Leading the Shift: Innovation, AI, and Human-Centred Leadership in Education. A Discussion with Chris Loveday.
By Dr Jamie Smith and Mark Trewin
In the fast-moving world of education and technology, few leaders manage to blend vision, ethics, and execution quite like Chris Loveday, Vice Principal for Business Services at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College. We recently had the privilege of sitting down with Chris to explore leadership in the age of artificial intelligence, and the conversation left us inspired, and deeply reflective.
A New Model of Leadership
Chris isn’t your typical public sector leader. Commercially astute, relentlessly values-driven, and fiercely committed to his team and students, he embodies a new kind of leadership that education desperately needs.
Chris shared. “I learned that being a good manager doesn’t mean being indispensable, it means things run smoothly without you.”
That quote stuck with us. It encapsulates a leadership philosophy grounded not in control, but in trust, empowerment, and sustainable systems.
AI as a Tool, Not a Threat
When it comes to innovation, Barton Peveril is ahead of the curve. Under Chris’s leadership, the college has executed the largest rollout of Gemini AI in education worldwide. But this isn’t innovation for innovation’s sake.
“Every decision starts with our values and our strategic plan,” Chris explained. “The student experience is at the heart of everything we do.”
Chris was candid about the balance between excitement and caution: “The big wow moment was realizing how good large language models are. But that was also a big scary moment, understanding how significant their impact could be.”
He didn’t dive into AI because he was an expert, far from it. “I didn’t know anything about AI when it was handed to me,” Chris told us. “But I immersed myself. I didn’t want to do it badly.”
That humility, paired with an unrelenting drive for excellence, is one of the reasons Barton Peveril’s AI transformation has been so effective, and so ethical.
Culture First, Always
At Barton Peveril, culture isn’t a poster on the wall. It’s a living, breathing ethos that drives decisions, from partnerships to pedagogy.
“When we look at partnerships, we’re not just buying technology, we’re investing in values. If your ethics don’t align with ours, we walk away. No matter the offer.”
This wasn’t a throwaway line. Chris gave examples of turning down partnerships with companies whose environmental or tax practices didn’t align with Barton’s sustainability and ethical standards. That’s rare, and incredibly powerful.
Equity in Action
One of the most striking elements of our conversation was Chris’s passion for digital equity. He’s not just talking about it. He’s doing something about it.
“We’ve secured devices and connectivity worth over £200,000 through partnerships, ensuring students aren’t left behind,” he said. “But equity isn’t just devices. It’s literacy, skills, and access to tools like LLMs, and making sure students know how to use them safely.”
Chris shared “The digital divide isn’t just about devices. It’s about digital literacy, access, and opportunity. We’ve built our strategy on four pillars: devices, connectivity, digital skills, and safe access to large language models. The biggest divide in education isn’t paper vs. digital, it’s access vs. none. And the gap is growing”.
Lessons for the Sector
Chris’s leadership offers a roadmap for education leaders grappling with change:
- Lead with values.
- Use data, but don’t forget people.
- Prioritise culture and equity.
- Take bold steps, but bring everyone with you.
Watch our discussion on Leadership, AI, and Innovation with Chris Loveday, Vice Principal at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College (a leader in AI education and the UK’s first Google Gemini AI Academy). Chris shares practical insights on AI’s impact on school leadership, fostering innovation, and preparing students for a tech-driven future. Essential for educators and leaders interested in the evolution of learning
As we reflected on this conversation, one thing was clear: Barton Peveril isn’t just transforming itself. It’s showing what’s possible when leadership is human, bold, and unshakably principled.
We’re excited to see what Chris and his team do next.
For a friendly conversation about AI, leadership and transformation, connect with the C-Learning team.
Chris’s book ‘Leading the Shift: AI and the Future of Operational Excellence’ is scheduled for publication in the Summer of 2025.
