Could your primary school help shape the future of AI in education?

Our training partners, Twinkl are inviting primary schools to join an AI Research and Professional Development Programme, delivered in partnership with the Digital Education Futures Initiative (DEFI) at Hughes Hall, a college of the University of Cambridge.

The programme sits against the backdrop of the DfE's 2026 white paper, which highlights the growing role of AI and technology in education, and asks a question we hear school leaders grappling with every day: what does AI actually mean for educators and schools, beyond the promise of saving time?

Why this research matters

AI's impact on teacher workload and wellbeing is one of the biggest open questions in education right now, and it's largely being answered by vendors with a product to sell. Research led by an independent, university-affiliated team gives schools a genuine say in that evidence base - grounded in real classroom experience, not just marketing claims.

What participating primary schools receive

• Free, year-long CPD from Twinkl, including the AI in Education courses endorsed by us

• Expert guidance on AI in education

• Professional collaboration with other schools

• Practical strategies for using AI safely and effectively

• Opportunities to contribute to nationally recognised research

• A chance to build confidence in AI, explore its potential in practice, and help shape future approaches to AI in education

For primary schools working towards AiEd Certification, this CPD is a strong option to consider as part of your evidence base - in particular:

• AI Literacy - the training builds staff understanding of what AI can and can't do in a school context, directly supporting the knowledge base this section of the Framework looks for

• Digital Pedagogy - because the CPD asks participants to interact with the material and apply it to their own practice, rather than passively consuming content, it's well suited to evidencing the kind of embedded, reflective practice this section asks schools to demonstrate

How to get involved

You can find out more and register your interest on the the Twinkl and DEFI website here.  

Registration Closes: 18th September 2026

If you have questions about how this fits into your AiEd Certified journey, drop us an email - info@ai-in-education.co.uk.

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