Why BRILLIANT Festival Actually Lives Up to Its Name
Pictured: Tom Rogerson, Head, Cottesmore School
Reflections from Tom Rogerson after two years of attending as a teacher
There are a lot of education events out there. You book the ticket, scan the agenda, rush between sessions, collect a handful of ideas and leave wondering what, if anything, will really stick.
BRILLIANT Festival feels so different.
After attending for the past two years, I can honestly say it’s one of the few events where you don’t just show up, you feel seen, heard, and genuinely significant.
A Different Kind of Energy
From the moment you arrive, the tone is clear. This isn’t about prestige or posturing, it’s an event that’s dynamic, down-to-earth, and refreshingly human.
At many conferences, there’s an unspoken pressure of who’s speaking, who’s attending, and what connections you should be making. Sometimes it feels like the event is more about itself than the people in the room.
BRILLIANT flips that entirely.
Here, the focus is where it should be, which is on you, your students, and the future of education.
The conversations are real, the speakers are approachable and perhaps most importantly, people actually want to help.
Form Real Relationships to Benefit Your Students
One of the most powerful aspects of the festival is how easy it is to build meaningful connections.
You’re not just exchanging business cards or LinkedIn requests, you’re having genuine conversations with people who are open, generous, and invested in making a difference.
Over the years, this has led to some incredible opportunities and collaborations for Cottesmore School. Relationships that started as casual chats have grown into something far more impactful, particularly with organisations like Edufuturists, whose support and recognition have been transformative for us.
In fact, that relationship played a part in Cottesmore School being named ‘Independent School of the Year’ in 2025, a milestone that speaks volumes about what can grow from the right environment.
Ideas That Actually Transform Your School
What sets BRILLIANT apart is that you don’t just leave inspired, you leave equipped.
It’s a jam-packed day, full of experienced educators, innovators, and thinkers who are all aligned around a shared goal; to push UK education forward, especially within STEAM.
And those conversations don’t stay theoretical.
From engaging with esports innovation to introducing new technologies into school life, the impact has been tangible. One standout example? Becoming the first school in the UK to introduce a quadruped robot dog, something that has captured students’ imagination and brought learning to life in entirely new ways.
Esports, too, has had a powerful effect, engaging students who might not otherwise connect with traditional pathways and opening doors to future careers they hadn’t considered.
It’s About Something Bigger
What really defines BRILLIANT is its purpose.
This isn’t an event built around hype or headlines. It’s built around a shared belief that education can (and should) do more to inspire young people, particularly in STEAM-related fields.
There’s a collective energy in the room. A sense that everyone is working towards something bigger than themselves. That together, we can help shape a system that produces not just academically successful students, but passionate, curious, future-ready individuals.
Why I Keep Coming Back
Three years in, and the reason is simple, BRILLIANT isn’t just another date in the calendar for me, it’s a catalyst.
It’s where I’ve genuinely turned ideas into action, where connections turn into partnerships and where teachers are reminded why they do what they do.
Most events leave you with notes, but this one leaves you with momentum.
If you haven’t previously attended, I urge you to attend BRILLIANT Festival. It’s the best use of our CPD hours I can think of, plus, it’s completely free to attend.