# UK Government to Introduce AI Tutors for Disadvantaged Students

> The UK Government plans to offer AI tutors to disadvantaged pupils, aiming to level the playing field with those receiving private tuition. By 2027, up to 450,000 GCSE students could access one-to-one online support, pa…

Published: 2026-01-28 · Desk: Latest · Source: The Telegraph

The Government has announced plans to offer AI tutors to the poorest pupils to “level the playing field” with children who can afford private tuition. By the end of 2027, the online tools are expected to provide one-to-one tutoring for up to 450,000 state school students studying for their GCSEs. Targeting those eligible for free school meals, the initiative could see children using chatbots to improve their skills in subjects such as maths and foreign languages. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the programme would ensure tailored support is no longer limited to the “lucky few” who can afford expensive private tuition.

The Department for Education (DfE), in collaboration with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, has not yet revealed the programme’s cost or detailed how it will operate, though funding is expected to come from the two departments. Critics have raised concerns that ministers may be using AI to reduce spending on human tutors, with unions warning that “AI alone is unlikely to ever be an easy shortcut” to improving standards. Ms Phillipson argued that AI tutoring tools could transform access to personalised support, taking tutoring from a privilege reserved for the wealthy to something available to every child who needs it.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall added that the scheme aims to give “every child an equal shot at success,” particularly as disadvantaged pupils often lag behind their wealthier peers. Ministers have highlighted that white working-class students were among the lowest performers in England, with fewer than a fifth achieving a strong pass in maths and English GCSEs in 2024. Ms Kendall said the Government would work with teachers and tech experts to develop safe, effective AI tutoring tools for schools by 2027, providing support for children who could not otherwise afford it. She emphasised that AI tutors would not replace face-to-face teaching but would help level the playing field for hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged children.

However, unions have cautioned against overreliance on technology. Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at the school leaders’ union NAHT, said that closing the disadvantage gap requires more investment in staff and resources, not just AI. Teachers and tech experts will be consulted on the programme, with trials set to begin in secondary schools later this year. Research from the Sutton Trust in 2023 found that around 30% of state school pupils received private tuition, rising to nearly 50% in London, highlighting the inequalities the scheme seeks to address.

The DfE cited evidence from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) suggesting that online tutoring is more cost-effective than in-person provision. The National Tutoring Programme, previously aimed at helping disadvantaged students recover from pandemic-related learning loss, was scrapped in 2024 and had cost around £167–£180 per pupil annually. The AI tutoring initiative has also raised concerns about screen time, especially after Ms Phillipson urged schools to ban mobile phones in classrooms, even for basic tasks such as calculations. She noted at the Bett UK technology conference that while mobile phones have no place in schools, AI learning tools are different. The Government is currently consulting on a possible social media ban for under-16s, amid calls for stricter regulation.

Original reporting: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/26/poorest-pupils-to-be-given-ai-tutors/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPmybxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFYZmEyM0ozcnBIeExsMmw0c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHoME_vVfES5-FhxvTNdRve8-VUc5iqcU9duMmrkdEAJczt4eySL7unVwJZ6E_aem_wjsxos-rPqd85iDiqgH6GA
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