Department floats potential £1.8m contract following commitment to explore the use of artificial intelligence to help up to 450,000 pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds get tailored support to improve their grades
The Department for Education is seeking a partner to help develop artificial intelligence-powered tutoring tools to give targeted support to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
It is currently conducting an engagement exercise with potential suppliers for the project and expects to let a near three-year contract worth around £1.8m by May this year.
Last month, education secretary Bridget Phillipson said AI tutoring tools have the potential to “transform access to tailored support” for young people. DfE said that up to 450,000 children from disadvantaged backgrounds could benefit from such one-to-one support.
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Phillipson said AI tutoring tools could “level the playing field” for families who cannot afford private assistance. But she said the technology would only be helpful if the AI tools are safe and support learning.
DfE said last month that “teacher-led co-creation of AI tutoring tools with industry” would commence from this summer, with the expectation that the tools would be available to schools by the end of 2027.
In its procurement notice, the department says that as part of an ongoing engagement exercise, which runs until 25 February, it is keen to understand key development challenges, such as obstacles suppliers face in creating safe, effective, curriculum‑aligned tools, particularly those designed to support disadvantaged pupils.
It also wants suggestions on how government and industry can work together on specific shared challenges. They include: safety and safeguarding; evidence-generation and evaluation; data integration and interoperability with school systems; and approaches to scaling solutions nationally.
The department says it currently expects to let a two-year-and-11-months contract in May, with the potential for a one-year extension that would run until spring 2029.
Last month’s announcement said trials of the AI tutoring tools would begin later this year with children in secondary schools across the country “drawing on first-hand experience from teachers”.
It said teachers and school staff would be supported with clear, practical training developed with the education sector, so they have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to use AI safely and effectively.
DfE said the figure of 450,000 pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds who could get support is based on the number of young people in years nine to 11 who receive free school meals.
