Doncaster festival fun helps teachers create bonds and a new approach

A fun festival held in Doncaster has helped teachers come together to create a new community to create a new approach to the classroon.

Education tech provider Learning by Questions (LbQ), in association with PGL, recently hosted a festival-style Year 6 Travel Guide Live event with a team of educational experts.

Taking place at PGL Dearne Valley in Doncaster, the event developed specifically for year 6 teachers involved practical workshops and honest conversations, to provide support and share impactful approaches for the classroom.

Headlining the event was renowned primary school teacher, speaker and writer, Sophie Bartlett, offering detailed SATs analysis and classroom resources. Joining her was a full list of KS2 specialists, offering advice and workshop sessions on a range of year 6 topics including:

Charlie Burley, wellbeing expert a.k.a. The Teachers’ Health Coach

Emily Weston, reading and writing enthusiast and transitions specialist

Anna Crowther-Riley, inclusivity advocate from The SEN Expert

Steph Rhodes, Maths lead and reading specialist

Maaria Khan, English lead and SLT member

Dr John Allan, Educational Psychologist and Head of Impact, PGL Beyond

In 2025 LbQ launched Sophie’s Travel Guide Through Year 6 – a free comprehensive handbook curated by the SATs and year 6 specialist along with a collection of trusted experts. The guide’s immediate success, with over 24,000 teachers downloading the handbook within two weeks, prompted the idea to bring the 2026 guide to life, as an in- person ‘festival-style’ event.

“Teachers of year 6 have so much to get to grips with these days that we thought it would be a fantastic idea to bring everybody together to offer support, share challenges and celebrate the brilliance of year 6,” said Heather Abela, Head of Marketing at LbQ.

“Year 6 teachers are true heroes, however even heroes need a helping hand every now and again.”

Teachers attended the one-day event on 12 September from across the UK, and had the opportunity to choose from a selection of workshops, activities and advice sessions, according to their needs and interests.

Alongside workshops and advisory sessions, attendees also enjoyed the opportunity to take part in adrenaline-filled activities such as rock climbing, archery and ziplining.