Looking to streamline HR processes and communication within your multi academy trust? In this podcast episode, Educational Technology Lead at the Spencer Academies Trust Josh Gibbs shares insights into how they transformed HR management at the MAT with a SharePoint HR Hub. Watch the full podcast episode here: About Josh Gibbs and Spencer Academies Trust Josh is a long-time fan of SharePoint in Education, previously working with Cloud Design Box to lead digital transformation projects for several...
Mar 11, 2025•29 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast n a recent episode of the Cloud Design Box podcast, Max Fritz from Microsoft sat down with Darren Hemming to talk about Microsoft Classwork – an innovative addition to Microsoft Teams for Education, designed to streamline lesson organisation, improve student engagement and reduce teacher workload. What is Microsoft Classwork? Microsoft Classwork is a powerful tool within Teams for Education, enabling teachers to structure learning materials into organised modules. With seamless integration into ...
Mar 10, 2025•29 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft’s Samantha Fisher sits down with Darren Hemming to explore the exciting new updates in Speaker Coach and the introduction of Speaker Progress. Read the full write-up on our website: www.clouddesignbox.co.uk/podcast-speaker-coach-and-progress-microsoft ----------------------------------- We are Microsoft Teams and SharePoint for education experts supporting over 450 schools and multi academy trusts to: 📈 Increase collaboration and engagement ⏰ Save huge amounts of teacher time and effo...
Oct 22, 2024•16 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Schools waste money, time and opportunities on systems and platforms that don’t speak to each other. But it doesn’t have to be this way, as EdRuption’s Philippa Wraithmell highlights in this podcast. Darren Hemming, COO at Cloud Design Box, talks16 with Philippa about the importance of simplicity and interoperability when building your school’s digital ecosystem and strategy. "If schools don't prioritise building a cohesive digital ecosystem now, we're not just dealing with fragme...
Oct 14, 2024•27 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In this podcast, we speak with Microsoft’s Anoo Padte – the product leader for Reading Coach – about how artificial intelligence is helping create personalised learning experiences and combat poor reading literacy. Find out more: https://clouddesignbox.co.uk/combatting-poor-reading-literacy-with-microsoft-reading-coach/ ----------------------------------- We are Microsoft Teams and SharePoint for education experts supporting over 450 schools and multi academy trusts to: 📈 Increase collaboration...
Jul 29, 2024•49 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of the Cloud Design Box podcast, join Darren Hemming as he delves into an engaging conversation with Emma Gray, the visionary Product Manager behind Microsoft's innovative tool, Search Coach. With a background enriched by journalism and a deep technical expertise in engineering and physics, Emma brings a unique perspective to the table, discussing the critical role of information literacy in education and beyond. Discover how Search Coach, developed in collaboration with lea...
Apr 06, 2024•29 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft Learning Accelerators aim to make education more accessible by providing students with vital tools to develop their learning, while teaching them essential skills in further education and later in their professional life. Visit the Cloud Design Box website for more information. In our latest Microsoft 365 User Adoption podcast, the Cornerstone Academy Trust (TCAT) reveals how they’re embracing the new Microsoft Learning Accelerators to enhance teaching and learning. About The Cornersto...
Jul 14, 2023•27 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we speak to teacher and housemaster Henry about using Microsoft 365 in an independent school. Blog post to follow on https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk/ Support the show
Apr 18, 2023•37 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Ian Stuart from Avantis Education talks about the power of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality in teaching and learning. Avantis has supported teachers with classroom technology for almost two decades and now boasts a diverse range of education products, including LearnPad, ClassCharge, ClassConnect and ClassVR. In this podcast episode, Cloud Design Box’s Darren Hemming talks about ClassVR, Avantis World and creating immersive, 360° experiences for students. Embedding Virtual Reality lear...
Mar 17, 2023•39 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Darren meets Ryan for Formative. Support the show
Mar 17, 2023•23 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode Darren Hemming speaks to Stefan from Lingfield College about the rollout and adoption of 1:1 devices. Find out more about Cloud Design Box at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk The benefits of 1:1 devices in schools with Lingfield College The Director of Digital Learning at Linfield College talks about the school’s plan to roll out per-student devices to every student and the challenges and benefits that come with digital transformation. Lingfield College is a co-educational indepe...
Oct 21, 2022•35 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast An eye opening interview with Jonathan Bishop, the CEO & Executive Headteacher of Cornerstone Academy Trust. Best value doesn't mean cheapest. It's not about directly balancing reduced printing costs against buying Surface Pros - the aim is to improve T & L and build staff efficiency while spending effectively. He talked about needing fewer staff though, which I thought was controversial. Or at least freeing up staff time to do other things. I think different folks may hear tha...
May 12, 2022•36 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Darren speaks to Marjolein Hoeskstra about her journey with Microsoft, TweetMeets, MVPs, MSEduCentral and much more. Marjolein shares the best links for educators with over 1300 resources across 80 different topics. Created by teachers for teachers. Support the show
Apr 15, 2022•30 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Darren speaks to Martin Edworthy, the e-learning coordinator at Sacred Heart Catholic High School about moving into a single tenant for the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust. Support the show
Apr 14, 2022•47 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast In this podcast episode, we caught up with Mark Fuller, IT Director for Bridge Academy Trust (BAT) – a multi academy trust based in Essex – about how they have extended Microsoft 365 with Cloud Box to improve communication and collaboration between their 12 schools. Bridge Academy Trust is a large MAT made up of four secondary schools and eight primary schools. Providing education to students 3-19, the Trust needed a solution that would not only enable collaboration between its schools but also ...
