The UK government has announced plans to bring safe, AI-powered one-to-one tutoring to as many as 450,000 disadvantaged pupils, aiming to close a persistent attainment gap in English and maths.
Currently, just one in four disadvantaged children pass English and maths at GCSE grade 5 or above, compared with more than half of their peers. Research cited by the Department for Education shows that one-to-one tutoring can accelerate a student's learning by roughly five months, but has historically been out of reach for many families.
The tools are being co-created with teachers and technology companies through an expanded £23 million EdTech Testbeds pilot reaching more than 1,000 schools and colleges, with trials beginning later in 2026 and rollout to schools expected by the end of 2027.
"Our mission is to break the link between background and destiny, and we're working hand-in-hand with teachers to make that a reality," said Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. "AI tutoring tools have the potential to transform access to tailored support for young people, taking tutoring from a privilege of the lucky few, to every child who needs it."
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added: "Every child should have an equal shot at success, no matter their background... this will help level the playing field for hundreds of thousands of children from disadvantaged backgrounds." Officials stressed the tools are designed to complement teachers, not replace them.
