📊60+ British Education Statistics: The Future of Learning

British education is changing, and quickly.

To understand what students, parents and teachers really need from schools today, we teamed up with our partner GoStudent to share findings from their brand-new 2025 Future of Education Report. This research reveals what the next chapter of British education could look like, from smarter use of AI in classrooms to urgent calls for more life skills and personalised learning.

Here’s what the data shows, and what it means for families and tutors across the country.

🎯Key Takeaways from the GoStudent 2025 Future of Education Report

• 62% of parents say traditional exams and essays are outdated and want new assessment methods.
• 74% of teachers support simulation-based assessments to better reflect real-world skills.
• Cybersecurity and AI are the top subjects that teachers, parents, and students want added to the curriculum.
• Stress management is the #1 life skill parents and teachers believe should be taught in schools.
• 52% of parents believe their children spend too much time on screens, yet 67% of teachers say digital tools are essential for workplace readiness.
• 95% of parents and 96% of teachers are actively educating children about online safety and misinformation.
• 62% of students wish their teachers knew more about AI, while 75% of teachers report receiving no AI training.
• Students in fee-paying schools are significantly more likely to access AI-powered tools, creating a growing digital divide.
• 59% of teachers and 51% of parents believe the best learning approach combines human tutors with AI tools.

Download the Full Report

📘 About the Report

The GoStudent 2025 Future of Education Report surveyed more than 5,800 parents, students aged 10–16, and teachers from across six European countries. This article focuses entirely on the UK findings, covering the views of young people, parents and professionals across the primary and secondary education system.

The insights from the report mirror key areas of concern already reflected in British government data, from persistent attainment gaps to digital skills shortages. Together, they provide a comprehensive snapshot of the direction UK education must take next.

📌The Growing Gap Between the Curriculum and Real Life

Assessment Reform Needed

• 62% of UK parents believe current assessments no longer reflect their child’s real ability
• 84% of UK teachers believe exams should be replaced with simulation-based assessments (SBAs), where students make decisions in a real-world scenario.
• 16% of students admit to using AI to write essays, reflecting the need for new methods of assessment that measure critical thinking instead of memorisation.

🗣️ "Simulation-based assessment is the best way to prepare for the real thing."
— Maths teacher, UK, GoStudent Report 2025

Curriculum is Out of Touch with Today’s World

• Maths and Computer Science are flagged by teachers as subjects no longer fit for purpose in their current form.
• 16% of teachers say Maths isn’t taught in a way that aligns with the real world, while 22% say the same about Computer Science.
• Students’ opinions also show a gap: many feel that certain subjects no longer apply to modern life. Especially Religious Education (29%), Ancient Languages (25%), and Dance (30%).

🗣️"Most of the knowledge that is imparted is never needed again later in life."
— Maths Teacher, GoStudent Report 2025

Students' Favourite Subjects: The Teacher Connection

• Maths is the most popular subject, with 19% of students citing it as their favourite.
• English follows closely at 12%, while Sport is also popular, with 12% of students selecting it as their favourite subject.

Top 3 Favourite Subjects in the UK:

• Maths, English, and Technology are the leading choices for UK students, emphasising the importance of teacher engagement in fostering student interest.

Skills for the Future: What’s Missing from the Curriculum

• AI and Cybersecurity are the new subjects that both teachers and parents demand be added to the curriculum.
• 64% of UK parents believe soft skills, such as communication and stress management, will grow in importance as students enter an AI-powered world of work.
• Stress management was highlighted as the most important skill to teach children for preparing them for modern life, with 40% of teachers supporting this view.

🗣️"Children should learn how to deal with stress, relaxation techniques, and maintaining mental health."
— Parent, GoStudent Report 2025

📱Digital Use and Screen Time: A Balancing Act

The Screen Time Debate: Harmful or Overblown?

• 56% of UK parents believe their children spend too much time on digital devices.
• But Oxford research shows no strong link between screen time and cognitive issues.
• 58% of parents and 67% of teachers believe online tools are essential for workplace readiness.

When Should Kids Get Their First Smartphone?

• Most parents and teachers say: Age 12.
• Anti-smartphone campaigners often suggest waiting until age 14 before giving children a phone.
• In the UK, 20% of teachers think age 10 is fine.

So what are children actually doing online?

Benefits of Tech: Not Just Distractions

• 68% of UK parents say screen time improves online learning.
• 52% of European parents overall agree.
• Other perceived benefits:
  • Staying in touch (52%)
  • Exploring new tech and hobbies (26%)
  • Looking up information for homework (42%)

Generation Deepfake: Can Kids Spot the Lies?

• 85% of students are aware of fake news and deepfake risks.
• Yet 91% of teachers think misinformation already affects students.
• Half of children have seen fake images or news.
• 24% have seen extremist content online.

Misinformation: What Worries Teachers the Most

Parents: Caught in the Misinformation Trap Too

• 95% take steps to protect their children.
• But 43% of parents in the UK say they themselves struggle to tell what’s true online.
• Most common strategies:
  • Open conversations (42%)
  • Teaching kids to spot fake news (36%)
  • Using parental control apps (29%)

Smartphones aren’t the enemy, misinformation is. As children grow up in a digital-first world, teaching them how to use technology is far more effective than banning it. Empowered families, trained teachers, and safe tech design are key to preparing today’s always-on generation.

🗣️“There is less boredom, which is a source of creativity and learning.”
— Parent, GoStudent Report 2025

🤖 AI in Schools: High Potential, Low Preparedness

Students Are Ready. Teachers Are Not.

