We were delighted to host an interactive workshops in our offices, bringing together schools, multi-academy trusts, government, industry partners, EdTech providers, and education charities to build a shared understanding of what digital maturity means across different settings and identify gaps in data, capacity, and effective adoption and use.
Context and Opportunity
The UK government is renewing its focus on technology in education through initiatives like the Digital, AI and Technology Task and Finish Group, Oak National Academy’s Aila, the AI Content Store, the EdTech Testbed Programme, TechFirst, and EdTech Hubs from Edtech UK and LGfL. These build on earlier professional development efforts to help schools adopt digital tools that improve pupil outcomes and reduce teacher workload. However, to unlock the full potential of this investment, the sector must tackle challenges in procurement, workforce development, and sharing best practice. Strengthening leadership and teacher confidence is essential to embedding technology into everyday teaching.
The Challenge
England’s decentralised education system fosters innovation but leads to fragmented EdTech adoption. With procurement typically managed at the school or trust level, opportunities for economies of scale are missed, creating inefficiencies. Smaller schools are especially impacted, often lacking the technical expertise and resources to meet complex standards or navigate procurement effectively.
Why This Matters
Addressing digital maturity in education goes beyond tools and platforms, it demands a holistic approach to how technology supports teaching and learning. This includes building EdTech and technical skills for educators and pupils, streamlining procurement, and ensuring robust infrastructure with reliable access to devices, connectivity, and support.
Crucially, digital strategies must promote inclusion and sustainability, reducing inequalities while considering environmental and financial impacts. Progress requires system-wide collaboration across schools, trusts, government, and partners must align efforts, share insights, and scale what works.
Outcomes and Next steps
This session laid the groundwork for assessing and advancing digital maturity, focusing on EdTech adoption, staff training, and aligning sector needs with government initiatives. It supports the national vision for digital inclusion, with proposals for a standing catalyst group to drive momentum, shape priorities, and close the gap between policy and practice—ensuring all schools benefit from consistent, purposeful tech investment. Now is the time to collaborate, contribute, and champion the next phase of digital transformation in education.
Austin Earl
Programme Manager, Education and EdTech, techUK
Austin Earl
Programme Manager, Education and EdTech, techUK
Austin leads techUK’s Education and EdTech programme, shaping strategies that support the digital transformation of schools, colleges, and universities. His work focuses on strengthening the UK’s education technology ecosystem, enhancing core technology foundations, and advancing the adoption of emerging technologies to improve educational outcomes.
Austin also chairs the EdTech Advisory Panel for AI in Education, contributing to national discussions on the future of EdTech, AI, and the UK's Education system.
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Francesca Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
techUK’s Education and EdTech programmeseeks to address this challenges by bridging the gap between education, the tech industry, and policymakers. We ensure that education institutions can effectively adopt technology that enhances learning, streamlines operations, and supports skills development. Visit the programme page here
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Austin leads techUK’s Education and EdTech programme, shaping strategies that support the digital transformation of schools, colleges, and universities. His work focuses on strengthening the UK’s education technology ecosystem, enhancing core technology foundations, and advancing the adoption of emerging technologies to improve educational outcomes.
Austin also chairs the EdTech Advisory Panel for AI in Education, contributing to national discussions on the future of EdTech, AI, and the UK's Education system.
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Francesca Richiusa
Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK
Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.
Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.
Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.
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