AI marking in education: The latest government update

AI marking in education: The latest government update

For educators, marking and other administrative tasks take up a considerable amount of the working week. In fact, teachers typically spend over eight hours per week on marking alone, with much of the work being done at home or during the holidays.

It seems, though, that help may be on the way, with new government guidance allowing the use of AI to speed up basic marking jobs and letter writing to parents. The guidance, released in early June 2025, gives the green light for teachers to use large language models (LLMs) to carry out routine paperwork tasks, potentially saving them hundreds of hours over the course of the academic year.

And while it may seem like a small win for teachers, it does suggest a relaxing of the rules when it comes to task automation. Below, we take a look at some common issues surrounding AI use in education, and explore five more ways in which AI could be used to alleviate burdensome tasks.

AI in education: potential challenges

Despite AI’s potential to reduce workload, its integration raises concerns:

• Data security risks – AI tools may require access to learner information, lesson plans, and school records. Without proper safeguards, sensitive data could be exposed or misused.
• Shadow AI use – Some teachers are already using AI informally, without official policies in place. According to research from BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, most teachers were not using AI at the end of last year. Among those who did, many felt uneasy about disclosing their AI use to their organisation.
• AI hallucinations – AI can generate false or misleading information, including fabricated quotes and inaccurate facts. Teachers need to verify AI-generated content to ensure accuracy before using it.
• Unclear policies – Education providers are still figuring out best practices for AI use. Without clear guidelines, teachers and admin staff may struggle to understand when and how AI should be implemented safely.

While AI could revolutionise how organisations manage administration, it is important to address these risks with thoughtful policies and proper training to ensure responsible use. Below, we explore five potential AI use cases for educators.

1. Comparing learner achievement rates over time

Tracking learner achievement across multiple years can be complex and time-consuming. Educators often need to manually analyse assessment data, looking for trends and areas for improvement.

With AI, organisations could automatically generate achievement comparisons across past years, identifying patterns in performance and highlighting areas where interventions are needed. This would allow educators to make data-driven decisions faster, rather than spending hours manually sifting through spreadsheets.

2. Automating lesson planning based on student data

Lesson planning is a core responsibility for teachers, yet tailoring lessons to individual learners takes substantial effort. AI could analyse student data, including prior performance, strengths, and challenges, to generate bespoke lesson plans that cater to learner needs.

Teachers could fine-tune these AI-generated plans, ensuring they align with the curriculum while saving valuable prep time. This level of personalisation could lead to more effective learning experiences without adding extra workload.

3. Creating summative reports for Ofsted

Ofsted preparation requires a detailed analysis of performance, learner progress, and intervention strategies – all taking significant time.

AI could quickly generate summative reports, pulling in relevant data, trends, and organisation-wide achievements, while allowing teachers and administrators to review and refine key points. This would help education providers meet Ofsted’s requirements without the last-minute scramble.

4. Showing evidence of distance travelled

Assessing the progress of individual students over time requires tracking data from multiple sources including exam results, coursework, attendance, and engagement metrics. AI could compile and visualise this data, presenting clear, evidence-based insights into how each learner has progressed.

With AI assisting in mapping out learning journeys, teachers could easily demonstrate improvements to parents, inspectors, and leadership, ensuring recognition for both learners and staff.

5. Automating routine parent communications

Teachers spend countless hours writing updates, reports, and correspondence to parents. Whether it’s reminders about upcoming assessments or personalised feedback on learner progress, drafting these communications can be time-consuming.

AI could help draft letters and emails, ensuring key messages are communicated clearly and efficiently while allowing teachers to personalise details before sending. This would reduce the admin load without sacrificing engagement.

The future of AI in education

While AI presents exciting possibilities for reducing workload, education providers must also consider potential risks, such as data security, shadow AI use, and misinformation. Thoughtful policies and proper training will be key to responsible AI adoption.

Ultimately, if used ethically and effectively, AI could save teachers many hours, allowing them to focus on creating engaging lessons, fostering student relationships, and driving meaningful learning experiences.

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