Dame Alison Peacock’s keynote, “Professionalism and Positivity,” discusses ways in which we can further build the status of teaching and delves into the challenges educators face following the global pandemic crisis. Addressing the unprecedented closures of schools and the immense impact on pupils and teachers, Dame Alison explores the resilience of the teaching profession. With a focus on building the status of teaching, she illustrates her talk with heartwarming stories of practice, emphasising the profession’s response to adversity. Despite pre-existing challenges like workload stress and resource constraints, teachers have exhibited calm, professionalism, and positivity. The keynote reflects on the inspiring responses within school communities, showcasing how educators have risen to the challenge and embraced collective endeavours in the face of uncertainty.