The evidence behind the tools you’re actually using.
Independent university research, a national inspectorate review, and 1,846 teachers on what actually changed.
- Three-year longitudinal study
- Named in Estyn’s national review
- Pupil data never used to train AI models
- 3-year
- University of Manchester study
- 1,846
- Teachers surveyed
- 25+
- University partners
Independent research
Studied in real classrooms by the University of Manchester.
Teachmate is the AI tool at the centre of a three-year longitudinal study inside the University’s Primary PGCE programme, rated Outstanding by Ofsted. It is run by a research team of Primary PGCE academics and Manchester Institute of Education digital learning specialists, and funded by the University’s Flexible Learning Programme, not by Teachmate.
Year 1 · 2024 to 2025 · Published
Preliminary findings and recommendations
Trainees mostly demonstrated critical and professional use of AI, against the team’s own initial concern that it would create over-dependence.
Year 2 · 2025 to 2026
Collecting prompts and outputs
The Year 1 report set out systematic collection of the prompts trainees write and the outputs they get back, so usage can be compared as the technology changes.
Year 3 · 2026 to 2027 · Underway now
Long-term impact
The final year looks at long-term impact on teacher development, professional practice and educational outcomes.
Around 8,400 children across Greater Manchester are taught by PGCE trainees on placement each year.
The University of Manchester
Primary PGCE and Manchester Institute of Education
Report of recommendations, Year 1 · 2024 to 2025
Exploring AI Integration in the University of Manchester Primary PGCE
Year 1 conclusion: AI integration appeared to enhance professional judgement, creativity, responsibility and contextual awareness.
- Qualitative study
- Interviews & focus groups
- Four stakeholder groups
“AI works best when it supports creativity rather than replaces it.”
Judgement, resourcefulness and contextual sensitivity were enhanced rather than diminished, where trainees had clear guidance and reflective practice to support them.
Mostly used for lesson resources, not lesson plans: activities, prompts, model texts and lesson content, including things trainees would not otherwise have had time to make.
Many applied context-specific judgement, tailoring AI-generated resources to the pupils in their class and adapting them more readily than fixed schemes of work.
More age-appropriate content than generic AI tools, though the report is clear that trainees with limited subject knowledge sometimes accepted outputs without enough scrutiny.
Prompt writing and fact-checking emerged as professional skills, with a prompt engineering session added to the PGCE programme mid-year as a direct result.
Independent challenge
Meet the Teachmate Advisory Group.
Five external specialists in education, technology, safeguarding, data protection and governance. They meet three times a year, they are not employees, and their job is to push back.
Safe AI adoptionDaniel Emmerson
Leads a non-profit working to close the digital divide and help schools adopt AI safely, drawing on 14 years in school leadership and global education programmes spanning curriculum design, data privacy and safeguarding.
Equity & innovationAlex More
An award-winning educator with 22 years’ experience, whose Future Classroom and Ghana Project has reached over 22,000 children across 12 countries. His PhD research looks at AI, equity and pupil voice.
Digital strategyLaura Knight
Keynote speaker, author and strategist working with schools, universities, governments and edtech companies on ethical, human-centric technology. A Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and the RSA, and a member of the ISC Digital Advisory Group.
Edtech leadershipChristian Turton
Has guided hundreds of schools and trusts on digital strategy and led the national initiative, with the Chartered College of Teaching, behind the Department for Education’s guidance on safe and effective use of AI in education.
Data protection & AI governanceClaire Archibald
A data protection, information law and AI governance solicitor advising the UK education sector, with a background as a schools DPO and School Business Manager. Named Champion of the Year at the 2024 PICASSO Europe Awards for her work on data protection in education.
Teachmate Wellbeing Survey
What 1,846 teachers said about workload and wellbeing.
Teachmate surveys the teachers who use it and publishes what comes back: the same figures shared with school leaders, researchers and journalists.
of paid subscribers report improved wellbeing since starting with Teachmate
10+ hrs
saved every week by most teachers on planning, resources and admin
83%
say their work-life balance has significantly improved
“Actually relaxing at home with family and friends.”
Survey respondent, on what the hours back are used for 80%
say it has reduced stress and helped hold off burnout
75%
of teachers who had considered leaving named Teachmate as a reason to stay
90%
agree it is the best thing their school has brought in to reduce workload
85%+
rate the resources they make as good as, or better than, paid subscription resource sites
3rd
EstynOne of the top three AI tools used for education in Wales.
Estyn’s national review of AI in Welsh schools asked staff which tools they use. Teachmate placed third, and is the only one of the three built for education rather than adapted from a general-purpose tool.
University Partnerships Programme
25+ universities and teacher-training providers are building safe AI into initial teacher education.
The model piloted with the University of Manchester is now rolling out across the sector. Trainees get free access to curriculum-aligned tools, plus the guidance to use them critically, so they arrive in their first classroom already able to judge what AI hands them.
- University of Manchester
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Bath Spa University
- Ulster University
- University of Reading
- Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln
- University of York
- Sheffield Hallam University
- University of Bedfordshire
- University of Gloucestershire
- Oxford Brookes University
- Canterbury Christ Church University
- University of Derby
- University of Roehampton
- University of Greenwich
- University of Wolverhampton
- Birmingham Newman University
- University of the West of England
- University of Wales Trinity Saint David
- University of Huddersfield
- Birmingham City University
- University of Northampton
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Teach First
Read it yourself
Every claim on this page, in full.
No gated forms. The reports are published in full so your leadership team, governors or DPO can check them.
- National review
Estyn thematic review
Teachers and leaders across Wales named Teachmate among the three most-used AI platforms.
- Three-year study
Year 1 research report
Year 1 concluded AI appeared to enhance professional judgement, creativity and contextual awareness.
- 1,846 teachers
Teacher Wellbeing Survey
1,846 teachers on hours saved, stress, burnout and whether they stayed in the profession.
Bring evidence-backed AI to your whole school.
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