We Went to the NAMSS Tutorial Conference - Here’s What We Learned!

On 20th January, Sian Fletcher and Ruth Martin spent the day at the NAMSS Tutorial Conference at The Novotel in Birmingham.
The event brought together people from all over the UK who work on supporting students in Further, Higher and Adult Education, so it was a great chance to pick up new ideas and see what other organisations are doing. We came away with loads of practical things we can use to make your experience at Adult Education Wolverhampton even better.

The keynote speaker was from Ofsted, talking about the brand new inspection framework that came out in November 2025.

They’ve changed to a 5 point grading system:

• Exceptional
• Strong
• Expected standards
• Needs attention
• Urgent improvements

One thing that really stood out was how much focus there is now on inclusion. That was brilliant to hear, because it’s something AEW is already really strong at - and it’s something we care deeply about.

There were loads of workshops to choose from. We joined a really interesting session from Barclays about the Life Skills learning they offer both online and face to face - definitely something we might explore more.

But the workshop that really stuck with us?

A session on the safeguarding risks of AI companions.
The session was a real eye opener. It made us think about how important it is for all of us to understand the risks new technologies can bring, especially for vulnerable students. We were shocked by how quickly these AI companions are becoming part of people’s lives.