Meet the Expert: Martin Byrne – From “Saturday Boy” to Director of EdTech
Welcome back to Meet the Expert, the segment where we step outside the classroom to chat with the innovators and tech wizards powering the UK’s education sector.
This month, we’re sitting down with Martin Byrne, Director of EdTech at Sweethaven (part of the Intec Group).
Martin is a self-confessed “nerd” (he said it himself!) who has spent his career ensuring that when a class of 30 seven-year-olds hits ‘Log In’ at the same time, everything actually works.
From his early days as an IT “Saturday boy” to his appearance on Countdown (yes, really!), Martin’s journey is fueled by a genuine passion for making tech transformative, rather than just another piece of hardware gathering dust.
The “Bug” for EdTech
While many experts find themselves in EdTech by accident, Martin’s path was intentional; starting long before he’d even finished university.
“I was basically the Saturday and Sunday boy,” Martin recalls. “I installed a server in an IT suite for a local prep school, and that was my first foray into EdTech. When you first see a class of seven or eight-year-olds logging in smoothly with no problems, you get a satisfaction you don’t get anywhere else.”
That “bug”, if you pardon the pun, for school IT has stayed with him. Martin remembers the days of Windows 3.0 and chalkboards, and it’s that contrast of seeing a modern classroom with laptop trolleys and interactive screens that keeps him inspired.
Beyond the Screen: It’s What’s Inside That Counts
Sadly, we’ve all seen it: a high-tech interactive screen with a piece of paper Sellotaped over it because the tech is too fiddly to use. For Martin, the challenge isn’t just getting the kit into schools, it’s making sure it’s the right kit.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that the best thing is the most expensive thing,” he explains. “Or that because something is the cheapest, it’s not applicable. The vendor’s story and the history behind why a product came to be are so much more important than a straight cost.”
Martin’s approach is about seeing the “unseen” needs. He tells the story of a school that asked for 60 laptops, only for Martin to realise their entire network was hanging off a few wireless access points on window sills.
“We swarmed the school over a Christmas break. When they came back in January, it was transformative. Schools don’t know what they don’t know, and that’s one of our biggest challenges.”
“Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody”
When it comes to the “Trend of the Year”, AI, Martin is a daily user of tools like Gemini Pro and Notebook LM. However, he brings a healthy dose of professional skepticism to the table, borrowing a mnemonic from the police: ABC.
Assume nothing.
Believe nobody.
Confirm everything.
“Students are digital natives; they are all using AI in some way,” Martin notes. “Teachers who haven’t started using it need to get with the program quickly, but you have to learn to challenge it.”
Smart Buttons and Wellness
What excites Martin most about the future? It’s not just the big flashy robots, it’s the “Internet of Things” (IoT) making life easier. For example, he showed off a simple “Smart Button” during our chat.
“You can put that in a classroom to ring a bell in the office, or use smart sensors to pull data on wellness and the environment. That kind of smart kit can be even more transformative in the future.”
8 Out of 10 Cats… and One Director of EdTech
Outside of the server room, Martin has a claim to fame that most of us would envy: he was a contestant on Countdown!
“I was neck-and-neck with a 19-year-old maths student until the last numbers round when I fluffed it,” he laughs. “I really wanted the teapot!”
While he might have missed out on the iconic teapot, he’s certainly winning in the world of school support. “I’ll put ‘IT Support for Schools’ on my gravestone one day,” he jokes.
The Magic Wand
As always, we ended our chat by asking Martin: if he could wave a magic wand and solve one problem in education, what would it be?
The Answer: Explicit Instruction through Tech.
Martin wants to see a world where technology doesn’t separate the teacher from the pupil, but brings them closer. He advocates for the “proliferation of devices” that allow teachers to write on a tablet while facing their students, with the notes appearing behind them. “It keeps the focus on the teaching, not the tool.”
If you’d like to learn more about Martin’s work at Sweethaven or discuss how to avoid “Sellotaping paper to your screens,” you can find him on LinkedIn here.
