Microsoft 365 User Adoption for Schools, MATs and Districts
The Microsoft 365 User Adoption for Schools, MATs and Districts podcast is your go-to resource for unlocking the full potential of Microsoft 365 in education. Presented by Cloud Design Box (https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk) — the UK’s leading provider of education-focused SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 intranet solutions — this series shares proven strategies, practical tips, and inspiring success stories to help schools, Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and districts boost adoption, streamline workflows, and improve collaboration.
Trusted by hundreds of schools, colleges and trusts, Cloud Design Box brings over a decade of experience in helping education organisations successfully implement Microsoft 365. Each episode covers essential topics such as Microsoft Teams for Education, SharePoint intranets for schools, Office 365 adoption strategies, OneNote Class Notebook in the classroom, MIS integration, safeguarding in Microsoft Teams, and digital transformation planning for MATs.
Whether you are a trust CEO, headteacher, digital transformation lead, or classroom educator, you will gain actionable insights to engage teachers, support IT leaders, and create a culture where Microsoft 365 becomes a natural, productive part of everyday learning and administration.
For free resources, guides, and tailored Microsoft 365 solutions for education, visit Cloud Design Box - https://www.clouddesignbox.co.uk.
Episodes
35 episodes
AI in Education – Insights from a Year-Long Global Study with The EduTec Alliance
In this episode of the Cloud Design Box Podcast, COO Darren Hemming is joined once again by Glaucia Rosas and James Wilkinson from The EduTec Alliance to share exclusive insights from their year-long global study on Artificial Intel...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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18:28
Digital Safeguarding for Schools and Multi-Academy Trusts – Protecting Students, Staff and Data
Would your school or trust survive a cyberattack tomorrow? With hackers increasingly targeting the education sector, digital safeguarding is now just as critical as physical safety. Without a robust strategy, student data, staff security...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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14:13
Create a digital shield around your school with Multi Factor Authentication
In a recent episode of the Cloud Design Box podcast, Martin Byford-Rew, Head of Digital Systems at King Edward VI Foundation, discusses the importance of multi-factor authentication (MFA) in schools and the strategies that institutions can u...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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19:06
Building a HR Hub for Education in SharePoint – A Podcast with Spencer Academies Trust
Looking to streamline HR processes, improve security, and centralise resources in your school or Multi-Academy Trust (MAT)? In this episode of the Cloud Design Box Podcast, Josh Gibbs, Educational Technology Lead at Spencer ...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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28:37
Microsoft Classwork: The secret to less stress for teachers
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, i...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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28:37
Boosting student confidence with Speaker Coach and Progress | Samantha Fisher, Microsoft Education
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-spe...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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15:36
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Streamline your school's digital strategy | Philippa Wraithmell EdRuption
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 De...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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27:12
Combatting poor reading literacy with Microsoft Reading Coach | Interview with Anoo Padte
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:
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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48:55
Navigating the Information Age: Emma Gray on Enhancing Education with Microsoft Search Coach
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 journa...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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29:02
Microsoft Learning Accelerators at The Cornerstone Multi-Academy Trust (TCAT)
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.
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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27:01
Using Microsoft 365 as an Independent School | Podcast for Education
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/
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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36:59
VR in Class Teams and SharePoint with Avantis Education | Podcast for Education
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...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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38:33
Formative Teaching | Podcast for Education
Darren meets Ryan for Formative.
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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22:38
The benefits of 1:1 devices in schools
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.ukThe benefits of 1:1 devic...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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35:15
Getting best value from Microsoft 365 for Education with Jonathan Bishop
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 buyin...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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36:17
Frequent EDU Links and other initiatives for Microsoft Educators with Marjolein Hoekstra
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 ...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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29:32
Moving to a single tenant for a MAT with Sacred Heart Catholic High School's e-learning coordinator
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.
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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46:36
Microsoft 365 user adoption tips from a large MAT with the IT Director at Bridge Academy Trust
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 bet...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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55:53
Assessments and Engagement with Microsoft 365 at Bradford Girls' Grammar School
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 wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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19:59
Extending SharePoint and Teams to Save Teacher Time with PolyMat - M365 Podcast S01 E17
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 (http...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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55:40
Blended learning in primary schools using Teams with Cornerstone MAT (M365 Podcast Episode 16)
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 learnin...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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57:16
Embracing Microsoft 365 at the Fallibroome Trust (Microsoft 365 User Adoption Podcast Episode 15)
Check out our website for the services and products we offer for Microsoft 365, Teams and SharePoint at
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:01:07
Microsoft 365 User Adoption Podcast Episode 14 - Microsoft Teams with Wilberforce College
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 o...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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30:48
Microsoft 365 User Adoption Episode 13: How To Achieve More With Breakout Rooms In Microsoft Teams
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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29:56
Office 365 User Adoption Episode 12: Saving Teacher Time with Class Notebook
Microsoft 365 User Adoption Episode 12: Saving Teacher Time With Class NotebookOur Office 365 User Adoption Podcast highlights real-life stories from schools, academies and Multi Academy Trusts on how they’ve successfully rolled out Mi...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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17:02