At Skolon, we’ve always believed that the best digital tools are the ones that fade into the background, allowing the real work (teaching, learning, and human connection) to take center stage.

That’s why we are incredibly proud to be one of nEdEx’s platinum partners, meaning we’ll be heading to the nEdEx conference this February.

In a landscape often cluttered with “shiny object syndrome,” nEdEx stands out by focusing on what truly matters: grounded realism.

To dig deeper into why this partnership feels so right, we sat down with Matt McDermott, Head of Community at nEdEx, to talk about the human element of EdTech and why collaboration is the vital “currency” for 2026.

The human element in a digital age

It almost goes without saying just how easy it is to get bogged down in policy and administration when it comes to conferences and events, but nEdEx has gained a reputation for being energising and deeply human. Hoping to harness some of this energy, we caught up with Matt for a chat on why building a community-first network is so vital for education leaders right now.

“I feel more relevant than ever,” Matt explains. “Education leaders are under pressure and the need for realistic and pragmatic collaboration is essential. We have created a network where we focus on the now, so everyone walking away from an event of ours will have something to immediately implement the next day.”

At Skolon, we mirror this sentiment.

Technology shouldn’t be another “to-do” on a leader’s list; it should be the bridge that makes collaboration both seamless AND possible.

Realism vs. the “shiny object”

While financial pressures not only in the sector, but literally everywhere, are constant, Matt notes that the most unrealistic pressure facing leaders today is the battle for retention.

While the theme of this year’s conference is ‘Grounded Realism’, keeping a school’s culture healthy remains a human challenge, though it’s one that the right digital infrastructure can either support or accidentally hinder.

When it comes to picking the right tools, Matt’s advice for suppliers and schools alike is refreshingly simple:

“I think the easiest sell for education leaders right now is: saving time and saving money. If you can do this as a supplier to the sector, you have the best chance possible to get in the door and make a genuine impact.”

A shared mission: Efficiency through connection

One of the highlights of our conversation was discussing how a solid digital strategy isn’t just about “IT”; it’s about people.

Q: How do you think the right digital infrastructure helps a Trust’s ability to actually collaborate?

Matt: “We hear so many fantastic stories of trusts and schools becoming more efficient and sustainable when they have a solid and forward-thinking digital strategy. Collaboration is central to our mission of nEdEx and influences everything we do… a good digital infrastructure only adds to this!”

By unifying tools and removing the friction of manual logins and fragmented systems (the very thing Skolon lives to solve!), schools can focus their energy on sharing best practices rather than troubleshooting software.

What to expect at nEdEx 2026

If you’re joining us and our friends, nEdEx, on the 26th of February, you aren’t just signing up for a series of lectures. You’re entering a space designed for choice and practical action.

“We genuinely believe there is something for everyone,” says Matt. “Not only do we have some of the leading Trusts in the country speaking, as well as the DfE and Ofsted, we also have multiple themed rooms ensuring that delegates have the power to choose their own agenda! Our sessions are realistic, pragmatic and practice-led.”

See you there!

The Skolon UK team will be on the ground throughout the conference. We’re looking forward to hearing about your challenges, your wins, and how we can help make your digital ecosystem work harder for your teachers and students.

Are you attending nEdEx? We’d love to catch up! Click here to let us know if you’ll be there too!

This is Skolon – we gather the best digital educational tools and make them work in the classroom.

Skolon is an independent platform for digital educational tools and learning resources, created for both teachers and students. With Skolon, accessing and using your digital educational tools is easy – security increases, administration decreases, and there’s more time for learning.

The digital educational tools come from both small and large providers, all of whom have one thing in common – they create digital educational tools that are beneficial for the school environment.