According to great.gov.uk, The UK’s EdTech sector is one of the fastest growing in Europe. This was fuelled by a huge increase in VC investment, which reached up to £67 million in 2020.
And the truth is, it looks like a smart investment. As classrooms become more crowded and teachers become more in demand, using tech to make their jobs more efficient is exactly what the sector needs.
What Does EdTech Mean?
EdTech, or educational technology, means companies, apps, devices and software that help the learning process.
Some examples of EdTech innovations include:
- Online learning platforms like virtual classrooms, ways to give homework online and collaborative learning apps.
- Interactive learning devices, like iPads, smart pens and VR.
- Student management software, to help with grade tracking, progress and attendance.
- Online tutoring platforms, to help students get better 1-1 support.
- Gamified learning, like quizzes, language tests and more.
- AI that can help teachers mark papers and give feedback more easily.
To understand what 2025 might bring for the EdTech sector, we asked the experts.
Here’s what they had to say
Our Experts
- Paul Massey, Co-Founder of rTriibe
- Laura Tristam, Co-Founder at Lumii.me
- Beverly Clarke, MBE and Educational Consultant
- Ben Taylor, CEO of Cassette Group
- James Tweed, CEO of Coracle
- Constance Mantle, CEO at SaveMyExams
- Peter Relan, Co-Founder and CEO of MathGPT
- Nicolaas Matthijs, Chief Product Officer at Anthology
- Dmitrij Sosunov, Partner at FirstPick
- Russell Dagleish, Chair and Co-Founder of the Scottish Business Network
- Mariia Markitanova, Co-Founder and CEO at Curada
- Ruslan Davletshin, CTO of Hyperskill
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Paul Massey, Co-Founder of rTriibe
“For teacher recruitment EdTech could be a game changer. It can play a key role in tackling the UK’s teacher shortage and supporting schools struggling to recruit and retain staff. Currently, only 60% of secondary teacher recruitment targets have been met, with subjects like physics filling just 20% of their required posts. This crisis is worsened by heavy workloads, low pay, and stress, which are driving many teachers to leave the profession.
“Digital tools could help by streamlining recruitment processes. Platforms that use AI to match schools with qualified teachers can speed up hiring and reduce administrative burdens on headteachers. Similarly, EdTech could improve access to supply teachers by creating real-time booking systems that quickly connect schools with staff who have pre approved clearance levels needed and that are available.
“For existing teachers, EdTech can reduce workload and stress levels which could boost retention. Automated lesson-planning tools, virtual marking systems, and time-saving classroom management apps can free up teachers to focus on teaching and reduce burnout. Professional development platforms could also offer flexible online training, making it easier for teachers to develop skills while balancing their workload.
“By improving recruitment efficiency and easing the pressures on current staff, EdTech can help address the ongoing teacher shortage while creating better conditions for teachers in the long term.”
Laura Tristam, Co-Founder at Lumii.me
“EdTech in 2025 is set to play an important role in improving mental health and wellbeing in UK schools, in line with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s vision of making happiness and a sense of belonging just as important as academic success. In a recent speech, Phillipson highlighted that helping pupils feel they belong is key to boosting attendance and addressing growing mental health challenges. She called for broader curricula that include arts, sports, and vocational subjects, emphasising that wellbeing is vital for pupils’ overall achievement.
“To support this vision, EdTech tools are likely to focus on creating more inclusive and supportive school environments. AI-powered wellbeing platforms could track pupils’ mental health and provide real-time support. Interactive learning tools might use gamified activities to build emotional resilience, mindfulness, and social connections. For teachers, digital platforms could simplify lesson planning and offer professional development opportunities, helping to reduce burnout and enabling more focus on pupils’ wellbeing.
“This shift in EdTech, alongside Phillipson’s push for changes in educational priorities and teacher retention, marks a significant move towards embedding wellbeing into education. With this approach, schools can create environments where pupils not only attend but also thrive both academically and emotionally so that attendance improves across UK schools.”
Beverly Clarke, MBE and Educational Consultant
“With Education 4.0 in full swing, my edtech predictions for 2025 are that we will see Gen AI being adopted more in the classroom.
“This will lead to greater conversation, around its usage, perhaps leading to a change in the way we assess what a pupil does or doesn’t know. Additionally, there will be increased use of data and data analysis. With data being part of what is driving the digital age, pupils will need to make use of tools that allow them to visualise data and make informed decisions, they will also use that data for real life application. Real world uses of tech will come more to the fore, as learners look at solving immediate issues such as the climate crisis and digital poverty.
