About this Event
A practical CPD morning designed specifically for School Business Managers, office managers, administrators and other members of school support teams.
The session focuses on realistic ways that AI and digital tools can reduce workload, improve productivity and help school office teams work more efficiently.
This is a hands-on session rather than simply a demonstration. You will explore the tools, build practical solutions and leave with resources that can be used immediately back in school.
Part 1: Microsoft Copilot, Prompting & Automation
AI can save significant amounts of time, but only when it is used effectively.
In the first part of the session, we will look at how to use Large Language Models such as Microsoft Copilot properly and how better prompting leads to more useful, reliable results.
You will learn how to:
- Write effective prompts for tools such as Microsoft Copilot
- Give AI the right context, instructions and information
- Improve and refine prompts when the first response isn't good enough
- Use AI for common school business and administrative tasks
- Create simple automated tools that can reduce repetitive workload
- Build reusable Copilot tools for tasks you complete regularly
- Identify where AI can genuinely save time within a school office
Most importantly, you won't leave having simply watched someone use AI.
You will leave with ready-made automated Copilot tools that you can take back to school and start using.
Part 2: Rethinking the School Newsletter
The second part of the morning looks at how schools can make newsletters more engaging, accessible and measurable.
We will consider:
- How do you know whether parents are actually engaging with your newsletter?
- Which communication channels are reaching the most families?
- How can you better support parents who do not have time to read a full newsletter?
- How can key information be made more accessible to families whose first language is not English?
Building on the Copilot work from Part 1, we will use a combination of Microsoft tools and Canva for Education to explore a more effective way of creating, sharing and measuring school newsletters.
Who is this training for?
This session is particularly useful for:
- School Business Managers
- Business and Operations Managers
- Office Managers
- School Administrators
- Senior Administrators
- Headteachers and school leaders with responsibility for administration
- Other members of school support teams interested in using digital tools more effectively
No advanced AI or technical knowledge is required.
What will I leave with?
By the end of the morning, you should have:
- A clearer understanding of how to prompt AI effectively
- Practical experience using Microsoft Copilot
- Ready-made Copilot tools that can help automate common tasks
- Ideas for creating your own AI-powered workflows
- An understanding of how Microsoft Sway can be used for school communications
- A structure for creating a reusable digital newsletter
- Ideas for incorporating audio into your school's communications
- Practical approaches that can be implemented immediately
Event venue & nearby stays
The Quad, Station Quarter, Telford, United Kingdom
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