Minimum viable inclusion stack: SEND tech update
April 14, 2025
This term-ready update brings together what’s genuinely new (and useful) in built-in accessibility across Google, Microsoft, Apple and Chromebooks, then adds a practical layer: a “minimum viable inclusion stack” you can standardise across classrooms. You’ll also find ten low-effort AI micro-routines that scaffold learning without replacing it, plus guidance on making assistive tech and AI work together rather than clash. Finally, there’s a SEND-specific procurement and safeguarding checklist, and a simple two-week pilot plan with staff briefing points and a one-page parent/carer note.
Exam-board-aware AI revision for GCSE & A-Level
March 10, 2025
Exam success is rarely about doing “more revision”; it’s about doing the right revision for the paper you will actually sit. This article sets out an exam-board-aware AI workflow for GCSE and A-Level that turns specifications, command words, mark schemes and examiner reports into a misconception-led plan. You’ll see how to build retrieval practice that matches marking criteria, then organise it into spaced repetition that prioritises weak areas and high-yield errors. It also includes clear integrity rules for students and staff, plus a simple teacher set-up and monitoring routine.
Student Perspectives on AI in Class
February 27, 2025
“Student voice on AI” should do more than collect opinions. Done well, it protects trust, surfaces equity issues, and produces practical classroom norms students understand and will follow. This post sets out a 2–3 week “student AI listening cycle” using a safe survey, small focus groups, and quick classroom trials. The goal is a one-page, student-authored AI classroom agreement plus a short set of policy-ready insights on assessment, privacy, trust, and access— without turning decision-making into a popularity contest.
AI for Student Wellbeing Conversations
January 17, 2025
AI can help staff notice wellbeing patterns earlier and hold more focused, compassionate conversations with students – but only when used with clear safeguarding boundaries. This practical playbook shows how to position AI as a structured prompt and reflection partner, never as a counsellor or decision-maker. You will find age-appropriate check-in scripts, escalation rules and weekly routines that keep humans firmly in charge. We also unpack data protection, consent and communication with families so your approach is transparent, ethical and sustainable.
Mock Exam Support with AI
January 15, 2025
Mock exams are the safest time to learn how to use AI as a powerful revision coach. Used well, AI can help you turn messy class notes and long syllabuses into clear topic lists, practice questions and model answers – all tailored to your course. This guide walks you through exactly how to do that without cheating, breaking exam rules or letting the technology think for you. You will learn step-by-step ways to use AI for feedback, error analysis and active recall, plus a simple checklist schools can share with students before mock season.
Festive AI Activities Playbook
December 5, 2024
December can easily become a blur of tired lessons, last-minute cover and sugar-fuelled chaos. This festive AI playbook offers low-prep, holiday-themed projects that blend on-screen creativity with off-screen making, service and reflection. Organised by age band, it gives concrete ideas that build AI literacy and community spirit without adding piles of marking or endless screen time. With planning guardrails, equity-minded variants and quick-start checklists, it is designed to slot straight into your December timetable or act as an engaging homework alternative.
Revision Techniques Powered by AI
November 19, 2024
AI can supercharge revision – but only when it rests on solid cognitive science rather than endless practice questions. This article shows how to “bolt” AI onto proven techniques like spaced repetition, retrieval practice, interleaving and exam-style questions, without diluting desirable difficulty. You will find parallel workflows for teachers and students, with concrete subject examples and ready-to-use routines. We also explore how to avoid over-reliance, cheating and cognitive offloading, so learners stay in charge of their thinking. A practical, research-informed playbook for exam preparation in any subject or school system.
ChatGPT Voice as a Speaking Partner
October 28, 2024
Many learners lack regular, low‑pressure opportunities to speak their target language. ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode can act as an always‑available conversation partner, offering realistic dialogue, patient repetition and personalised prompts. This playbook shows language teachers how to design safe, structured routines that build fluency, pronunciation and confidence without replacing real human interaction. You will find concrete examples you can assign as homework or independent practice, plus practical guidance on safeguarding, privacy and avoiding over‑reliance on AI support.
Half-Term AI Challenge Ideas
October 18, 2024
This playbook shares simple, self-directed AI mini challenges that pupils can explore over October half-term with almost no teacher prep. Using free tools and clear guardrails, families can choose from creative, curiosity-driven projects that balance on-screen and off-screen time. From primary to upper secondary, each age band has ideas that build confidence, digital literacy and independent learning. Schools simply share a one-page “AI challenge menu” so pupils can pick and mix tasks that suit their interests and access to devices. Perfect for keeping curiosity alive without turning half-term into homework.
Google NotebookLM for Students
October 3, 2024
Google NotebookLM is an AI-powered notebook that lets you turn scattered notes, PDFs and lecture slides into structured study companions. This practical guide walks secondary and university students through concrete workflows for readings, revision and exam prep, while drawing clear lines on what counts as cheating. You will learn how to organise sources, generate practice questions, and use AI explanations safely. We also cover privacy, consent, and how to align your use of NotebookLM with school or university AI policies.
AI for EAL/ESL: Beyond Translation
October 1, 2024
Many multilingual learners sit in mainstream classrooms understanding far less than they could, even with translation tools open on their phones. This article shows subject teachers how to use AI as a live scaffold during regular lessons, going beyond simple translation to support vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension. You will find practical prompts, classroom routines and low-prep workflows you can adapt across subjects and age groups, plus guidance on safeguarding and equity. The focus is always clear: AI supports the learner, it does not replace teaching.
SearchGPT vs Google for student research
August 5, 2024
OpenAI’s new SearchGPT promises faster, more focused answers than traditional web search – but what does that mean for school research? This practical guide walks students through a full research workflow, from first background scan to final bibliography, showing when to use SearchGPT and when Google (or other search engines) still works best. With concrete example queries, ethical guardrails, and citation workflows, it is designed as a student‑friendly playbook that teachers can share or adapt. The focus is on safe, critical and policy‑aligned use of AI.
When AI Helps vs When It Harms Learning
August 2, 2024
As AI tools become part of everyday school life, the real challenge is no longer “AI: yes or no?” but “AI: when and how?”. This article offers a developmental, research-based framework to help schools decide when AI should act as a scaffold and when it risks becoming a shortcut. With concrete, age-banded classroom rules from early primary to post-16, it focuses on protecting productive struggle, metacognition and deep work, while still harnessing AI’s potential to personalise, explain and extend learning.
Summer Learning Loss and AI Tutors
July 17, 2024
Summer learning loss remains stubbornly persistent, particularly in maths and reading, and many schools simply cannot run full-scale holiday programmes. This research-grounded guide explores how AI-powered tutoring can offer targeted, low-prep support over the break, even with limited staff time. Drawing on evidence from high-impact tutoring, it outlines practical models such as take-home AI tutors, short online clinics, and family-supported use. You will find concrete subject examples, clear guardrails for equitable and balanced use, and advice on working with families. The aim is to help you design a realistic, sustainable summer strategy that genuinely lightens your load.
AI for SEND: Beyond Personalisation
July 15, 2024
AI tools are often promoted as “personalisation engines”, but that is not enough for learners with dyslexia, autism and ADHD. This practical playbook shows teachers and SENDCos how to turn Automated Education’s tools into concrete, repeatable support plans. You will find sample pupil profiles, step‑by‑step prompt examples and ready‑to‑copy classroom workflows for reading, writing, behaviour and assessment access. The focus is on neurodiversity‑affirming practice, safeguarding and realistic classroom routines, so you can quietly embed support for SEND pupils in everyday teaching rather than bolt‑on interventions.