BCS, Microsoft, The Hg Foundation and Cognizant launch free national AI upskilling programme for educators

AI Confidence is a free, open-access professional development programme created by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT in collaboration with Microsoft Elevate, The Hg Foundation and Cognizant. 

The programme is for anyone working in a UK school or college, with no prior experience of AI required. The initiative aims to upskill 40,000 education professionals, recognising that AI readiness is a broader workforce challenge, not just a technology one.

Teachers need more support to use AI effectively

While 57% of teachers believe AI will play a bigger role in education, only 16% of UK teachers currently feel confident teaching AI, according to the Pearson School Report 2026. 

AI Confidence has been designed to close that gap through short, practical learning that fits around busy working lives. 

Some of the AI Confidence elements were trialled through two Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), the Harris Federation, and Ark, to grow the self-assurance and expertise of staff working with AI. The MATs, which serve some of the country's most disadvantaged communities, have been supporting the development of the programme to ensure it fully meets the needs of teachers working in today's classrooms. 

AI for Leadership, inclusion and workplace readiness

By the start of the school year, the programme will feature four 60-minute online CPD modules, each offering digital badging: 

• Getting Started with AI in Education - Introducing the basics of AI, what it is, how it works, and how it can simplify everyday school life.
• Exploring AI in the World of Work - Exploring how AI is reshaping careers and recruitment, AI’s impact on the job market, and the new employment opportunities AI will create for young people.
• Supporting inclusion with AI - Sharing practical, safe, and inclusive ways to use AI to support learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• AI for School Leaders - Helping education leaders understand how to turn AI strategy into improved teaching, learning and outcomes, set and assure governance for AI adoption, and enable safe, compliant, and sustainable AI at scale.

The programme shows how AI supports professional judgement, rather than replacing it. It also teaches time saving techniques in aspects like lesson planning, and shows how to recognise bias and hallucinations.

Teachers and teaching staff report growth in AI confidence 

Rachel Clark, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator, at Church Walk CE Primary School, Ulverston, Cumbria, said: “I really didn't have much of a clue before doing this course, it was incredibly helpful. I will be sharing the approach with colleagues and applying it in my work as a teacher and SENCo."

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Thomas Peters, Head of Maths at Winstanley College, Wigan, Lancashire said: “I found the practice section of the programme useful to input requests and then tweak them; using the training to establish that I needed to be more concise and accurate with what I was asking for. The programme did give me more confidence to ask AI for worksheets or groups of questions, for use as starters or within lessons. I've since spoken to the Associate Assistant Principal and asked him to look at getting more of our staff to complete this training programme.”

Government support

Minister for Digital Government and Data Ian Murray said: "AI has huge potential to support teachers - from reducing time spent on admin and lesson planning to helping them deliver more personalised support for pupils.

“But to unlock those benefits, educators need the confidence and skills to use these tools effectively. Programmes like AI Confidence are helping teachers get to grips with this technology and understand how it can support, rather than replace, their professional expertise.

“Giving people the skills to use AI confidently is central to our mission to upskill 10 million workers by 2030, and programmes like AI Confidence are exactly how we get there - practical, accessible training that meets people where they are.”

Sharron Gunn, Group CEO of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, said: “AI is opening up enormous opportunities for education, but confidence is lagging behind potential. AI Confidence is about demystifying AI and putting practical, safe tools into the hands of educators, regardless of their role or prior experience. If we want young people to thrive in an AI-enabled economy, we have to start by supporting the workforce shaping their education today.”

James Turner, CEO of The Hg Foundation, said: “AI will increasingly shape how people learn, work and progress through their careers. By funding AI Confidence, we’re helping ensure educators across the UK have equitable access to high-quality AI professional development, particularly so they can support young people to navigate the new opportunities that AI will open up.”

Charles Eales, AI National Skilling Director, Microsoft UK, said: “AI Confidence reflects our commitment to responsible, inclusive AI adoption. Educators play a critical role in preparing young people for the future of work, and this programme gives them practical, trusted support to build confidence and understanding in how AI can enhance, not replace, human creativity and expertise.”

Rohit Gupta, Managing Director UK&I at Cognizant, said: “Cognizant’s recent research shows that 93% of jobs are already being changed by AI. If the future workforce is to use these technologies with confidence, judgment, and responsibility, AI literacy must become a central element of education. Through this partnership, we look to equip education leaders with the training and understanding they need to safely and sustainably deploy AI across classrooms and operations, so they can ensure the next generation is prepared for the AI-enabled workforce.”