Signs are pointing to a strong 2026 for the EdTech sector, according to Midland’s software company Derventio Education, which has been inundated with enquiries after attending a national exhibition for school leaders.
The Derby-based firm which is behind SchooliP – a leading education platform used by more than 850 schools across the world – recently attended the Schools and Academies Shows in Birmingham.
Anxiety over the new Ofsted framework pushed headteachers and trust leaders to seek advice from the company, with many looking for practical ways to organise evidence, streamline processes and reduce workload ahead of the changes.
Now the company says the inspection changes and rising workload pressures in the sector mean that EdTech is likely to play an increasingly critical role in helping schools operate efficiently and meet new expectations in 2026.
Stuart Reece, managing director at Derventio Education, said the conversations at the show highlighted a “clear appetite for practical, manageable solutions” rather than sweeping system changes.
He said: “Technology will play a major role in helping schools manage workload and administration over the next few years, by automating evidence gathering, behaviour and safeguarding logs, and centralising policies and documentation so they are in th best possible position for inspections.
“Our role has always been to take complexity out of the process. We came away from the show with a better understanding of what school leaders need right now and we’ll continue to work closely with them as the framework evolves.
“What’s more, one of our trust schools was recently inspected, and the term “wow” was used when the inspectors saw the school improvement information presented through SchooliP. Endorsements don’t get better than that.”
The national event brought together education professionals from across the country for discussions on policy, practice and the future of school improvement.
According to Derventio, visitors repeatedly raised questions about how the revised inspection framework might affect workload, documentation and evidence gathering in the months ahead.
Many school leaders expressed uncertainty about what inspectors will expect to see and how best to align internal processes with the new approach.
Stuart added: “School leaders want technology that fits around what they already do and gives them confidence that their hard work is captured, consistent and easy to evidence.
“We can help to remove some of the pressure and give them back time to focus on pupils and staff, so that’s a win for everyone and it’s why we expect demand for thoughtful, well-designed EdTech to grow over the next few years.”
This story was written and shared on behalf of Derventio Education by Sarah Newton, Penguin PR. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
