Activate Learning is celebrating a major national win after being named the Jisc Award winner for Effective Use of Digital Technology in Further Education at the Association of Colleges (AoC) Beacon Awards.
The award recognises Activate Learning’s AI Tutor initiative, a learner-first digital support tool available to learners 24/7 and designed to coach their understanding rather than simply give them answers.
Rooted in Activate Learning’s unique Learning Philosophy, the AI Tutor adapts proven classroom strategies to the digital environment, helping learners practise at their own pace, receive immediate feedback and build their understanding.
The initiative has been particularly transformative for Activate Learning Online’s thousands of learners and those who may struggle to access conventional classroom environments. The AI tool has been used alongside college-based learning and made available to all learners across the group.
Celebrating the win, Activate Learning CEO, Gary Headland DL, said: “Winning the Jisc Award at the AoC Beacon Awards is a fantastic moment for our whole organisation and, most importantly, for the learners this work is designed to support.
“Our AI Tutor shows what’s possible when you put learning first and use technology to build confidence, curiosity and independence.
“This is not about replacing great teaching, it’s about extending it so that every learner can get timely support, practise skills and keep progressing, wherever they are.”
Impact at scale: strong usage, inclusive reach, measurable improvement
In the run-up to the June 2025 GCSE English and maths exams, Activate Learning’s AI Tutors were used 20,476 times by 1,331 learners, representing 18% of Activate Learning students sitting GCSE English and maths that summer.
Usage data shows particularly strong appetite among online learners, with half of all usage in the Online faculty and online learners who tried it using the tool an average of 70 times.
The initiative’s inclusive impact is also reflected in who uses it: among the 1,331 learners, 70% receive interventions such as Exam Access Arrangements (EAA), 1:1 support, financial support or mental health support, and 38% had declared disabilities. On-site learners with autism-spectrum disorders used the tool 127% more often than those without, and learners with EHCPs used it 157% more.
Teaching staff feedback strongly supports the tool’s value: 100% of GCSE English and maths tutors surveyed agreed the AI Tutor is useful, provides valid responses and encourages learners to develop skills, with 89% agreeing it supports learners with additional needs.
Kim Blanchard, Acting Group Director for Digital Education and AI at Activate Learning, said: “At Activate Learning, we are proud to lead the way in harnessing AI to transform teaching, learning and assessment.
“Our Activate AI Tutors empower both students and staff, providing innovative, personalised support and feedback that enhances learning outcomes across the curriculum.
“This reflects our commitment to digital upskilling and our belief that thoughtfully integrated technology is vital to preparing our learners for success in an ever-changing world.”
Activate Learning will continue developing the AI Tutor as part of its long-term strategic commitment to research and innovation, embedding AI-empowered, in-house designed tools in its approach to online learning.