• 62% of students want teachers to improve their AI knowledge.
• 57% say the same about their parents.
• Students are often teaching themselves:
  • 31% learn from teachers
  • 29% from parents
  • 25% from social media
  • 24% through trial-and-error

🗣️“If I had a magic wand, I’d choose to learn more about AI.” 

– Student, Austria, GoStudent Report 2025

A Shocking Lack of AI Training in Schools

• 75% of teachers in Europe are not being trained in AI.
  • Austria: 88%
  • France: 80%
  • UK: 74%
• Even though 56% of teachers want this training, support is missing.
• Biggest barriers to teachers learning about AI:
  • Lack of training infrastructure
  • Fears over students relying on AI

  • Leadership support gaps
  • Lack of funding


Who’s Responsible for AI Education?

Schools are the #1 place for AI learning, parents and teachers agree.

Access to AI Tools: Teachers Fear Students Will Fall Behind

• Only 30% of UK students currently have access to AI-powered tools.
• In the UK, 70% of teachers say AI should be treated as a basic educational resource, and 62% believe it will be essential for future success.
• 46% of teachers say lack of AI access will hurt student progress.
• Parents are more divided, but 38% agree.
• %71 of teachers think access to AI should be supervised, not banned.

The AI revolution is already here, but schools are lagging behind. With both teachers and students eager to learn, the only missing link is action. If education systems don’t close the training gap now, we risk leaving a generation unprepared for the jobs of tomorrow.

🧠 Personalisation and Preparing for the Real World

The Power of Personalisation with AI

• AI tools now allow for real-time feedback and custom lesson planning.
• 58% of UK teacher believe that personalised learning needs AI at it's core.
• Half of parents (47%) believe that AI can provide young people with a personalised learning experience tailored to their specific needs.

🗣️“AI-powered tools can assess individual student needs and tailor content to match their pace, allowing teachers to focus more on engaging with students and fostering critical thinking.” 

– UK teacher, GoStudent Report 2025

AI + Human Teaching = Best of Both Worlds

• 59% of teachers and 51% of parents prefer a hybrid model:
  Human teachers with AI tools.

Special Educational Needs: A Huge Opportunity

• 9% of surveyed parents have children with SEN.
• Among them, 44% say AI could help fill gaps in traditional education.
• Parents believe AI can:
  • Spot learning gaps early
  • Deliver 24/7 support
  • Offer structure in mixed-ability classrooms

Robots and Virtual Tutors: Coming Soon?

• 48% of parents hope AI can deliver virtual tutors.
• 46% hope AI can help make teachers better at their jobs.
• 50% of students expect smart robots and AI to be normal in classrooms by 2030.
• Most-used tools today:
  • Digital learning apps (48%)
  • AI tutors (26%)
  • VR / Metaverse (21%)

Personalised education is no longer a luxury, it’s the future. With AI-powered tools and human empathy combined, we can give every child the individual support they need to thrive. But that future depends on equitable access, responsible use, and trust in both people and technology.

📚 Are UK Schools Preparing Students for the Future?

While schools are under pressure to modernise, a growing body of evidence suggests the curriculum, teaching methods, and digital readiness still lag behind the needs of today’s learners, and the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.

• The UK’s national curriculum has been criticised as content-heavy, encouraging surface-level learning rather than critical thinking or creativity (Social Market Foundation: SMF).
• A government-led Curriculum and Assessment Review, launched in 2024, is currently examining whether the current system actually meets student needs (GOV.UK).

Even as more students turn to technology to support learning:

• A Department for Education survey in 2023 revealed that 14% of secondary school pupils reported using AI tools like ChatGPT for schoolwork. Among these students, 61% utilised AI to assist with homework tasks (GOV.UK).
• The same report indicated that 40% of online children aged 7–12 had used generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Snapchat My AI, Midjourney, or DALL-E.

The government is starting to respond. A new £4 million investment in AI-assisted marking tools was announced to reduce teacher workload and support blended learning (The Times: thetimes.co.uk).

A study highlighted that 80% of primary school teachers in the UK use virtual learning platforms like Google Classroom weekly. Additionally, 61% employ adaptive learning systems, and 53% incorporate chatbots such as ChatGPT into their teaching practices (AIPRM).

When it comes to subject preferences, traditional academic pathways remain strong:

• Mathematics is still the most popular A-level subject, with over 107,000 entries in 2024, a 10.9% year-on-year increase. Computer Science and Physics also saw a surge in uptake (JCQ).

But concerns remain about real-world skill development:

• The Institute of Student Employers reported a decline in career readiness among UK graduates and school leavers (ISE).

To give a fuller picture of how the education system is evolving, and where it still falls short, we’ve included recent national statistics and studies alongside the GoStudent findings. Together, they reveal just how urgent the call for reform has become.

🔍 Final Thoughts

The 2025 GoStudent Future of Education Report makes one thing clear: education is at a turning point. Students are eager to learn skills that matter. Teachers are calling for support. Parents want schools to prepare children not just for exams, but for life.

From outdated assessments to a growing demand for AI literacy, stress management, and personalised learning, the message is consistent across Europe: schools must evolve, or risk falling behind.

Technology alone won’t solve the problem, but with the right training, tools, and vision, we can create a more inclusive, future-ready system. At FindTutors, we believe personalised education is the key, and it starts by listening to what students, teachers, and parents are really asking for.