Jamie Fries

CEO - ReadingWise

Jamie has created educational programmes that have reached millions of pupils. Ensuring the highest standards of support for schools and the greatest impact for pupils, his background as a modern languages teacher supports alignment with schools’ needs.

Speaker Sessions

Product Showcase 2033

Nov 12 2025 | 2pm - 3:20pm

UK Edtech Showcase

Session Summary:

1. Speaker: Lynn Sear, Co-CEO - Literacy Tree

Presentation Title:
Transforming Literacy Learning Through Books: Literacy Tree in Action Across International Schools

Presentation Description:
In this short talk, Lynn Sear, Literacy Tree founder and co-CEO, will explore how a book-based approach to literacy can be transformative in international settings. Drawing on recent case studies from Dubai schools, she’ll share how immersive texts can drive engagement, support language development, and raise attainment across diverse classrooms.

The session will highlight how Literacy Tree’s curriculum and platform empower teachers with the tools, subject knowledge, and professional development they need to deliver inspiring, literacy-rich lessons wherever in the world they teach.

Attendees will come away with practical insights into how an authentic, literature-led approach can strengthen reading and writing outcomes and foster a genuine love of learning in their pupils.

2. Speaker:
Marie McDermott, GCC Consultant - Promote Your School

Presentation Title:
The Power of Visual Learning Environments

Presentation Description:
Innovation in education goes far beyond technology. The most forward-thinking schools don’t just use digital tools, they design environments that bring learning to life through engagement, curiosity, and inspiration. Across the UAE and wider GCC, schools are reimagining their spaces to ignite curiosity, deepen engagement, and celebrate a strong sense of national identity.

In this session, Marie McDermott, GCC Consultant for Promote Your School and former educator, will share how our consultative process — from free site visits and concept development to design and installation — helps schools create interactive, high-impact environments that embody their values and vision while supporting 21st-century learning.

Drawing on real-world examples from schools across the UK and GCC, Marie will demonstrate how intentional design can spark curiosity, strengthen curriculum connections, embed cultural identity, and complement EdTech initiatives to create truly inspiring, future-focused learning spaces.

3. Speaker:
Peter McCarthy, Head of Partnerships - White Rose Education

Presentation Title:
Empowering Teachers, Elevating Outcomes

Presentation Description:
Great teaching changes lives — and teachers deserve the very best support to make that happen. In this session, we'll share how we're empowering teachers with our widely-used free schemes of learning, high-quality supporting resources, and ongoing professional development leading to stronger confidence, deeper understanding, and better outcomes for every learner.

4. Speaker:
Yassir Abbassi, Sales Manager Middle East - ReadSpeaker

Presentation Title:
Accessibility in Action: Building Inclusive Online content with TTS

Presentation Description:
This session will inform educators how to create more inclusive, engaging, and accessible learning environments through the power of audio. We’ll demonstrate how simple it can be to give every learner a voice with text to speech.

You’ll hear more about:

- Exam Mode – deliver secure, accessible assessments for every learner
- Supporting multilingual learners with 80+ languages, including Arabic (Gulf accents)
- Engaging neurodiverse learners – with synchronized audio + visual tools

Walk away with actionable strategies to make learning more accessible and ensure every learner can participate and thrive.

5. Speaker:
Jamie Fries, CEO - ReadingWise

Presentation Title:
ReadingWise and GEMS: Harnessing Online Literacy Programmes to Improve Reading at Scale

Presentation Description:
Schools and groups of schools have pupils with diverse literacy needs. Some are reading very well and need to be stretched, while others have fallen behind and need additional support. Issues could relate to decoding or to comprehension. Significant investment occurs in training staff, assessing pupils, and delivering programmes to ensure each pupil becomes a confident reader. In the short presentation, Jamie will outline how GEMS uses ReadingWise to support several areas of reading.