Education Minister has today announced a new major
research study to evaluate how AI tools can support literacy
among disadvantaged pupils and those with Special Educational
Needs.
The research project is one of seven cross-cutting initiatives
recently announced under the RAISE Programme to be delivered in
the 25/26 academic years.
said: “Today I am
announcing a new and innovative active research project. In
partnership with Oxford Brookes University, more than 15,000
pupils will have the opportunity to use an AI-powered reading
tutor over a 12-month period, generating robust evidence to
inform national literacy policy and support data-informed
teaching in the classroom.
"This is one of seven cross-cutting initiatives
which complement community informed projects as well as
to inform broader approaches to tackling educational
disadvantage. The research will
assess the effectiveness of evidence-based AI literacy tools in
improving reading outcomes.”
The study will take place in the 2025/26 academic year and will
compare reading outcomes for two groups of pupils with similar
levels of reading ability and other demographics. One group will
use an AI tool provided by Amira Learning and the other will
follow standard classroom approaches.
The research methodology includes continuous monitoring and data
collection to evaluate effectiveness. Teachers will receive face
to face and online training from Oxford Brookes University to
support teachers to interpret assessment data through detailed
reports, enabling them to identify struggling readers and then
implement individualised, evidence-based, targeted interventions
aligned with the Science of Reading. This comprehensive approach
supports Northern Ireland's ongoing shift toward evidence-based
tools making a positive impact on reading outcomes while
providing data-driven insights to inform both classroom practices
and broader educational policy decisions.
The Education Minister concluded: “Literacy is core to
allowing pupils to access knowledge and all areas of learning
within the curriculum. It is the key to unlocking the curriculum
and a love for learning. I am looking forward to the
outcomes of this research project and how these can inform my
Department's policy going forward.”
Further information on the RAISE Reading with AI Research Project
can be found here - https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/reading-ai-research-project
Notes to editors:
- RAISE will operate in 18 areas across Northern Ireland,
supporting the Department of Education's vision that “every child
is happy, learning and succeeding while tackling educational
disadvantage and increasing aspiration.
- The RAISE Programme is funded through the Shared Island Fund
and represents an investment of £20million/€24million over the
next two years, with the potential for further funding.
