5 reasons why EdTech can help UK schools survive the financial crisis

Sponsored content by SAM Learning

Almost all schools and colleges in England are likely to make catastrophic cuts due to rising costs and insufficient government funding, according to a recent ASCL survey.

The survey of 630 headteachers and business leaders found that:

• Nearly all respondents (98%) said their school or college would have to make financial savings either in the current academic year 2022/23 or future years, or both, compared to last year, as a result of cost pressures. 60% said they will have to make financial savings both in the current academic year and in future years.
• In the absence of additional funding, 58% said they were considering or likely to reduce teaching staff and increase class sizes, while 43% are considering reducing curriculum options, and 55% are considering reducing the number of teaching assistants. 
• The survey feedback shows that some secondary schools are facing extra costs of up to £500,000 this year. This equates to the cost of employing around 10 teachers.

Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“School leaders in this survey use words such as ‘catastrophic’ and ‘devastating’ to describe the financial situation they are facing and the impact on their pupils. It is clear that the future is bleak unless the government acts urgently.”

How can EdTech help?

With the development of extraordinary technology in education, including AI instruction and auto-delivery features, EdTech is one of the most cost effective solutions during this time of crisis and many schools may not be aware of this.

1. AI to support with increased class sizes and teaching workload

AI is the buzzword in education at the moment, with fresh online tools and intelligent robotics that can support the delivery of student learning while helping teachers with their workload. Resources such as SAM Learning, have now introduced advanced AI instructional technology that can automatically identify student learning gaps, extend knowledge, set work and complete the marking so that teachers do not have to do a thing!

2. Products that deliver for all ages and subjects to maximise the value and minimise staff/student training

With thousands of solutions on the market, schools can find themselves with contracts to multiple providers across multiple subjects, which can not only be very expensive for the school but also overwhelming for the students who have to login to and manage each resource. Thankfully, there are now EdTech solutions available on the market that can cater for multiple key stages and subjects, all-in-one product, which can dramatically save teachers’ time, increase student engagement and slash school spending by thousands of pounds.

3. Access to education – anytime, anyplace and anywhere

A key consideration for schools is how to maximise the impact of all learning opportunities in and away from the classroom. Most students now have access to a mobile phone, tablet or desktop computer and with the availability of 24/7, easy to use online learning platforms and Apps, they can access learning anytime, anyplace and anywhere.

4. Supports independent learning by communicating to your learners

Teachers are, of course, one of the main sources to motivate and inspire students to learn and progress. They are required to communicate instructions and motivational messages to students in order to encourage their learning and keep them on track, which is needed for many. 

However, there is now amazing technology available that communicates automatically to students on an individual basis, recommending work that needs to be done to progress, via their personalised platform, while also praising, rewarding and guiding them to their next step of their learning journey. Yes, automatically! Cutting edge EdTech can now guide students to fill their individual learning gaps and extend their individual areas of strength, all by themselves. With the ability to learn independently, student progress is given a huge boost (like a personal trainer!) which supports teachers with their vital role of delivering excellence in education.

5. They cost significantly less than a teacher or support assistant.

Although you cannot (or should not) replace the expertise of a teacher with technology, the fact that EdTech can now complete multiple tasks and duties a teacher would usually have to perform, highlights how cost effective a careful investment in technology can be. With many resources now charging as little as £2-3 per student, per year, schools could find themselves saving far more in photocopying, planning, marking and admin time than they ever imagined.

Unlike any other software, award winning, SAM Learning, now provides Weekly Challenges, powered by A.I. – automatically finds gaps, sets work and completes the marking so teachers do not have to do it! It also caters for all major GCSE and KS3 subjects and promises EEF/FFT proven results – Two GCSE grades better with 30 minutes a week. Find out more.

Main photo by lucas law on Unsplash