Strategy Report

Digital Learning & Innovation

Patrick Phillips

October 2025

Tanglin Trust School · Singapore Leadership Panel Briefing

Tanglin leads in ethical, high-quality education. The next step is to become the global reference point for responsible, human-centred digital learning.

This strategy is values-led, evidence-based, and people-first. It aligns with Tanglin's mission to help every individual be their best, while ensuring technology simplifies learning and strengthens teaching.

"Technology should simplify learning, not complicate teaching."

This proposal delivers:

Coherent digital learning across all school phases.
People-first professional learning that saves time and grows confidence.
Ethical, transparent and age-appropriate AI with clear classroom routines.
The Institute@Tanglin as the engine for pilots, research and publication.
A 90-day plan with concrete deliverables and early wins.

12 Weeks Runway to Visible Wins

Interviews, baselines, two-phase pilots and reporting ready for term launch.

4 Cadences Leadership Rhythm

Technology Working Group, Academic Committee, Governors, and cross-phase leadership.

90-Day Plan Action Framework

Listen, pilot, scale — with metrics, artefacts, and communications pre-built.

Direct mapping from the job description to the actions, artefacts, and evidence that demonstrate impact.

Focus Area & Expectation

What I Will Deliver

Evidence & Measures

Strategic Leadership & Vision

Cross-phase, values-led plan aligned with Tanglin's mission; report to Director of Learning; advise governors.

Deliverables

Publish DL&I Framework v1.0; chair a monthly Technology Working Group; present termly Academic Committee papers.

Measures

Adoption baselines, change-log traceability, first-term report, and artefact library.

Curriculum & Pedagogy

Meaningful integration, progression EY–Sixth Form, and responsible AI woven into schemes.

Deliverables

Three signature routines per phase (e.g. Seesaw reflection, Teams + OneNote notebooks, AI prompts).

Measures

Routine uptake, quality of student work samples, teacher feedback, and assessment impact.

Staff Development & Capacity

Lead PD with Heads of Integrated Tech, model practice, and build staff confidence at every phase.

Deliverables

Co-teaching cycles, 30-minute clinics, Digital Champions network, Institute showcases, conference presence.

Measures

PD engagement rates, qualitative quotes, observations, and repeat attendance statistics.

AI & Data-Informed Practice

Ethical AI for personalisation, feedback, efficiency, with smart integration to iSAMS and analytics.

Deliverables

Three-tier AI literacy pathway, policy-to-practice map, and dashboard prototype.

Measures

Time saved, confidence shifts, academic integrity compliance, and feedback cycles.

Infrastructure & Policy

Robust, secure platforms with privacy, digital citizenship, and safeguarding assurances.

Deliverables

Unified Digital Experience roadmap (MS + Google), pilot checklist, and transparent approvals route.

Measures

Zero data loss, SSO usage, service reliability, and policy review cadence.

Clear structures and principles secure momentum, build trust, and ensure responsible digital learning.

Governance & Cadence

Technology Working Group

Pilots, service catalogue, and risk register oversight.

Monthly

Academic Committee

DL&I progress, dashboard insights, and next strategic bets.

Termly

Governors' Education Sub-Committee

Outcome reporting, risk posture, and reputation stewardship.

Twice Yearly

Leadership Teams

Cross-phase alignment, PD rhythm, and rapid decision loops.

Half-Termly

Vision & Values Alignment

Respect

Ethical, transparent AI and data use with clear academic integrity guidance.

Responsibility

Discernment, safe digital practice, bias awareness, and privacy routines.

Purpose

Learning-first decisions with pilot cycles tied to outcomes not tools.

Unified Digital Experience

Goal: Coherence without disruption — a unified experience where staff and pupils transition seamlessly across systems.

Listen & Map

Audit real workflows by phase and subject.

Simplify & Standardise

Simple patterns for storage, sharing, and collaboration.

Integrate & Amplify

SSO, predictable filing, shared dashboards.

Red Lines

No forced switches mid-unit; no document loss; no extra logins.

Responsible AI Principles

Transparency

Disclose AI use.

Fairness

Review for bias.

Accountability

Clear ownership.

Security

Vendor due diligence.

Beneficence

Aids learning/workload.

Wellbeing

Track time impact.

Operating Modes: AI off by default for assessment; permitted with disclosure for learning tasks; used for teacher drafting with checks.

Policy Cadence: Annual review with community consultation; one-page parent briefs per phase.

Safeguarding & Equity: Approved tools only; avoid blanket bans that disadvantage pupils.

Digital Strategy by Phase

Infant (3–7)

Digital play, Seesaw portfolios, screen balance. Levers: simple reflection, parent engagement.

Junior (7–11)

Coding, creative production, digital storytelling. Levers: safe collaboration, build on Seesaw.

Middle (11–14)

Autonomy and collaboration via Teams/OneNote. Levers: peer-to-peer learning, student leadership.

Upper (14–16)

AI literacy, project management, media production. Levers: "Digital Field Kits".

Sixth Form (16–18)

Ethical AI for research, data analytics, career readiness. Levers: capstones, mentors.