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Welcome back to Meet the Expert, the segment where we step outside the classroom to chat with the innovators and tech wizards powering the UK’s education sector.
This month, we’re sitting down with Martin Byrne, Director of EdTech at Sweethaven (part of the Intec Group).
Martin is a self-confessed “nerd” (he said it himself!) who has spent his career ensuring that when a class of 30 seven-year-olds hits ‘Log In’ at the same time, everything actually works.
From his early days as an IT “Saturday boy” to his appearance on Countdown (yes, really!), Martin’s journey is fueled by a genuine passion for making tech transformative, rather than just another piece of hardware gathering dust.
The “Bug” for EdTech
While many experts find themselves in EdTech by accident, Martin’s path was intentional; starting long before he’d even finished university.
“I was basically the Saturday and Sunday boy,” Martin recalls. “I installed a server in an IT suite for a local prep school, and that was my first foray into EdTech. When you first see a class of seven or eight-year-olds logging in smoothly with no problems, you get a satisfaction you don’t get anywhere else.”
That “bug”, if you pardon the pun, for school IT has stayed with him. Martin remembers the days of Windows 3.0 and chalkboards, and it’s that contrast of seeing a modern classroom with laptop trolleys and interactive screens that keeps him inspired.
Beyond the Screen: It’s What’s Inside That Counts
Sadly, we’ve all seen it: a high-tech interactive screen with a piece of paper Sellotaped over it because the tech is too fiddly to use. For Martin, the challenge isn’t just getting the kit into schools, it’s making sure it’s the right kit.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that the best thing is the most expensive thing,” he explains. “Or that because something is the cheapest, it’s not applicable. The vendor’s story and the history behind why a product came to be are so much more important than a straight cost.”
Martin’s approach is about seeing the “unseen” needs. He tells the story of a school that asked for 60 laptops, only for Martin to realise their entire network was hanging off a few wireless access points on window sills.
“We swarmed the school over a Christmas break. When they came back in January, it was transformative. Schools don’t know what they don’t know, and that’s one of our biggest challenges.”
“Assume Nothing, Believe Nobody”
When it comes to the “Trend of the Year”, AI, Martin is a daily user of tools like Gemini Pro and Notebook LM. However, he brings a healthy dose of professional skepticism to the table, borrowing a mnemonic from the police: ABC.
Assume nothing.
Believe nobody.
Confirm everything.
“Students are digital natives; they are all using AI in some way,” Martin notes. “Teachers who haven’t started using it need to get with the program quickly, but you have to learn to challenge it.”
Smart Buttons and Wellness
What excites Martin most about the future? It’s not just the big flashy robots, it’s the “Internet of Things” (IoT) making life easier. For example, he showed off a simple “Smart Button” during our chat.
“You can put that in a classroom to ring a bell in the office, or use smart sensors to pull data on wellness and the environment. That kind of smart kit can be even more transformative in the future.”
8 Out of 10 Cats… and One Director of EdTech
Outside of the server room, Martin has a claim to fame that most of us would envy: he was a contestant on Countdown!
“I was neck-and-neck with a 19-year-old maths student until the last numbers round when I fluffed it,” he laughs. “I really wanted the teapot!”
While he might have missed out on the iconic teapot, he’s certainly winning in the world of school support. “I’ll put ‘IT Support for Schools’ on my gravestone one day,” he jokes.
The Magic Wand
As always, we ended our chat by asking Martin: if he could wave a magic wand and solve one problem in education, what would it be?
The Answer: Explicit Instruction through Tech.
Martin wants to see a world where technology doesn’t separate the teacher from the pupil, but brings them closer. He advocates for the “proliferation of devices” that allow teachers to write on a tablet while facing their students, with the notes appearing behind them. “It keeps the focus on the teaching, not the tool.”
If you’d like to learn more about Martin’s work at Sweethaven or discuss how to avoid “Sellotaping paper to your screens,” you can find him on LinkedIn here.
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