BETT 2026 Review

What It Really Meant for MIS Leaders

BETT 2026 once again confirmed its status as the UK’s flagship EdTech event, bringing together tens of thousands of educators, school leaders, trust executives and technology providers at ExCeL London in January.

While much of the external noise focused on AI, immersive learning and classroom innovation, for those working in and around Management Information Systems, the real story of BETT 26 was more subtle – and arguably more important.

This year’s show marked a clear shift away from standalone systems and feature-driven demonstrations, towards a more mature conversation about digital ecosystems, data strategy and operational integration.

MIS Wasn’t the Loudest Voice – But It Was Everywhere

MIS providers did not dominate the main exhibition halls in the way that some hardware or AI platforms did, but their influence was visible across the entire show.

MIS providers such as Arbor, Bromcom, Compass, Classter, IRIS, iSAMS (IRIS), Juniper, ParentPay (SIMS), Satchel & VenturEd used BETT as an opportunity to showcase broader platforms rather than just core MIS functionality. The emphasis was firmly on:

• Trust-wide data management
• Integrated finance and HR
• Parent and student portals
• Centralised reporting and analytics

Rather than competing on individual features, providers were positioning themselves as foundational infrastructure for the wider digital school environment.

AI and Data: The Uncomfortable Truth

AI was, unsurprisingly, one of the dominant narratives at BETT 26. From adaptive learning platforms to automated marking and personalised content, almost every major exhibitor had an AI story to tell.

But behind the hype sat a more uncomfortable – and more relevant – truth for MIS leaders:

AI is only as good as the data that feeds it.

Numerous panels touched on:

• Data quality and consistency
• Ethical use of pupil data
• Governance, access and accountability
• The risks of poor or fragmented datasets

For many schools, this reinforced a growing realisation: before investing in AI tools, they must first ensure their MIS data is accurate, clean, structured and accessible.

In that sense, MIS is not being disrupted by AI – it is being made more important than ever.

VenturEd probably had the most colourful stand

Less Product Hype, More Strategic Thinking

Another notable shift at BETT 26 was the tone of professional content. Compared to earlier years, there was less focus on product launches and more emphasis on:

• Digital leadership
• Whole-school strategy
• Inclusion and SEND
• Staff workload and wellbeing
• Evidence-based decision making

For MIS professionals, this aligns with what we increasingly see on the ground: MIS decisions are now board-level and trust-level conversations, not just technical or admin-led choices.

The system you choose has implications for:

• Governance and compliance
• Financial oversight
• Staff productivity
• Parental engagement
• Data transparency across the organisation

MIS is no longer “back office”. It is core operational infrastructure.

Procurement Conversations Are Very Much Alive

One thing that has not changed is BETT’s role as a serious procurement and networking environment.

Across the three days, WhichMIS? had numerous conversations with:

• School business leaders
• MAT CEO’s, CFO’s & COO’s
• Trust executives
• IT directors
• Data and digital leads

Many were actively reviewing their current MIS, exploring alternatives, or planning for upcoming renewals. Cost pressures, contract inflexibility and the need for better integration were recurring themes.

What stood out most was how informed the conversations have become. Schools and trusts are no longer just asking what a system does, but:

• How easy is migration?
• What does the roadmap look like?
• How open is the platform?
• What is the total cost of ownership?
• How well does it support MAT structures?

BETT remains one of the few environments where these strategic discussions can happen face to face.

So, What Did BETT 26 Really Tell Us About MIS?

If BETT 26 proved anything, it is that MIS is evolving – not disappearing.

The key messages for schools, MATs and local authorities were clear:

MIS is now part of an ecosystem, not a standalone system.
Success depends on integration, APIs, Analytics and data flows.

Data quality matters more than ever.
AI, analytics and automation are only as good as the underlying data.

Final Thought

MIS may not grab the headlines at BETT in the same way as AI tools and robots or immersive classrooms, but quietly – and increasingly – it remains one of the most critical technologies in the education sector.