Evidence-backed ideas for South African classrooms.

researchED is a one-day conference for exploring what makes great teaching & learning.

Designed for teachers, school leaders, and those who work with them.

Buy tickets →
Available from 12 June Submit a talk

Date

Saturday 12 September 2026

Venue

Bishops College

Cape Town, South Africa

Line-up

Featured speakers

Speaker Name

Role, Organisation

Speaker Name

Role, Organisation

Speaker Name

Role, Organisation

Speaker Name

Role, Organisation

Speaker Name

Role, Organisation

Full programme announced closer to the event. Want to present? Submit your talk →

About

What is researchED South Africa?

researchED South Africa is an annual conference that bridges the gap between education research, evidence, and classroom practice.

Hear from some of South Africa’s finest teachers, leaders, researchers, NGOs, and policymakers about what’s working.

Walk away inspired and with practical, concrete ideas about what makes the most effective teaching practice.

We cover all contexts: urban, rural, no-fee and private. We know there are lots of differences, but when it comes to what we know about what works for learning, there are also lots of similarities.

Our programme, our speakers and our lens are South African — but we are part of a global network spanning the UK, USA, Qatar, Japan, Chile, Netherlands and beyond.

Our audience

1Those working in schools

2Those working with schools

3Those whose work is about schools

researchED brings together policy makers, NGOs, school leaders, schools and academics — all focused on classroom practice

Who is this for?

Is this event for me?

Teachers

The majority of our audience are teachers. We welcome all teachers, from whatever school or context. If you're a keen teacher looking to develop, grow or strengthen your teaching — this is for you.

School Leaders

Regardless of what school you lead, this event is for you. If you want to learn, grow and strengthen what your school stands for — come and join us.

Academics & Researchers

Share your findings with a classroom-ready audience and hear the questions practitioners are actually asking.

School Support Organisations

Find out what other organisations are doing, speak directly to teachers, and hear from smart thinkers on best classroom practice.

Policy makers

Share system-level insight with those who make it a reality on the ground. Hear what the most evidence-engaged teachers and leaders are doing.

Join us in Cape Town.

Tickets and speaker submissions via researchED.org.uk.

Buy tickets →
Available from 12 June Submit a talk →

The format

How does it work?

researchED is held on a Saturday so that those working in, or with schools can attend.

The format of parallel sessions lets you choose your own route through the day.

40-minute sessionsShort, focused, and practical.

You choose your dayPick the sessions that matter to you from the programme.

Driven by evidenceEvery speaker must be able to justify their claims.

This is roughly how the day will look — exact times and sessions confirmed closer to the event.

9.30–9.45 Welcome

9.45–10.15 Keynote

Room 1

Room 2

Room 3

Room 4

Room 5

Room 6

Round 1
10.25–11.05

11.05–11.25 Break

Round 2
11.25–12.05

12.05–12.45 Lunch

Round 3
12.45–13.25

Round 4
13.35–14.15

14.15–14.35 Break

Round 5
14.35–15.15

15.25–16.00 Close / Panel

The team

Who we are

researchED South Africa is a non-profit event organised by people with a passion for great teaching and learning. It stands on the shoulders of the original researchED concept created by Tom Bennett in the UK.

Adam Thorpe

Independent Education Advisor

Adam is an independent education advisor who has spent the past ten years supporting a wide range of South African schools and education organisations. A former school leader, he works with schools and NGOs to improve teaching quality and drive school improvement. He works internationally, supporting school networks in the UK, and has helped to build one of the UKs most successful teacher training programmes: Ark Teacher Training.

adamthorpe.co →

Photo

Lester Lalla

Headmaster, Bishops Prep

Lester is an experienced school leader with a deep commitment to evidence-informed practice in South African education. As Headmaster of Bishops Prep in Cape Town, he brings both institutional credibility and genuine passion for improving classroom outcomes.

About the event

How researchED works — and what to expect.

The format

How it works

Always on a Saturday

So that those who work in schools can attend without taking time off.

6–7 parallel sessions

Each session is 40 minutes. Attendees choose their own day from the released programme.

Held at a school

Sessions run across halls and classrooms at Bishops College, Cape Town.

At least 50% teachers

The audience is always at least 50% teachers and school leaders.

Evidence-informed only

All speakers must justify their claims with evidence and answer audience questions.

All South African contexts

Urban, rural, no-fee and private. The lens is South African.

Submissions

Want to present?

We welcome submissions from teachers, academics, policymakers, researchers — anyone with something evidence-based to share. Sessions should be practical, evidence-backed, and relevant to South African classrooms.

Example topics from past events: Phonics: myths & misconceptions · Instructional leadership · Beyond the EdTech hype · Policy priorities for reform · 10 principles of effective instruction

Submit your talk on researchED.org.uk →

Ready to attend?

Tickets are available via Eventbrite.

Buy tickets →
Available from 12 June ← Back to home

Attendees

Is this event for me?

researchED South Africa is for everyone with a stake in improving education — across every context, every role, and every type of school.

Teachers in Government Schools

Access practical, evidence-backed strategies for the no-fee classroom.

Evidence-based teaching strategies
Curriculum and instruction research
Connect with peers across provinces

Teachers in Independent Schools

Challenge assumptions, encounter new research, and leave with ideas for Monday.

Cutting-edge instructional research
Evidence on high-performance learning
Cross-sector perspectives

School Leaders

Build the evidence base for decisions about curriculum, PD and school culture.

Instructional leadership research
Staff development strategies
School improvement evidence

Academics & Researchers

Share your research with a classroom-ready audience and hear practitioners' real questions.

Present findings to teachers directly
Bridge research and practice

NGOs & Education Organisations

Share what works in your programmes and connect with the schools you serve.

Share evidence from programmes
Connect with school leaders

Policymakers

Hear directly from teachers and researchers about what the evidence says — and doesn't.

Ground policy in classroom reality
Evidence-informed decision making

Join us in Cape Town.

Saturday 12 September 2026 · Bishops College

Buy tickets →
Available from 12 June Submit a talk →

The people behind it

Who we are

researchED South Africa is a non-profit event organised by people with a passion for great teaching and learning. It stands on the shoulders of the original researchED concept created by Tom Bennett in the UK.

Adam Thorpe

Independent Education Advisor

Adam is an independent education advisor who has spent the past ten years supporting a wide range of South African schools and education organisations. A former school leader, he works with schools and NGOs to improve teaching quality and drive school improvement. He works internationally, supporting school networks in the UK, and has helped to build one of the UKs most successful teacher training programmes: Ark Teacher Training.

adamthorpe.co →

Photo

Lester Lalla

Headmaster, Bishops Prep

Lester is an experienced school leader with a deep commitment to evidence-informed practice in South African education. As Headmaster of Bishops Prep in Cape Town, he brings both institutional credibility and genuine passion for improving classroom outcomes.

Join us in Cape Town.

Saturday 12 September 2026 · Bishops College

Buy tickets →
Available from 12 June ← Back to home