STORY
In a keynote address at the Education World Forum 2025, Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson spotlighted the Department for Education’s Open Innovation Team (OIT) and unveiled fresh investments to trial cutting-edge educational technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, across England’s schools. Phillipson told delegates that harnessing robust evidence must underpin every step of EdTech adoption. “Working with the Open Innovation Team, we’ll be engaging the sector to understand what works. We’ll look at how tools, including AI, can improve things like staff workload, pupil outcomes and inclusivity. Evidence must be at the heart of all we do, on EdTech and right across education” she said.
The Secretary of State announced a new funding package, to be administered by the OIT, which will support schools, colleges and technology partners in piloting AI-driven platforms for lesson planning, marking automation and personalised learning. Early trials are set to focus on easing teacher administrative burdens and tailoring support for pupils with additional needs. Since its launch, the OIT has built collaborative partnerships with universities, start-ups and multi-academy trusts to evaluate a range of digital innovations. This latest commitment aims to scale successful pilots into mainstream practice, ensuring that promising tools proven to boost attainment and engagement can be deployed more widely.