TL;DR

UK schools are trialling AI deepfake teachers and remote specialists to address teacher shortages and workload challenges. Great Schools Trust is testing AI-generated personalised feedback videos, whilst The Valley Leadership Academy uses remote maths teachers—prompting teacher strikes and union opposition.

Two Approaches to AI in Education

At Great Schools Trust in Liverpool, Warrington and Bolton, AI experiments are pushing boundaries. Teachers can use AI to mark assessments, with the system identifying learning gaps to inform lesson planning. The trust plans to trial deepfake videos of teachers delivering personalised feedback to each student—described by CEO Shane Ierston as using AI “as a leveller” for personalised tuition.

“What we’re not trying to do is replace teachers,” Ierston emphasises. “We’re trying to use technology and see how it can benefit society.”

The approach differs at The Valley Leadership Academy in Lancashire, where a remote maths teacher based 300 miles away in Devon now teaches top set pupils in Years 9, 10 and 11 via screen. The decision prompted teacher strikes, with maths teacher Emily Cooke questioning whether such relationships can be replicated over a screen.

Divided Opinions

Parent sentiment remains sceptical. Just 12% believe AI should be used in classrooms, according to charity Parentkind’s survey of over 5,000 parents. Yet teacher adoption is accelerating—58% of teachers reported using AI for work in October 2025, up from 31% a year earlier.

The National Education Union has stated it will “never tolerate the imposition of a virtual teacher,” whilst the Department for Education insists technology must “enhance—not replace—the deep thinking, creativity and critical engagement that underpin effective learning.”

Looking Forward

For UK businesses with school-age employees or education sector interests, these trials signal significant shifts ahead. The tension between addressing genuine teacher shortages and maintaining educational quality will likely intensify. Schools that successfully integrate AI whilst preserving human connection may offer models for other sectors grappling with similar workforce challenges.

Source: BBC News