DfE sets out £24m plan to test AI and EdTech in schools

The Department for Education published guidance on 24 September 2026 for a £24m programme to test education technology, including generative AI, in schools.

The EdTech Testbed Programme guidance says the work will run for four years in more than 1,000 settings in England. A group led by Ipsos will run up to 100 rapid evaluations. The most promising tools will then go to larger studies.

The Education Endowment Foundation will spend £7m on up to 15 randomised controlled trials or other rigorous evaluations. A randomised trial compares pupils who use a tool with similar pupils who do not.

A separate report, published the same day, explains why the evidence matters.

The Chartered College of Teaching ran a pilot for the department to review the evidence behind EdTech products. The pilot was small. It received 96 expressions of interest and chose 13 products. Five of those used generative AI and had an initial review only.

The report said relatively few portfolios gave a clear account of whether a product works. It said AI products were being developed faster than strong evidence of their impact. It recommended considering changes to the review criteria for these products.

For teachers and school leaders, the department says the aim is evidence to support buying decisions. Schools and colleges will be recruited in phases, starting in the 2026 to 2027 school year. Those that registered for the earlier pilot do not need to register again at this stage.

The guidance does not name the products that will be tested or give a date for the first results. It also does not say whether the Evidence Board review will continue.

Sources

1. Department for Education (GOV.UK) | EdTech Testbed Programme: guidance
2. Department for Education (GOV.UK) | EdTech Evidence Board pilot: findings from phases 1 and 2
3. Chartered College of Teaching, for the Department for Education | Piloting the EdTech Evidence Board: report on key findings