FOI/202600521163 · FOI · partially withheld
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutoring in secondary schools: FOI release
Information requested
Projects or scoping exercises for Artificial Intelligence (AI) tutoring tools, and/or tuition/teaching tools for secondary school pupils, including:
1. Any current or planned contracts, tenders, frameworks or procurement activity.
2. Any documents, briefings or guidance on the use or procurement of AI tutoring tools for these year groups.
3. Any suppliers currently under consideration or awarded contracts.
4. Any spending to date on AI tutoring tools, pilots, trials or advisory work for secondary pupils.
5. Any risk, benefits or policy assessments relating to AI tutoring for secondary pupils.
6. Any correspondence or meeting notes relating to tendering decisions for AI tutoring for secondary pupils since 1 June 2025.
Response
In response to your request please see the below:
1. There are no current or planned contracts, tenders, frameworks or procurement activity with regards to AI tutoring tools and/or tuition/teaching tools for secondary school pupils.
2. I enclose a copy of some of the information you requested in Annex A.
3. No supplies are currently under consideration or have been awarded contracts with regards to AI tutoring tools and/or tuition/teaching tools for secondary school pupils.
4. There has been no spend on AI tutoring tools, pilots, trials or advisory work for secondary pupils.
5. There have been no risk, benefits or policy assessments relating to AI tutoring for secondary pupils, however, Scottish Government continue to consider evidence and research from the sector about the efficacy and take into account the impact on Children’s Rights and Wellbeing when thinking about AI education tools.
6. There are no correspondence or meeting notes relating to tendering decisions for AI tutoring for secondary pupils since 1 June 2025.
As part of its broader work on artificial intelligence (AI) in education, the Scottish Government has considered a range of opportunities to understand the potential role of AI-enabled tools in supporting teaching and learning, including exploratory work relating to AI tutoring. The Scottish Government's principal focus, however, has been on supporting the education sector through guidance, resources and frameworks that enable the safe, effective and responsible use of AI in educational settings.
As part of this work, the Scottish Government published the Scottish Guidelines and Guardrails for the Use of AI in Schools. These guidelines provide a national framework for the safe, ethical and teacherled use of AI in Scottish schools, helping to ensure that AI supports teaching and learning while protecting children’s rights, privacy, equity and professional judgement.
The associated Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment is available here: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in school education – guidelines and guardrails: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (gov.scot).
It may also be helpful to note that local authorities are responsible for delivering education and have the autonomy to determine how best to meet the needs of learners within their communities.
Decisions regarding the procurement and deployment of specific technologies, including AI-enabled tools, are therefore generally taken at a local level and may reflect priorities set out in local education and digital strategies.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemptions under sections s.38(1)(b)(personal information)] and s.30(b)(i)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions are applied are explained in the annex.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Detected exemption language
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because an exemptions under sections s.38(1)(b)(personal information)] and s.30(b)(i)(ii) (free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation) of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why those exemptions are applied are explained in the annex.