# UK teachers grow more confident in AI but say training gaps leave students underprepared

> UK teacher confidence in AI nearly doubled to 16% in 2026, but only 8% feel equipped to prepare students for an AI-enabled workforce. More than half want formal CPD training on using AI in the classroom.

- Type: AI news
- Page: https://completeaitraining.com/news/uk-teachers-grow-more-confident-in-ai-but-say-training-gaps/
- Published: 2026-06-04
- Updated: 2026-06-04
- Author: Jeroen Erne
- Jobs: Education
- Reading time: 1 min

### UK teachers gain confidence in AI, but training gap persists

Teacher confidence in using AI in schools has roughly doubled in a year, but educators say they lack the formal training needed to prepare students for an AI-enabled workforce.

The proportion of schoolteachers expressing confidence in teaching students about AI rose to 16% in 2026, up from 9% in 2025, according to research from Pearson. Over the same period, teachers who believe AI tools have positively affected their schools jumped to 29% from 12% in 2024-a 142% increase.

AI adoption in classrooms is accelerating. Only 12% of schoolteachers now say they don't use AI in their role, compared to 20% last year. The primary driver appears to be administrative relief: 57% of primary teachers and 48% of secondary teachers report that AI saves them time.

#### Students want digital skills. Teachers feel unprepared to teach them.

Student demand for digital preparation is clear. 84% of school students say being prepared for a digital future matters to them, up from 78% in 2024.

The disconnect emerges when teachers assess their own readiness. Only 6% of teachers believe the education system places enough emphasis on digital skills, and just 8% feel they are currently preparing students for an AI-enabled future.

The training gap is substantial. 53% of schoolteachers say more Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on using AI would help them support student learning. 34% identified a specific need: specialised training on using AI with students who have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), where tools like text-to-speech and personalised resources offer genuine support.

#### What teachers need

The research surveyed more than 14,000 people across England's education sector, including over 11,000 teachers and 3,000 students. It identifies a clear gap between growing AI adoption and educator confidence in deploying it effectively with students.

For educators looking to close this gap, [AI for Education](https://completeaitraining.com/tag/education/) resources and structured [AI Learning Paths for Teachers](https://completeaitraining.com/learningpath/ai-for-teachers/) can provide the formal training teachers say they need.

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