In reply to Szymon.

I was going to suggest looking at the EuroPython site’s Financial Aid page but it seems that the deadline was the end of last month. :-(

In reply to Ben Nuttall.

“You’re talking about teachers in the UK and we’re hoping to reach out to teachers and educators from all around Europe, who perhaps can make it fairly cheaply, perhaps travel just for the day, or a couple of days”

This makes no sense. Apart from France, the UK is maybe the nearest EU country to Spain/Bilbao. Poland is about two times as far for example. So again, I think you are stuck in a “head place” where it is all easy and everyone “just travels for one day faily cheaply”. Please sponsor some UK and EU teachers – it will not be much cost compared to what you are paying for the conference and for the expenses of your team.

There’s now a big sponsored initiative funding teachers to go to PyConUK, which has had an Education Track for a number of years – and the confidence the sponsors have in it comes from the previous years where teachers have attended. Maybe next year’s EuroPython will find a sponsor to get more teachers there, if this year goes well. This is our starting point and we’d be stupid not to make an effort to promote it.

You’re talking about teachers in the UK and we’re hoping to reach out to teachers and educators from all around Europe, who perhaps can make it fairly cheaply, perhaps travel just for the day, or a couple of days.

Yes, it’s a technical conference, and we’re not throwing teachers into the technical talks – they may just want to attend the Edu Summit day, and maybe the sprints too.

This is not the only initiative we do for teachers – we run Picademy, our free professional development course, all around the country, to name just one.

Most teachers have problems going to the BETT Show when the only cost is a train ticket and a day’s cover. My boss laughed at me when I told him. The cost for travel, accommodation and ticket would be several hundred euros, plus cover for the last three days of term.

It would be nice to come, but my school won’t pay for it or let me go, and I can’t afford it or justify it because it is a specialist conference. I’m sure Bilboa is lovely in July and I’m sure it will be a great conference. But do not treat it like it is no big deal to go, it is actually very privileged. In fact I think you should sponsor some teachers to go.

Yeah, I’d love to go as well but I just can’t afford it. :(

*huge sigh of relief* – that’s what I thought, but…

No – it’s not a job, it’s a role on a committee.

Congratulations! Buttttt… does that mean you’ll be leaving the RPiF? :(