More than 3,000 secondary school pupils across the Liverpool City Region will receive personalised, AI-powered learning support after Mayor Steve Rotheram announced the expansion of an innovative education programme designed to boost attainment and reduce educational inequality.
Twenty secondary schools have signed up to the scheme, which uses artificial intelligence to tailor learning to individual pupils, helping them progress at their own pace while identifying areas where additional support may be needed.
The expansion follows a successful pilot involving almost 5,000 primary school pupils. According to programme data, children using the platform achieved an average 12% improvement between their initial and follow-up assessments.
The initiative is a key part of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's wider ambition to use emerging technologies to improve public services and create more equal opportunities for young people, regardless of their background.
Using the CENTURY learning platform, students can access personalised learning pathways in English, maths and science. The system continuously adapts content based on pupils' performance and progress, creating a tailored learning experience for each learner.
Participating schools are using the technology in different ways depending on local needs. Some are focusing on supporting Year 7 pupils as they transition from primary to secondary education, while others are using the platform to help GCSE students prepare for exams or to provide additional support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Alongside benefits for pupils, the technology is helping teachers reduce administrative workloads. The primary school pilot estimated average time savings of around 20 hours per teacher per term through support with lesson planning, marking and progress monitoring.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:
“I've always believed that where you're born or how much your parents earn shouldn't determine what you can achieve in life. Every child deserves the best possible start, and a good education is one of the most powerful ways to make that happen.
“AI is going to change the world our children grow up in. But unless we get it right, there's a real danger that the latest technology ends up giving another advantage to those who already have the most. That's why I made this programme a manifesto commitment: to give local children access to cutting-edge technology that has traditionally been available mainly to pupils at private schools. I want us to use AI for good; to close those gaps, not widen them.
“No computer will ever replace a brilliant teacher. But if AI can help a child who's struggling with maths, give someone more confidence in English, or take some of the workload off teachers so they can spend more time with pupils who need extra support, then we should be making the most of it.
“We've already seen some really encouraging results in our primary schools, and now we're extending that opportunity to thousands more young people. It's another step towards making our region the best place in the country to grow up, grow a family and grow a business.”
The secondary school rollout will run until the end of the current academic year and builds on a wider pilot delivered across 45 primary schools. Schools integrated the platform into day-to-day teaching, as well as breakfast clubs, after-school activities and home learning programmes.
CENTURY, one of the UK's longest-established education technology providers, is used by schools and colleges across the UK and internationally to support personalised teaching and learning.
Image credit: iStock
