We are delighted to announce Daisy Christodoulou as the first speaker for the English Hub Annual Conference, April 2026. 

Daisy is Director of Education at No More Marking, where she works with schools across the UK, Australia and the USA to develop innovative approaches to assessment, including the use of comparative judgement and artificial intelligence in the classroom. 

A leading voice in education, Daisy is the author of three influential books: Seven Myths about Education, Making Good Progress? The Future of Assessment for Learning, and Teachers vs Tech. Her work is widely recognised for bridging research and classroom practice, particularly in relation to assessment, curriculum and meaningful measures of progress. 

In 2024, she also published I Can’t Stop Thinking About VAR, a reflective exploration of decision-making and technology through the lens of football. 

Daisy brings a rigorous, thought-provoking perspective to discussions about teaching, learning and assessment, making her a highly anticipated speaker at this year’s conference.

We are delighted to announce Dr Tim Mills as a guest speaker at the English Hub Annual Conference 2026. 

Dr Tim Mills is a DfE RISE Advisor and former Executive Director of Primary Education at STEP Academy Trust, where he helped build one of the highest-performing primary trusts in the country. As a headteacher and executive headteacher, he has led schools to six Outstanding Ofsted judgements. 

Tim’s doctoral research focused on phonics teaching in Key Stage 2, contributing to the growing understanding of the decoding threshold. He led the expert panel and was lead drafter of the Department for Education’s recent Writing Framework, and he has published a number of peer-reviewed academic papers. 

He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Coventry and a recognised contributor to national discussions on curriculum development, including recent work highlighted in TES exploring the experts shaping England’s evolving curriculum. 

His forthcoming book, co-written with Clare Sealy, How I Wish I’d Taught Writing, will be published by Hachette in March 2026.

We are delighted to announce AF Harrold as a guest speaker at the English Hub Annual Conference 2026. 

AF Harrold is an acclaimed poet, author and performer, writing for both adults and children. His work ranges from the humorous and playful to the thoughtful and moving, and he is widely known for collaborating with outstanding illustrators to bring stories and poems to life. 

AF regularly visits schools, where he reads his work, leads workshops and encourages children to explore ideas, language and imagination with confidence. His approach to creativity supports pupils to find their voice as writers while developing enjoyment and engagement with language. 

His book The Imaginary, illustrated by Emily Gravett, was adapted into a feature film released by Netflix in July 2024, bringing his storytelling to an even wider audience. 

AF brings a rich, creative perspective to writing and storytelling, making him a highly anticipated contributor to this year’s conference.

We are delighted to announce Hayley Ryan as a guest speaker at the English Hub Annual Conference 2026. 

Hayley has led the award-winning Create & Dance programme at the Royal Ballet and Opera for over a decade, working nationally to support schools in using movement and creativity to enrich learning. Prior to this, she worked as a freelance dance artist, delivering creative projects across education and community settings. 

She holds a Master’s degree in Dance Performance, with research exploring gender representation of ballerinas across the 19th and 20th centuries — reflecting her long-standing interest in identity, storytelling and expression through movement. 

Hayley is passionate about creating inclusive, playful learning environments that build creative confidence in teachers and support children’s wellbeing and emotional literacy. Her work demonstrates how the arts can make a meaningful contribution to literacy, engagement and learning.