Staff Development & Capacity

Micro-learning Pods

On-demand bursts covering AI, feedback, workflow design.

Coaching & Clinics

In-class modelling, drop-ins, and collaborative planning.

Digital Champions

Every year team and department owns a visible innovation strand.

Institute Showcases

Rapid sharing of wins and classroom stories that inspire.

Inclusive by Design

Accessibility and neurodiversity baked into every routine.

Example Impact

At Queen's University Belfast, micro-PD delivered a 40% uplift in lecture capture adoption within a semester.

Action Framework — First 90 Days

1

Listen & Baseline

(Weeks 1–4) Stakeholder interviews, system mapping, audits.

2

Frame & Pilot

(Weeks 5–8) Two quick wins per phase, co-author Framework v1.0.

3

Report & Scale

(Weeks 9–12) Evaluate pilots, roadmap next term, train Champions.

Measuring What Matters — Year 1 KPIs

People

Targets: +15% staff confidence in AI feedback; 10-15% planning time saved.

Sources: Surveys, PD logs, time-trackers.

Pedagogy

Targets: ≥80% pupils add reflective evidence; improved feedback quality.

Sources: Seesaw/Teams/OneNote artefacts, sampling.

Performance

Targets: Four "Innovation Papers"; two external conference slots; one symposium.

Sources: Institute outputs, conference records.

Dashboard Tracks

Staff PD engagement, pupil indicators, pilot outcomes, feedback trends.

Service Catalogue · Simple Rules

Anchor each platform to the learning need so teams work with clarity, coherence, and zero duplication.

Preferred solutions chosen for reliability, adoption, and safeguarding.
Need & Context	Preferred Platform	Experience Guardrails
Class collaboration · Upper & Sixth Inquiry, feedback, assessment-ready.	Teams + OneNote Pen-enabled spaces, assignments, analytics.	Unit notebooks, rubric-linked feedback, archive to SharePoint weekly.
Class sharing · Junior & Infant Family partnership, visible learning.	Seesaw Celebrates progress with moderated feedback loops.	Pre-moderated posts, weekly highlights, parent briefing templates.
Docs · spreads · presentations Staff collaboration, student submissions.	Microsoft 365 Primary workspace. Google Workspace Co-authoring where legacy workflow demands.	Agree "home of record" per team; accessible templates and version control.
Storage & knowledge Policies, curriculum, resources.	OneDrive + SharePoint Predictable filing structures with SSO.	Lifecycle tagging, read/write governance, dashboards for usage.

Risks and Mitigations · Working Register

Tracked through the Technology Working Group with clear owners, review cadence, and evidence of impact.

Escalation pathways and mitigations reviewed each half-term.
Risk Signal	Mitigation & Controls	Owner / Safeguard
Tool hype without impact Adoption without evidence of learning gain.	Pilot rubric, clear exit criteria, retire low-value use cases each term.	DL&I Office · Academic Leads
Vendors enabling AI by default Shadow features breaching policy.	Vendor watchlist, rapid comms template, disable path within 24 hours.	Digital Safety · Procurement
Workload creep New workflows extending planning time.	Track net time saved; redesign or pause within one coaching cycle.	Phase Leads · HR
Equity gaps AI or access disadvantaging cohorts.	No-AI pathways, inclusive resources, assistive tech support.	Inclusion Team · Safeguarding
Data & privacy incidents Breaches or unclear consent.	Vendor due diligence, approved tool list, PDPA briefings every term.	IT Security · Data Protection Officer
Platform friction Unplanned shifts between systems.	Interoperability patterns, SSO enforcement, no mid-unit switches.	Enterprise Systems · Phase Leads

From Internal Excellence to Global Influence

Success is when other top schools study the Tanglin model for ethical AI and digital learning through:

Tanglin Innovation Papers Annual Symposium Conference Presence Alumni Mentors

Closing Reflection

Technology is the means, not the goal. At Tanglin, we will set the global standard for ethical, human-centred innovation — by making learning visible, growing staff confidence, and sharing what works through The Institute.

Digital Learning & Innovation

This proposal delivers:

Strategic Leadership & Vision

Curriculum & Pedagogy

Staff Development & Capacity

AI & Data-Informed Practice

Infrastructure & Policy

Governance & Cadence

Vision & Values Alignment

Respect

Responsibility

Purpose

Unified Digital Experience

Listen & Map

Simplify & Standardise

Integrate & Amplify

Red Lines

Responsible AI Principles

Transparency

Fairness

Accountability

Security

Beneficence

Wellbeing

Digital Strategy by Phase

Infant (3–7)

Junior (7–11)

Middle (11–14)

Upper (14–16)

Sixth Form (16–18)

Staff Development & Capacity

Example Impact

Action Framework — First 90 Days

Listen & Baseline

Frame & Pilot

Report & Scale

Measuring What Matters — Year 1 KPIs

People

Pedagogy

Performance

Dashboard Tracks

Service Catalogue · Simple Rules

Risks and Mitigations · Working Register

From Internal Excellence to Global Influence

Closing Reflection

Patrick Phillips Case Studies & Projects

Tanglin Trust School AI Principles

Leading Experts in AI in Education