“I also see the classroom adapting to be more of a virtual classroom, especially against the backdrop of teacher shortages, with expert teachers from around the world and good edtech tools, we will see greater knowledge sharing and those in the classroom will then act as facilitators. Continuing on with the changing classroom, we are likely to see more lesson content delivered in Tik Tok Style formats that get straight to the point.”
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Ben Taylor, CEO of Cassette Group
“AI: The dominance of AI in EdTech is not expected to slow down in 2025. As the initial shine of the innovation fades and some disillusionment sets in, we will settle into more realistic and practical applications of AI.
“Instead of having this mystical AI bolted onto everything, it will simply become infused and enhance what we are already doing. Due to the cost of development and shortage of AI talent, we expect any real development of AI engines to come from the existing big players. As developers, it’s our job to intelligently apply it to solve existing problems and enhance learning experiences.
“Immersive Learning: As patient care grows more complex, immersive tools will simulate real-world scenarios for health professionals, allowing hands-on practice without patient risks. Essentially, learning by doing increases the speed of learning and knowledge retention.
“Personalised Learning: AI will tailor learning experiences to individual needs, optimising the time healthcare professionals spend on training. This will be crucial as they juggle heavy workloads and mandatory CPD requirements.
“Gamification and Storytelling: Engaging content that incorporates game mechanics and storytelling will enhance learning retention and engagement. An engagement score for content will become a standard metric to measure the effectiveness of educational materials.
“Microlearning and On-Demand Training: Short, focused learning modules that can be accessed on-demand, paused, and picked up again will help healthcare professionals fit training into their busy schedules. This approach supports continuous learning without overwhelming the learner.”
James Tweed, CEO of Coracle
“Covid lockdowns may now feel like a distant bad dream, but one of the most profound memories is that so many students around the world were cut off from access to education. In a world that continues to embrace digital solutions at an accelerating pace, the move to digital education was inevitably accelerated.
“As we approach 2025, has the promise of the EdTech revolution got more innovation to deliver? Whilst the revolution may have started many years ago, evolution is still happening at pace. In 2025, the team at Coracle will be working on our solutions around providing access to digital learning that builds on our experience of delivering edtech in extreme environments such as prison, where access to the internet is forbidden.
“What? EdTech without the internet? Imagine a world where you could focus on digital learning, without the distractions of being online. Imagine a world where remote proctoring is done whilst offline, monitored by new AI models and asynchronous connection. Imagine a world where normally disadvantaged learners get a parity of learning experience, despite not having a persistent internet connection. These are the themes for 2025 for the team at Coracle.”
Constance Mantle, CEO, at SaveMyExams
“AI is fast becoming a mainstay within the majority of UK industries, and the education sector is no different. New AI technology is already being implemented in classrooms around the country.
“The use of these tools is expected to evolve further in 2025, with systems proving particularly effective in providing one-to-one feedback and support, something which educational psychologists have found to be imperative to student success.
“Benjamin Bloom observed that tutored students outperformed 98% of their peers on average, and AI advancements offer the chance for this service to be more readily available and accessible to a larger pool of students – something key to addressing educational inequalities based on social class.
“AI can quickly and effectively provide personalised feedback to students, as emerging systems such as SaveMyExams’ Smart Mark incorporates exam-specific feedback to avoid misleading feedback or inaccurate marks.
“Such technological systems can successfully mimic learner traits, materials, home environments, and teacher influence, replicating the effect of tutoring. When used correctly, AI is able to significantly enhance the learning experience for students, both in and outside the classroom.
“Experts predict that AI will have a more profoundly positive impact within school-based education in the coming years, with the potential for a big leap in 2025.”
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Peter Relan, Co-Founder and CEO of MathGPT
“In 2025, EdTech will undergo a major shift from standardised learning platforms to truly personalized learning management.
“I expect to see the differentiated AI platforms seamlessly integrating with existing curricula while providing personalized remediation pathways. This evolution will be particularly crucial for institutions facing policy changes, where technology must bridge varying levels of student preparedness without compromising academic standards.
“The next generation of EdTech will also transform from being a supplementary tool to becoming an integral part of the learning ecosystem, fostering unbiased and inclusive learning experiences while enhancing both instructor capabilities and student outcomes. For K-12 schools and higher education institutions alike, this means being able to achieve more ambitious goals while ensuring no student falls behind due to gaps in foundational knowledge.”
Nicolaas Matthijs, Chief Product Officer at Anthology
“Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to remain a transformative force in 2025, reshaping higher education’s academic and administrative landscapes. AI literacy will become a top priority for universities, preparing students to engage critically with the technology that will increasingly influence their careers and daily lives. The focus will be on understanding its capabilities and limitations, including challenges like hallucinations, bias, and concerns around data privacy.
