The Pearson School Report 2025, for which the company surveyed 14,000 voices from education in the UK, found that 44 percent of secondary teachers and 31 percent of primary teachers believe students are not being adequately prepared for the impact of AI.
Only nine percent of UK teachers report feeling confident in teaching their students about AI and 42 percent say it should be included in teacher training.
One primary classroom teacher told Pearson: “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!”
More than half (57 percent) of teachers believe that AI will play a larger role in education in the future, and 39 percent said they had used AI tools themselves in the past two weeks.
“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,” comments Freya Thomas Monk, Managing Director of Pearson Qualifications.
“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.”
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