Teachers, who are pioneering the use of AI technology to help close the attainment gap, have shared their early successes with education leaders from across the country.
The maths team at Bournville School, which is part of Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, has been using Skye, an AI‑powered tutoring platform, to deliver one‑to‑one online maths support for KS2 and GCSE students.
On Monday 23 February, the team leading the rollout was invited to present at the National Pupil Premium Conference 2026, hosted by We Are In Beta and E-ACT. The event brings together schools who are working passionately to improve outcomes for disadvantaged students.
Natalie Thompson, FMAT’s Academy Improvement Advisor for Maths and Numeracy, attended alongside Chrissy Roberts, Bournville’s Associate Assistant Principal for maths, to share positive early impact data from the programme.
She said: “It was a privilege to showcase the innovative work taking place at Bournville School and across FMAT, and equally valuable to learn from schools with similar ambitions. The conference reinforced the dynamic, committed efforts across the sector to ensure no child is left behind. This approach has real potential to narrow the attainment gap.
“We are excited to continue our partnership with Third Space Learning as we build on this momentum and further develop our approach to delivering high‑quality, equitable support for all learners.”
The government has set out plans to make teacher‑co‑designed AI tutoring tools available to schools by the end of 2027. This national rollout could support up to 450,000 disadvantaged pupils, marking a significant expansion in personalised learning support for children who currently have the least access to one‑to‑one tuition.
FMAT CEO, Simon Jones, said: “We are proud to be at the forefront of adopting this new education technology. As a trust with a significant proportion of disadvantaged students, our vision is that every child, regardless of background, receives a high‑quality education. Exploring innovative solutions and new technologies is a key part of how we improve classroom practice and strengthen the life chances of our students.”
