by Woodland Academy Trust which explores how AI tools are being used to support lesson planning across five primary schools. Pursued as part of a broader digital transformation strategy, the project has also contributed to external accreditation and recognition, including national award nominations. These frameworks have helped drive the project forward by establishing a shared vision, identifying measurable outcomes, and galvanising staff engagement across diverse settings. The session reflects on how this approach to innovation is helping to support every learner, particularly those with additional needs, while also enhancing professional agency and wellbeing for teachers.