How AI is Transforming Teacher Development in UK Schools
Insights from schools within the IRIS Connect community
Introduction
In an era where time is short and expectations are high, school leaders are seeking smarter, more sustainable ways to support teacher development. While there are many elements to great CPD, effective lesson observation remains a cornerstone – providing the evidence and insights needed for meaningful coaching, reflection, and growth. Yet traditional approaches are often limited in what they can offer. For example:
- Time – coaches have limited time to be out of class, observe and note-take
- Confidence and agency – observations can feel evaluative rather than developmental
- Bias – feedback is naturally shaped by individual perspectives and unconscious assumptions, so what is noticed or overlooked can vary significantly between observers
- Vulnerability and exposure – for some teachers, especially those early in their career, traditional observations can feel intrusive or high-stakes, making them less likely to engage honestly with feedback
Here’s how schools in our community are solving these challenges using video and AI.
How Schools Are Addressing Traditional PD Challenges
Faster Feedback, Less Admin
Across Diverse Academies Trust, AI is being used to give teachers timely, structured feedback – without needing to wait for an in-person observation.
As Jamie Tegerdine, Strategic Lead for Teaching & Learning, Diverse Academies Trust explains, “We clipped a lesson to six minutes, ran it through IRIS Connect’s AI Insights, and got a full analysis with timestamps, suggestions and WalkThrus. I couldn’t believe how fast and detailed it was.”
This kind of on-demand analysis supports more staff, more often, without increasing workload. It complements in-person observations by providing baseline insights that teachers and coaches can explore further together.
Elina, ECT at Langley Heritage Primary has also been using AI Insights for her feedback: “AI gave me the whole list of questions I asked… and then gave me the next step – to ask follow-up questions. I applied it immediately and could see the difference in pupil engagement.”
This kind of instant, actionable feedback empowers teachers to reflect without waiting for a scheduled observation – and frees coaches to focus on meaningful conversations, not admin.
A Lower Barrier for Teachers Who Feel Vulnerable
Not all teachers feel comfortable sharing their lessons with colleagues, especially when they’re still building confidence. AI Insights gives these teachers a private, supportive way to reflect without the pressure of an audience.
“It can feel intimidating to ask for feedback from a colleague in an area where you feel vulnerable,” explains Jess. “Using AI tools to help analyse your own lessons totally removes this fear and allows you to focus purely on the feedback.”
This makes professional development more accessible, especially for early-career teachers or those returning from career breaks.
Personalised Reflection That Builds Confidence and Agency
At Langley Heritage Primary, AI Insights helped teachers see their lessons more clearly – sometimes for the first time. Tejinder Deeks, Deputy Headteacher, explains:
“Before IRIS Connect, some teachers were navigating blurry practice… They didn’t know what they didn’t know. AI helped them see details that made a big difference.”
When paired with IRIS Connect’s teaching technique guides and integrated Teaching WalkThrus, teachers receive tailored recommendations aligned to their chosen development focus.
“That structured feedback was amazing… I could apply it straight away and saw an immediate difference in how children responded.” – Namira, ECT, Langley Heritage Primary.
Removing Bias with Objective Feedback
Traditional observation and feedback can be influenced, often unintentionally by the relationship between observer and teacher, or by subjective interpretations. AI provides structured, unbiased feedback that focuses purely on what happened in the lesson.
As Maisie Chambers from Oasis Academy Warndon notes, “AI Insights allow our teachers to see the full context of their teaching and removes personal bias.”
This shift towards data-driven analysis builds trust in the feedback process and encourages more open reflection across teams.
Smarter, More Impactful Coaching Conversations
AI isn’t just enhancing teacher reflection, it’s transforming coaching too. With AI-enabled Pathways, both coaches and teachers arrive at sessions already equipped with shared insights, pre-analysis, and clear next steps. Pathways provide a collaborative space and step-by-step guidance throughout the coaching process, with the integrated AI saving time by highlighting key moments and suggesting next steps along the way. This shift allows coaching to start with meaningful dialogue, not a recap of the lesson. As Jonny O’Connor, Deputy Headteacher at Willow Tree Park, explains:
“What I like about IRIS Connect is that we now start with coaching, not catch-up. In the past, the first 30 minutes of a coaching session were spent discussing the lesson and the actual coaching barely got off the ground. Now, all the preparation happens beforehand – you already know what the coachee has reflected on, what the AI picked up, you’ve both watched the lesson recording, added timestamps and made notes, and when the session starts, you can dive straight into coaching and make the most of your valuable time.”
Importantly, AI doesn’t replace the value of a skilled coach, it simply equips them with better starting points. AI focuses on the data – highlighting patterns, surfacing insights, and providing a clear starting point. The coach focuses on the relationship, bringing empathy, professional judgment, and the context needed to turn that data into meaningful development. Together, they create a more focused, supportive, and effective approach to professional growth.
Conclusion
When AI supports the tools teachers and coaches already trust, it becomes more than a time-saver – it becomes a catalyst for more effective, personalised professional development. By delivering timely, objective, and actionable insights, it reduces the burden on coaches, empowers teachers to reflect with confidence, and removes traditional barriers like bias and vulnerability.
As Tejinder Deeks explains, “It helps us truly personalise support for every teacher and easily adapt our coaching cycles to best support their individual development.”
With AI Insights, schools aren’t just saving time, they're building a culture of continuous improvement where every teacher has the tools and confidence to grow.
Discover how IRIS Connect’s Video & AI-assisted PD solution can help your school personalise development, improve coaching conversations, and elevate practice across teams.