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How can school leaders cut through the hype and build a confident, ethical approach to AI?

In this full-day, hands-on session, you’ll join experienced international school leaders and AI experts to focus on what matters now—and what’s coming next. Grounded in research from her upcoming book The International School Leaders’ Guide to AI, Rita Bateson introduces six key risks, seven emerging trends, and the 6Ps framework (Preparation, Policies, People, Processes, Protection, Pedagogy) to help schools lead AI with clarity and care.

You’ll also dig into a real-world case study from the Western Academy of Beijing with Kevin Crouch and Stephen Taylor—one of the most ambitious whole-school AI initiatives to date. With built-in time to assess your own school’s readiness and entry points for action, and space to collaborate on AI-related leadership challenges, you’ll leave with an actionable roadmap and the confidence to take your next steps.


Key Takeaways:

  • Collaborate with leaders and experts in a full-day deep dive

  • Assess your school’s AI readiness and define entry points to conversations and actions within your own school

  • Explore WAB’s whole-school AI initiative and wider research

  • Build a practical leadership roadmap for your context

  • Time to work together on AI-related leadership issues, with guidance and support

  • Leave ready to lead next steps with your school team


   REGISTER

For information about hotels and other logistics, please contact office@academyish.org.



Meet the Facilitators


Rita Bateson

Rita Bateson is a respected educator, author and mentor with 20 + years’ experience in international education. She has championed innovation as Senior Curriculum and Assessment Manager at IB Global Headquarters and as a founding Head of Secondary at Nord Anglia International School, Dublin. A prolific curriculum designer, textbook author and sought-after workshop leader, she now consults with schools worldwide on future‑ready practice.

The recent, wide‑spread rise of AI sparked her deep dive into the technology, convinced its impact on education will be both profound and immediate. In all of her work, she pairs her long‑standing IB expertise with deep AI research to bring the very best guidance to international schools. Her forthcoming book, International School Leaders’ Guide to AI, is a culmination of big-picture thinking and practical insight, offering school leaders a clear, human-centred roadmap for navigating the age of artificial intelligence. Through her writing, speaking, and consultancy, Rita continues to empower educators to lead with purpose, ensuring that innovation in schools remains ethical, equitable, and deeply connected to learning.

Stephen Taylor 

Stephen has been teaching and leading in IB World Schools in Indonesia, Japan and China for over 20 years. Currently Director of Innovation in Learning & Teaching at the Western Academy of Beijing and originally from the UK, he is working on an EdD with the University of Bath, focusing on AI in international education and the move towards recognising complex competencies in preparation for ever-changing futures.

His approaches to AI and future competency development focus on protecting and promoting agency, thinking and ethics, aligning with policy & guidance from IB, UNESCO, OECD, China and more. In 2022, he published the (If You) USEME-AI model for AI adaptation in schools, inspired by and connected to his previous work as a coach for HGSE’s Project Zero online courses on Creating Cultures of Thinking. He writes on AI and international education at The Wayfinder Learning Lab (
sjtylr.net) and you can find him on LinkedIN at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjtylr




Kevin Crouch
Kevin is motivated by the belief that all people can achieve in outstanding ways when led with compassion and trust toward a deeper sense of meaning in their work and learning.  Kevin brings twenty-two years of international school experience as a teacher, curriculum leader, coach, consultant, and senior school leader.

Prior to joining the Western Academy of Beijing in 2020, Kevin helped schools around the globe with their digital-age transformations, coaching school and teacher leaders on how to create the essential conditions for success.  Kevin has an MA in Education from Washington State University and a Certificate in Leadership from Harvard. He continues to connect globally with innovative leaders and educators around the world to share WAB's vision and learn from others.