A new 12-month pilot project will allow eight UK colleges and universities to explore how generative AI can support staff with marking and feedback.
TeacherMatic, the AI platform built for educators, is partnering with Jiscʼs National Centre for AI in Tertiary Education to run a national assessment pilot from September 2025 to August 2026. The pilot is now open for applications, offering 50 staff licences per institution and a structured programme of support, training, and evaluation.
A Focus on reducing marking and feedback workload
Marking and feedback continue to be significant pressure points for educators. This pilot will assess the impact of AI-powered support on time spent preparing, delivering, and personalising formative assessment across various subject areas and assessment types.
Each participating institution will be asked to identify where it intends to use TeacherMatic —defining the subject, assessment type, cohort size, and dates—then track its experience throughout the academic year via regular progress reports and evaluation checkpoints.
Importantly, TeacherMatic is a staff-led tool, meaning no student accounts or logins are required. Itʼs a standalone platform that doesnʼt rely on system integrations to get started— though optional integrations with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms are available if needed.
Whatʼs included in the pilot?
Each of the eight selected institutions will receive:
- 50 TeacherMatic licences for the full academic year (Sept 2025 – Aug 2026)
- Live onboarding sessions, including an institution-wide staff intro and a Project Lead training session
- Self-paced resources, including a Getting Started course, a Help Centre, walkthrough videos, and a resource hub
- Community events, such as Deep Dive webinars and pilot-wide check-ins
- Ongoing guidance through monthly collaboration sessions and optional vendor calls
This is a practical, hands-on opportunity for staff to explore where generative AI can add value, whether drafting model answers, structuring rubrics, generating formative quizzes, or giving personalised feedback.
Evaluation and research
Jisc will conduct a complete evaluation of the pilot in April 2026, gathering insights through:
- Staff and student surveys
- Institutional focus groups
- Input from Project Leads and pilot sponsors
The evaluation will assess:
- The impact on the marking and feedback workload
- How AI is perceived and used by different stakeholders
- The effectiveness and suitability of the TeacherMatic platform
- Lessons to shape future AI pilots and adoption strategies
What happens after the pilot?
There is no obligation to subscribe after the pilot, but participating institutions will receive full pricing and implementation support details.
For reference, TeacherMatic costs £30 per staff user per year when purchased in volumes of 50 or more licences.
How to apply
Applications are now open and must be submitted by 20 June 2025. To learn more and submit your application, visit:
If your institution is looking to explore the potential of AI for assessment in a responsible, educator-driven way, this is the ideal opportunity to get involved.
