Smarter teaching, better learning: preparing students for a digital world

Rosie Adds

Principal

Oasis Academy Aspinal

​Imagine a classroom where students describe a character from their favourite book, and within seconds, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) creates an image based on their words. Or a maths lesson where every child’s thinking is captured instantly, and misconceptions are addressed before they leave the room. This isn’t the future- these technologies are being used now in our school.

At Oasis Academy Aspinal, we believe technology should empower both students and teachers. AI is now a practical tool embedded in our curriculum to enhance learning, save time, and prepare children for a digital world. Through platforms like Magma Maths, StudyHall, SmartGrade, and No More Marking, alongside our uniquely designed Computing curriculum, we are shaping confident learners and informed digital citizens.

This approach aligns with the Department for Education’s ‘digital revolutions’ in education, which aims to reduce teacher workload, improve accessibility, and support excellent teaching and student outcomes – all without replacing relational-based, human interaction in classrooms. At Oasis, our deployment of AI tools sits squarely within this policy framework – leveraging technology to streamline workload, personalise learning, and uphold digital safety and equity for every student. Magma Maths has transformed the way our children display their mathematical thinking. Students enjoy working visually and interactively. The introduction of the Skriva stylus has elevated accuracy, making digital work feel more natural for students, echoing the ease of writing on paper.

For teachers, the benefits are equally significant. Magma provides in-the-moment data that highlights misconceptions immediately, allowing teachers to address errors before they become embedded. The heat map feature is particularly powerful, showing common misconceptions across the class and enabling rapid intervention and targeted support. Students’ work can be played back to show where they have misconceptions.

students

​StudyHall brings a fresh approach to reading through its Book Talk feature, which introduces students to Dakota -an AI reading companion. Rather than endless comprehension questions, Dakota chats with children about their book, coaches them to describe characters, and even creates age-appropriate images from their description to safely support their learning. This makes reading interactive and creative, fostering a genuine love of books while developing their vocabulary and writing skills. Our teachers appreciate how this deepens engagement and supports literacy without reducing reading to a series of tests or quizzes.

​SmartGrade has revolutionised marking for Oasis staff, saving significant time while keeping the ‘human in the loop’ for quality assurance. Teachers still review and approve marks, while AI handles the heavy lifting, providing guidance on patterns and helping identify gaps in learning. This means teachers can spend more time planning and delivering high-quality lessons rather than being buried under piles of marking. The AI feedback tool gives an in depth analysis of areas of strength/weaknesses and key misconceptions for each class.

​Alongside these tools, our new Computing curriculum includes AI Digital Literacy content to prepare students for the future. Children explore what AI is and how it works, analyse case studies on bias and ethics, and learn how to identify misinformation online. These lessons empower students to think critically about technology and use it responsibly – key priorities in both education policy and our Oasis vision for 2030.

As part of Big Education’s Big AI project, we are also exploring ethical and impactful AI integration. This means exploring how AI can enhance learning while prioritising ethics, equity, and empowerment. We are hoping to ensure that AI is used to amplify human potential rather than replace it. We believe AI should unlock creativity, foster curiosity, and prepare students for a future where technology and humanity work hand in hand.

The journey with AI in education is just beginning, and we’re proud to be leading the way. Across Oasis, our shared vision is to provide exceptional education and opportunities for every child. The integration of AI into our curriculum is not just about technology – it’s about living out our ethos of innovation, equity, and excellence. It’s about delivering and truly living our 2030 vision to transform lives and communities by equipping students with the skills and values they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

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