AI and EdTech face scrutiny in UK education
Policymakers aim to separate hype from reality while balancing EdTech innovation with protections for learners and educators.
The Education Select Committee has launched a UK parliamentary inquiry into AI and education technology to assess how rapidly evolving tools are reshaping learning from the early years to higher education.
The review will weigh opportunities to improve teaching efficiency and personalise learning against concerns over widening inequality, safeguarding risks, and children’s digital rights. Bridget Phillipson has described AI as potentially transformative, while emphasising the importance of responsible adoption.
Evidence will examine how educators use AI in their daily practice, whether sufficient guidance exists, and how technology could alter traditional assessment models. Broader work will also cover screen time and online safety, including the government’s consultation on banning social media for under-16s.
The Committee intends to separate fact from fiction, exploring how AI and EdTech affect students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and oracy. Chair Helen Hayes stressed the importance of values-based decisions to help every child thrive in a digital learning environment.
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