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Intro / Episode overview

Microsoft Copilot is getting a lot of attention in education. What’s often missing is a clear view of what needs to be in place before you switch it on.

In this episode of EdTechStuff, I’m joined by Austen Puleston, Head of IT at Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust. We talk through how BDMAT prepared for Copilot in Microsoft 365, what they checked first, and how they reduced risk while still moving forward. This is about readiness, governance, and real decisions, not ideal-world setups.

What you’ll get from this episode

• A clear picture of what Copilot readiness actually involves

• How to run a low-risk pilot without stalling progress

• Practical ways to reduce data exposure before licensing users

• Why leadership buy-in matters more than tooling

• Early benefits schools are already seeing from Copilot

Key discussion points

• BDMAT’s context as a 19-school trust

• Why Copilot was introduced through a phased pilot

• Selecting a trusted pilot group and limiting blast radius

• The importance of data structure and tenant consistency

• Auditing sharing settings and user access before rollout

• Addressing oversharing through process and training

• Open conversations about risk and incident response

• Training staff to use Copilot well, not just safely

Practical takeaways

If you only do one thing after listening:
Audit who can see what in your tenant before assigning any Copilot licences.

Other actions worth considering:

• Start with a small, trusted pilot group

• Review default sharing settings at tenant level

• Assess user access and shared content individually

• Be open with leaders about risk and limitations

• Agree how you’ll respond if something goes wrong

• Treat Copilot as a change programme, not a feature

Who this episode is for

• Heads of IT and IT Directors in schools and MATs

• Network Managers responsible for Microsoft 365

• Trust leaders considering Copilot licensing

• Anyone worried about data exposure and AI risk

• Schools at the start of their Copilot journey

About the guest

Austen Puleston is Head of IT at Birmingham Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust. He leads digital strategy and infrastructure across the trust and has been closely involved in preparing their Microsoft 365 environment for Copilot. His work focuses on governance, readiness, and making sure technology delivers real value without increasing risk.

Related episodes

• Episode 3: One-to-one devices at PKAT and the iLearn 2.0 project

• Episode 2: Migrating to the cloud in education

• Episode 1: Cyber security in real schools

Have a question or want to suggest a topic?

If you’re exploring Microsoft Copilot and want to compare notes, get in touch.
Future episodes of EdTechStuff are shaped by real questions from schools, not product roadmaps.