A private school in London is testing a project where artificial intelligence prepares students for exams, partially replacing teachers. The initiative, launched six months ago at David Game College, is aimed at General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) students and is a first in the UK. The school’s vice-principal, John Dalton, said that artificial intelligence would transform education and that he wanted his school to be a pioneer in this field. The platform used tracks students’ progress and provides information on their learning habits. Currently, seven students are taking part in the project, each with a computer to access the programme.
Students are supported by “learning coaches,” who are teachers who specialize in AI management but don’t necessarily have a mastery of subject content. Their role is to guide students in using the technology and help them with soft skills, such as debating. John Dalton explained that AI could assess students’ knowledge more accurately than traditional teachers and better meet individual needs. It could also identify gaps in learning. The UK government supports the use of AI to help teachers plan lessons and mark exams.
However, UCL researcher Rose Luckin questions the ability of AI to effectively teach complex subjects such as maths and science. She also raised doubts about the value of social learning in the model. However, she acknowledged that the school’s project was innovative and hopes for an evaluation to measure its impact. Student Massa Aldalat shared her positive experience, although she expressed reservations about the need for a teacher for some subjects, such as English. However, she appreciates the effectiveness of the method.
The National Education Union supports teacher training in digital tools, but calls for investment to make the technology accessible to all schools. Finally, Rose Luckin highlighted that the high cost of David Game College (£27 per year) represents a challenge of unequal access to this technology.