“In conjunction with literacy, universities will also adapt and introduce discipline-specific AI courses, such as tailored programs for fields like medicine, equipping students with tools directly applicable to their careers.
“Universities themselves will also look to AI to reduce time-consuming administrative tasks to allow faculty more time with students.
“Keeping on the tech evolution theme, the introduction of England’s Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) in September 2025 will further expand the opportunities for individuals seeking ongoing education, and universities will expand their offerings to accommodate. Expect more flexible, career-oriented programmes that cater to adult learners, working professionals, and those looking to reskill.
“In addition to technology, student support services will be prioritised, with a focus on mental health resources, financial counselling, career guidance, and personalised academic advising.”
Dmitrij Sosunov, Partner at FirstPick
“EdTech in 2025 is evolving rapidly, redefining how education is accessed and delivered. Personalized learning is emerging, with platforms adapting to the unique needs and learning speeds of individual students. T
“Artificial intelligence is also enabling the creation and distribution of educational content. Tools that automate material development, grading, and feedback will allow educators to focus more on teaching while providing students with richer, more interactive experiences.
“Another promising development is the introduction of AI-powered educational agents. Acting as virtual tutors or advisors, these systems can guide learners with personalized study plans, offer real-time support, and suggest career-aligned learning pathways. To fully realize EdTech’s potential, the industry will need to prioritize inclusivity, data security, and the seamless integration of technology into traditional and non-traditional learning environments.”
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Russell Dagleish, Chair and Co-Founder of the Scottish Business Network
“In 2025, we will likely see Scotland emerge as a leading edtech hub, underpinned by Scottish Universities in major cities which are home to research and development. These innovators are designing solutions to make education more inclusive and accessible. Personalised learning, driven by AI and augmented reality, is set to redefine how we teach and learn in 2025.
“Edtech companies in Scotland benefit from the unique investment environment. This was most recently added to by the launch of the Scottish National Investment Bank focused on utilising capital for growth.
“One example is Sumdog, where learning is augmented through gamification to encourage development of mathematics and English language skills for children. This secured £1.4 million from Nesta Impact Investments and the Scottish Investment Bank.
“Another company is SchoolCloud, which solves the problem of managing education activities such as parents’ evenings, clubs, and events, serving over 4,000 schools globally.
“In 2025, and beyond, this investment landscape will establish Scotland as a leading centre for edtech development.”
Mariia Markitanova, Co-Founder and CEO at Curada
“In 2025, EdTech will transform professional education in knowledge-intensive fields like medicine, tackling the challenge of exponentially expanding medical information — now doubling every 73 days compared to every 3.5 years in the 2010s.
“AI-powered toolkits will play a vital role, organising and distilling this flood of information into actionable insights, helping clinicians adopt novel treatments and make informed decisions without being overwhelmed.
“2025 will see the rise of vertical EdTech AI agents, offering focused, specialised education across sub-specialties in diverse fields like medicine. These agents will bridge learning and practice by combining practical training with real-time guidance for immediate application. Practitioners will access case-specific advice while enhancing their expertise through personalised educational programmes on emerging medical innovations.
“Another key opportunity lies in equipping new groups, such as expert patients or “therapy graduates,” an untapped resource in healthcare. By providing these individuals with AI-powered tools to enhance their skills and actively contribute to care, EdTech will foster collaboration between patients and practitioners, creating a motivated and skilled workforce ready to address modern healthcare challenges.
“In 2025, EdTech will surge in professional education, uniting knowledge, practice, and new care actors to redefine healthcare and elevate its delivery to the next level.”
Ruslan Davletshin, CTO of Hyperskill
“The world is constantly changing, and in the past couple of years, the pace of change has accelerated dramatically due to global events and rapid advancements in AI.
“In 2023 and early 2024, AI was often used as a hammer for every problem. Many products added chat assistants whether they made sense or not. In the latter half of 2024, we began to better understand how AI could be meaningfully applied to education. More thoughtful use cases arrived that genuinely solved problems in learning and teaching. By 2025, I expect this trend to continue and the impact of AI on learning will grow significantly.
“One of the trends where a well-configured AI can make a big impact is personalized learning. Studies show that personalized approaches greatly improve learning outcomes. Another focus is mental well-being, where AI chatbots show promise in helping students manage stress and depression.
“Better technology should enable teachers to manage more students while still giving each one personal attention. Another challenge for educators staying relevant is the growing need for digital literacy.
“For professionals, upskilling and reskilling are vital as the world evolves daily. Besides AI, AR and VR will make training immersive and practical.
“These trends, as well as new technologies, open new opportunities for EdTech in 2025.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
