OneSchool Global kicks off 2026 with a future‑focused look at AI in education

Our OneSchool Global New Zealand team opened the 2026 school year by coming together for a two‑day virtual conference that reconnected staff, strengthened collaboration, and set a united direction for the year ahead.

Across the two days, teachers, leaders, and support staff connected in virtual workshops, shared insights from their campuses, and aligned on the priorities that will shape teaching and learning in 2026. The virtual format brought everyone into the same room – no matter where they were joining from – creating a strong sense of unity and shared purpose to start the year.

A key theme woven throughout the conference was how emerging tools – including artificial intelligence – can strengthen teaching practice and free teachers to focus on what matters most: meaningful teaching and learning. Staff explored how technology can support, not replace, the human-centred approach that sits at the heart of our culture and our Learning 2 Learn (L2L) framework.

We were thrilled to have futurist and education leader Frances Valintine as our keynote who encouraged our staff to view AI not as a distant concept but as an influential force already shaping the world their students are entering.

Frances – Founder and Board Director of academyEX – shared a compelling message about the changing landscape of work and learning. “The world of work is transforming faster than ever before, and education needs to evolve at the same pace if we want our learners to thrive,” she told attendees. She highlighted that AI is no longer a niche topic but a capability touching every industry and profession.

A central theme of her presentation was the shift from teaching information towards developing what she calls “directors of intelligence” students who can confidently guide, question, and collaborate with AI systems. “AI shouldn’t sit on the sidelines,” Frances explained. “It belongs in every learning area because it is becoming part of every industry our students will walk into.”

Frances also encouraged all schools to adopt an open, responsible approach to integrating AI in the classroom. “AI is an amplifier of ideas, creativity, and capability. When we shut it out, we close the door on opportunities our students deserve,” she said. She emphasised the pivotal role teachers play in modelling effective and intentional use of AI tools, adding, “Students need to see us using these tools with intent. That’s how we build confidence and skill.”

Her message strongly aligned with OSG’s long-standing focus on students as self-directed, capable and reflective learners. OSG’s Learning 2 Learn framework already supports students to develop the human-centred capabilities that will matter most in an AI-enabled world, such as curiosity, adaptability and ethical decision-making.

OSG’s Global Director of AI, Chris O’Reilly, reflected on the alignment between Frances’ insights and OSG’s strategic direction.

“OneSchool Global is committed to equipping our students with the skills and mindset they need for a rapidly evolving world,” Chris said. “Frances brought enormous insight into how schools can embrace AI confidently and ethically. Her contribution reinforces our human-centred approach and affirms how our L2L framework builds the capabilities students need to thrive alongside rapidly advancing technology.”