The Department for Education has unveiled ambitious plans to integrate artificial intelligence tutoring systems into schools across the United Kingdom by the conclusion of 2027. This significant educational initiative represents a major technological advancement in classroom support, with the government aiming to leverage AI to address persistent achievement gaps among pupils.
Collaborative Development and Testing Timeline
According to official confirmation from the DfE, a collaborative development process will commence this summer, bringing together classroom teachers, artificial intelligence laboratories, and leading technology companies. This tripartite partnership will focus on co-creating and rigorously testing AI tuition tools before their wider implementation.
Initial trials in secondary school environments are scheduled to begin later this year, allowing educators and developers to refine the technology based on practical classroom feedback. The government is currently running a formal tender process to select industry partners who will work alongside teaching professionals to build these educational tools.
Targeting Educational Disadvantage
The Department projects that these AI systems could eventually provide individualised, one-to-one tutoring support for approximately 450,000 disadvantaged children in years 9 through 11. This targeted approach aims specifically at narrowing the educational attainment gap that persists between pupils from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised the transformative potential of this technology, stating: "AI tutoring tools have the capability to revolutionise access to tailored academic support for young people. We are moving tutoring from being a privilege available only to fortunate few, toward making it accessible to every child who requires assistance—ensuring all children can achieve their potential and thrive academically."
Emphasis on Teacher Involvement and Safety
Union leaders have responded cautiously to the announcement, welcoming the involvement of teaching professionals in the development process while expressing important reservations. Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the NAHT school leaders' union, praised the collaborative approach but stressed fundamental limitations.
"Artificial intelligence alone is unlikely to ever provide an easy solution when addressing the concerning disadvantage gap we observe in schools," Hannafin commented. "Closing this gap will require substantially more funding and investment in teaching staff and educational resources if schools are to offer the dedicated personal support that we know creates meaningful differences in pupil outcomes."
She particularly emphasised that AI tools "should never replace face-to-face interaction" between teachers and students, highlighting the irreplaceable value of human connection in educational settings.
Safety and Integration Concerns
Secretary Phillipson addressed safety concerns directly, asserting: "AI tools are only beneficial in educational contexts if they are completely safe and genuinely support the learning process—this is absolutely non-negotiable. We will ensure tutoring tools are designed in collaboration with teachers and undergo rigorous testing, so they enhance pupils' learning while maintaining online safety, never substituting the human connection that only exceptional teachers can provide."
This announcement follows recent government consultations regarding children's wellbeing in digital environments, which came after backbench parliamentarians advocated for Australia-style social media restrictions for users under sixteen years old.
Broader Educational Technology Initiatives
In related developments, the Education Secretary reportedly communicated with headteachers this week, reinforcing that schools should maintain phone-free environments throughout the entire school day, with mobile devices not permitted even as calculators or research tools.
Speaking at the Bett UK conference recently, Phillipson distinguished between different technologies: "We all recognise that mobile phones have no legitimate place within our educational institutions, but AI learning tools represent an entirely different category of educational resource."
Concurrently, the government is investing £23 million to expand school testing of educational technology tools through a programme scheduled to commence in September, indicating a broader commitment to technological integration in classrooms alongside the specific AI tutoring initiative.
