Home / £23 million investment to expand EdTech Testbeds pilot
£23 million investment to expand EdTech Testbeds pilot
EB News: 21/01/2026 - 11:24
The Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced £23 million investment to expand the government's EdTech Testbed pilot into a four-year programme.
Speaking at the Bett UK Conference, Phillipson said the EdTech Testbed will recruit schools and colleges to put the latest tech and AI tools through their paces in classrooms across the country.
The pilot will track how those tools perform, the difference they make for teachers, and the difference they can make for children. This will provide genuine evidence about what’s working.
Phillipson said: "I know that there’s plenty of innovation happening in EdTech that isn’t focused on AI. And there are many incredible new technologies to support learners with special educational needs in particular.
"For many children, that isn’t just a nice to have. It’s fundamental to their learning. That’s why we’re exploring innovative ways to bring that tech into the classroom."
The Scottish Government is rolling out a National Primary School Swimming Framework, a universal offer to primary aged children to learn to swim alongside learning vital water safety skills.
Children’s charity Youth Sport Trust has awarded the first Well School accreditations, recognising schools that are prioritising pupil and staff wellbeing alongside academic performance as a measure of success.
The government has launched a major new consultation to gain views on how to keep children safe online across social media, AI chatbots and gaming platforms.
LGfL-The National Grid for Learning has launched a free Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Toolkit to help schools across the UK develop clear approaches to AI that put safeguarding at the forefront.