Est 2010 - in the uk
No ordinary education event.
How a summer gathering on the lawns of Wellington College became the world’s most joyful celebration of teaching – now on four continents.
One festival, many editions
Born in a marquee on the Wellington lawns.
In 2010, Wellington College asked a simple question: what if professional development for teachers felt less like a conference and more like a festival? The first Festival of Education put world-class keynotes and fierce debate alongside live music, street food and deckchairs in the summer sun.
It struck a chord immediately. Educators came not just to learn, but to be inspired, to argue, to reconnect with why they chose the profession. Sir Bob Geldof christened it “Glastonbury for educators”, and the name stuck.
Wellington College in the UK.
What we believe
Learning should be inspiring, engaging and fun.
Three ideas have guided every edition, from the first marquee to the newest city.
Inspiration first
Open debate
Non-partisan, with no political affiliation. Every part of the sector is welcome and every view gets a hearing.
Community
Thousands of educators, together. The connections made on the lawns last long after the marquees come down.
Attendees arriving at the UK Festival
Deputy Consul-General, British Consulate-General Shanghai, China Festival
The journey
One festival, many editions.
The first festival
Wellington College hosts the inaugural Festival of Education, and "Glastonbury for educators" is born. Over 1,000 educators from across the UK attend.
China
The festival goes international for the first time, launching at Wellington College International School Shanghai.
EducationScape joins
EducationScape, publisher of Schools Week and FE Week, and long-time media partner of the festival, comes on board to operate the UK event, bringing a plan to diversify and grow it.
Festival evolves
Over the next few years the UK Festival broadens its topics, attendance and diversity of thought. A public call for speakers draws hundreds of applications, and attendance climbs to 3,500; the majority from state-funded schools and colleges.
Covid
As the pandemic takes hold, the UK Festival is cancelled. In summer 2021, EducationScape and Wellington College Education launch an online edition - free to attend for educators worldwide, thanks to funding from Wellington College Education and key partners, reaching over 1 million content impressions.
Free ticket scheme
Wellington College Education launches an annual grant, enabling the festival to offer 2,000 free tickets to state-funded schools and FE colleges across the UK each year. Tickets are capped per institution, ensuring a broad reach and that as many schools and organisations as possible get to benefit.
USA and Thailand
Two new editions launch for the first time: the USA Festival in Maryland, and the Thailand Festival in Bangkok.
Netherlands & Spain
Two more first-time editions join the family, at The British School of Barcelona and Edith Stein College in the Netherlands.
Biggest UK event
The UK Festival hits new heights, with over 500 speakers, more than 90 exhibitors, and footfall topping 6,000 across the two days.
One roof, seven editions
The global website launches, bringing the UK, USA, Thailand, China, Netherlands, Spain and India together as one community of educators at educationfest.global.
India
Plans take shape for the festival's newest home in Pune, India, expected in Autumn 2027.
7
Global editions
1,000+
Speakers across the year
10,000+
Educators attend each year
2010
Founded by Wellington College
Who's behind it
Making it all work, one Festival at a time.
Founder
Wellington College Education
Wellington College founded the Festival of Education in 2010, growing it from a single summer gathering into the UK’s largest celebration of teaching – non-partisan and open to the whole sector.
Operator
EducationScape
In 2016, EducationScape took on the operation of the Festival, carrying its founding spirit to editions across Europe, Asia and the Americas. EducationScape are a UK based events and publishing organisation.