Apr 14, 2022•56 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast In this podcast episode, we speak with Rachael Howarth, Vice Principal of Bradford Girls’ Grammar School about how they’re using Microsoft 365 to assess and engage students in a blended in-classroom and remote learning setting. Rachael walks us through some key ways in which they’re using Microsoft Forms, Class Notebook, Polls and Insights to increase engagement, save teacher time, give feedback and keep an eye on students’ wellbeing. “We’ve been using Class Notebook to engage with students who ...
Aug 18, 2021•20 min•Ep 18•Transcript available on Metacast In this webinar we are joined by Mark Guest from PolyMAT to discuss how the Trust have extended Microsoft Teams and SharePoint further using the Power Platform. Support the show (https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk) Support the show
Jun 16, 2021•56 min•Ep 17•Transcript available on Metacast 1111In this episode we speak with David James, Head of Education at Cornerstone Academy Trust and Anthony Lees, Deputy Head of Westclyst Community Primary School. We discuss how the trust has lead the way in providing blended and remote learning before, during and after the pandemic. Support the show
Apr 28, 2021•57 min•Ep 16•Transcript available on Metacast Check out our website for the services and products we offer for Microsoft 365, Teams and SharePoint at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk In this webinar, we talk to Stuart Carvell, Assistant Principal at Eaton Bank School about how the trust has embraced Microsoft 365. Darren and Lloyd from Cloud Design Box will highlight some key points on how to successfully rollout at trust and school level. Contact us now for more information via the website https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk/contact . Suppo...
Mar 25, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 15•Transcript available on Metacast Jonathan Butler from EdTech DfE Demonstrator College - Wilberforce College in Hull talks to us about the college's Teams journey. Afterwards we will be sharing some best practices to help you get started with Microsoft Teams. Check out our website for the services and products we offer for Microsoft 365, Teams and SharePoint at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk Contact us now for more information via the website https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk/contact Support the show...
Feb 24, 2021•31 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Darren, Tony, Keith and Lloyd discuss using breakout rooms in online lessons. A new feature in Microsoft Teams, but how do teachers manage students? What should they consider from a safeguarding perspective when using breakout rooms? You can find out more about Cloud Design Box and our education services on our website - https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk Support the show...
Jan 31, 2021•30 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft 365 User Adoption Episode 12: Saving Teacher Time With Class Notebook Our Office 365 User Adoption Podcast highlights real-life stories from schools, academies and Multi Academy Trusts on how they’ve successfully rolled out Microsoft 365, SharePoint and Teams to staff and students. In this podcast episode, we spoke with Rachael Howarth, Vice Principal at Bradford Girls’ Grammar School and Business Studies teacher on how they’re using Microsoft 365 to support students’ learning and save...
Dec 15, 2020•17 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast In this podcast, we spoke with James Emmet, Network Manager at Engineering UTC North Lincolnshire about how they use features in Office 365 to support students with Special Education Needs (SEN) and English as an Additional Language (EAL). “We have a high number of students who are EAL, SEN, dyslexic and have low reading ages. I passionately believe that – when used in the right way – ICT is one of the most crucial tools to help these students with their learning,” James tells us. “Our school’s ...
Apr 10, 2020•13 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast We have been asked by some schools facing part-closure to create a podcast about delivering content in virtual lessons using Microsoft Teams. In this podcast, we focus on using Microsoft Teams to provide remote lessons. This should allow some continuation of learning even if the teacher or students are remotely located and unable to get into school. You can try and replicate some of the real things you would do in a real classroom. You won’t have the same eye contact or body language as you woul...
Feb 27, 2020•10 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast We speak to Elaine Topham at Grimsby Institute about the Microsoft Innovative Educator program. Elaine is the Senior Learning Technologist at the college and is an MIE Fellow (one of only six in the UK). How could it benefit your school or college? What are some of the perks? How do you apply? Listen to find out all of the answers. Blog post and YouTube video coming soon with all the links. https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk Support the show...
Feb 18, 2020•18 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode we speak to Gareth Rose at Notley High School & Braintree Sixth Form about School Leadership with Microsoft Teams Find out more by visiting the Cloud Design Box website at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk. Microsoft Teams is a great collaboration tool and can be used to extend the classroom. In our latest podcast, Tony and Darren from Cloud Design Box discuss the real benefits of using Microsoft Teams in the classroom. This time we are focusing on the file sharing aspect. Com...
Dec 17, 2019•9 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft Teams is a great collaboration tool and can be used to extend the classroom. In our latest podcast, Tony and Darren from Cloud Design Box discuss the real benefits of using Microsoft Teams in the classroom. This time we are focusing on the file sharing aspect. Find out more by visiting the Cloud Design Box website at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk. Communication is central to good lessons and learning in the classroom. That could be teacher to student, or it could be students working...
Nov 12, 2019•5 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast Microsoft Teams is a great collaboration tool and can be used to extend the classroom. In our latest podcast, Tony and Darren from Cloud Design Box discuss the real benefits of using Microsoft Teams in the classroom. This time we are focusing on the conversation aspect. Find out more by visiting the Cloud Design Box website at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk. Communication is central to good lessons and learning in the classroom. That could be teacher to student, or it could be students working...
Nov 07, 2019•10 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Find out more by visiting the Cloud Design Box website at https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk. In our Office 365 User Adoption Podcast this month, Tony and Darren from Cloud Design Box talk about the benefits of tagging resources and discuss metadata vs folders. Support the show
Nov 07, 2019•8 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast You know how much Office 365 could transform your school or academy, but how do you convince the rest of the staff and student body? Getting everyone on board with a new concept or piece of software is a challenge for all organisations, but by sharing experiences, we can learn from others who have been in our shoes. That’s why we have created this podcast series, highlighting real-life user adoption stores for SharePoint and Office 365 for Education. Find out more by visiting the Cloud Design Bo...
Nov 07, 2019•32 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 
