Pearson School Report 2025: UK Educators Voice Concerns Over AI Readiness
MWN-AI** Summary
The Pearson School Report 2025 highlights significant concerns among UK educators regarding students' preparedness for an AI-driven future. Based on feedback from over 14,000 educators, the report reveals that 44% of secondary teachers and 31% of primary teachers believe students lack adequate training to navigate the impact of artificial intelligence. Despite recognizing the benefits of AI in education, many teachers feel unprepared to guide students in its effective use, with 23% lacking confidence using AI technologies and only 9% feeling equipped to teach AI concepts.
As educators embrace AI's role in education, 57% believe it will become increasingly integral, with 39% having used AI tools within the last two weeks. However, a significant demand for further training exists, with 59% of college tutors advocating for enhanced AI training for teachers. The report emphasizes the need for comprehensive training programs to bolster digital literacy among both teachers and students, reflecting calls for immediate investment in resources that enhance educators' skills and abilities to teach critical thinking in the digital age.
Recommendations in the report resonate with findings from the Curriculum and Assessment Review, underscoring the essential role of understanding AI and its ethical implications in students' education. Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications, stresses that teachers are pivotal in their students' learning experiences and that the educational sector must act swiftly to equip them with the necessary tools and training.
As the shift towards AI in education accelerates, reports from educators underline a critical skills gap, calling for a collaborative response to ensure that young people are empowered and prepared for the evolving workforce. Pearson has initiated training programs to strengthen AI literacy, including certifications and courses aimed at fostering a better understanding of AI technology among learners and educators alike.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The Pearson School Report 2025 reveals significant concerns among educators regarding the UK's readiness for an AI-driven educational landscape. With 44% of secondary teachers expressing doubts about whether students are adequately prepared, it is clear there is an urgent need for investment in AI training for educators. While 57% of teachers recognize AI's growing role in the classroom, over 23% lack confidence in utilizing AI tools, highlighting a major skills gap that could hinder effective teaching and learning.
Pearson's initiatives, such as the Generative AI Foundations Certification and the BTEC Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals course, demonstrate a proactive response to these challenges. Companies in the education technology sector should heed this call for better training resources and consider partnerships with educational institutions to facilitate necessary curriculum enhancements.
Investors seeking opportunities in the EdTech space should focus on companies that are developing robust training programs and AI literacy courses for teachers. As the demand for digital skills grows, providers who can deliver innovative solutions will likely see increased engagement from educators keen on integrating AI into their teaching methodologies.
Moreover, as educators express a need for improved infrastructure and support, companies providing scalable, user-friendly AI tools could capitalize on this market shift. Businesses that improve teachers' confidence in deploying AI while aligning with the educational framework could fortify their market position significantly.
In conclusion, the current landscape provides fertile ground for investment in EdTech firms focused on AI training and tools. With discernible gaps in skills and training evident throughout the sector, educators and students alike are calling for immediate action, paving the way for a new wave of educational innovation. Now is the time to invest wisely in future-ready educational solutions.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
LONDON, Dec. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Research from Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), the world's lifelong learning company, reveals growing concern among educators about how well young people across the UK are being prepared for an AI-driven future.
The data from the Pearson School Report 2025, which brings together more than 14,000 voices from across the UK's education landscape, shows that 44% of secondary teachers and 31% of primary teachers believe students are not adequately equipped for the impact of artificial intelligence.
While educators recognise AI's potential benefits in the classroom, many feel underprepared to guide students in its effective and responsible use. Almost a quarter (23%) of teachers say they are not confident using AI, and only 9% feel confident teaching it. In response, 42% say AI should be included in teacher training; a clear call for ensuring teachers have the training and support they need today.
Demand for more training to prepare for an AI-driven world
As the use of AI accelerates rapidly, many schoolteachers and students are already embracing the technology and recognise the role it will play in the future of education:
- 57% of teachers believe that AI will play a bigger role in education in the future.
- 39% of teachers have used AI tools in the last fortnight.
- 44% of teachers say AI helps save time, particularly in planning lessons and admin.
However, there is demand from both college tutors and schoolteachers for more training on AI:
- 59% of college tutors believe that teachers/tutors need more AI training.
- 42% of schoolteachers specify that AI should be included in teacher training.
- 43% of teachers identify AI training for staff in their schools as essential to improving students' digital skills.
These findings echo the recommendations of the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report, which highlights that recent advancements in AI and generative AI have made digital literacy even more critical. Young people must understand how AI works, what it can and cannot do, and how to use it effectively and responsibly.
Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications, said: "Teachers will always be at the heart of students' learning, development, and success. AI's power lies in its ability to support and amplify their role. We need to accelerate investment in the tools, training, and resources that help them harness its potential, while ensuring students gain the skills needed for an AI-enabled future. By acting now and working together across the sector, we can ensure AI is used thoughtfully and responsibly to empower teachers and prepare young people to thrive in a rapidly changing economy."
Educator voices calling for change
Educators are echoing this need for enhanced AI training across the sector. Janeen Hayat, Director of Collective Action at The Fair Education Alliance, warns: "School staff also need more support in impactful use of technology, and AI specifically [...] If we don't invest in the skills and infrastructure the education system needs now, we'll leave more and more young people behind."
Teachers on the frontline are experiencing this skills gap firsthand. One primary classroom teacher explained: "I'm fairly confident using IT and AI but I feel many staff are not. This causes a gap in what children experience as they move through their primary years. [As] teachers we have not been equipped or taught well enough to ensure our children are digitally savvy/competent. This needs fixing urgently!"
The path to more training on AI
Pearson has introduced certifications and training to help build AI literacy:
- Pearson's Generative AI Foundations Certification has reached thousands of learners since launching in October 2024.
- 'AI Essentials' is a short course, powered by ActiveHub, designed in partnership with Basingstoke College of Technology that provides a foundational understanding of AI, including the responsible use of AI and how to think critically about digital content.
- Extended Project Qualification pathway in Gen AI literacy - 'EPQ:AI' is available to Students in the UK and internationally.
- The BTEC Artificial Intelligence Fundamentals course gives learners an understanding of the fundamental functions and operations involved in AI and machine learning.
Recent Pearson News
- Blog: "Empowering Teachers for an AI Future"
- Pearson response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review
- Pearson's EPQ:AI pathway
- GCSE Exam Practice Assistant from Pearson Revise
- Lost in Transition: Gaps in Career Paths Costing the UK Economy £96 Billion Annually
- Pearson and Cebr research on investment in technology in schools
About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to help people realize the life they imagine through learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c. 18,000 Pearson employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's lifelong learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at pearsonplc.com.
Media contact
Laura.ewart@pearson.com
SOURCE Pearson
FAQ**
How is Pearson Plc PSON addressing the concern that 44% of secondary teachers feel students aren't adequately prepared for an AI-driven future?
What specific initiatives has Pearson Plc PSON launched to enhance AI training for educators, given that 4of teachers believe it should be included in teacher training?
In light of the report, how does Pearson Plc PSON plan to support educators in overcoming their lack of confidence in using AI tools, with 2expressing uncertainty?
With 57% of teachers believing AI will play a bigger role in education, what strategies is Pearson Plc PSON implementing to ensure equitable access to AI training for both teachers and students?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Pearson Plc (NYSE: PSO).
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