How South Gloucestershire and Stroud College Saves Time and Simplifies Teaching with TeacherMatic
In this case study, we explore how South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS College) has been using TeacherMatic since 2023. With insights from Luke Allen-Hayward, Deputy Head of Cross College Digital Education, we’ll show how the platform is making AI accessible, practical and genuinely time-saving for educators.
Meeting the Challenge of AI in Education
Teachers today face an ever-growing list of responsibilities. From planning lessons and preparing resources to marking, admin and student support – it’s no wonder workload continues to be one of the biggest challenges in education.
At the same time, schools, colleges and universities are under pressure to innovate. Leaders are looking for ways to improve staff wellbeing, reduce repetitive tasks and make use of digital transformation strategies that genuinely benefit both staff and learners.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly part of this conversation. But for many teachers, the idea of using AI can feel daunting. How do you make sure the output is not only useful but also safe? Questions about GDPR compliance, the risk of training large language models with sensitive data, or even “are the servers located in the UK?” are all valid concerns. Teachers also want reassurance that the content produced is pedagogically sound and genuinely supports learning. And of course, the question remains: can AI really save time rather than add another layer of complexity?
That’s where TeacherMatic comes in.
About SGS College and Luke’s Role
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) is one of the largest further education providers in the South West of England, with thousands of students and hundreds of staff. It has a strong reputation for innovation, particularly when it comes to digital learning.
Luke has a unique perspective on how technology can transform teaching. He began as a lecturer in Sport and Public Services, a role he held for six years before stepping into leadership as Deputy Head of Digital Education. His background means he understands both the pressures of classroom teaching and the wider challenge of helping staff embrace new digital tools. This balance makes his reflections on TeacherMatic particularly valuable for other educators exploring AI.
The Challenge: Making AI Accessible for Every Teacher
While AI is often hailed as the future of education, many teachers find the reality more complex. Confidence with technology varies widely, and not every member of staff feels comfortable navigating new platforms or experimenting with large language models. Add in the everyday time pressures of lesson preparation and marking, and there’s little capacity left to learn complicated systems. New staff, too, often need immediate access to resources that help them succeed in the classroom. For SGS College, the challenge was clear: they needed a tool that made AI accessible, practical and supportive for all educators, regardless of their technical expertise.
TeacherMatic was designed with this in mind.
Why SGS College Chose TeacherMatic
When Luke’s department adopted TeacherMatic in mid-2023, it quickly proved to be more than just another digital tool. Teachers valued the fact that it was designed specifically for education, which meant there was no requirement to master complex “prompt engineering” before generating useful results. The ability to customise the platform by pinning the most frequently used generators made it even more efficient. Staff appreciated the clean, intuitive interface, which was easy to navigate regardless of digital confidence. Perhaps most importantly, the outputs could be tailored to specific subject areas and student age groups, ensuring resources were always relevant and ready to use.
Key Ways TeacherMatic Saves Time for Teachers at SGS
One of the strongest pieces of feedback from SGS staff is just how much time TeacherMatic saves. Here are the standout examples Luke shared:
1. Assessment Question Generation
- Teachers can instantly generate multiple-choice questions.
- Questions are formatted and ready to use, avoiding the need to spend hours writing or formatting.
- Export options include Kahoot and Microsoft Forms, both popular tools for interactive and digital assessment.
- The self-marking function in Microsoft Forms integrates seamlessly with TeacherMatic outputs, cutting down on manual marking.
Luke notes this has saved him “a great deal of time faffing about with formats and researching questions myself.”
2. Summariser Tool for Complex Topics
Some subjects, such as government legislation, can be difficult to break down for students. With TeacherMatic’s Summariser, Luke can:
- Convert complex text into accessible chunks of information.
- Adapt content to different learner needs, whether for high-achieving students or those requiring more support.
- Make lessons more engaging and easier for students to digest.
3. Flexible Content Sources
Teachers at SGS particularly value the ability to generate content from a wide range of inputs, including:
- YouTube videos.
- Online articles.
- Other digital sources.
This flexibility makes it easier to keep content current, varied and relevant.
4. Integration with Microsoft Suite or Google Workspace
Many schools and colleges already use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace. TeacherMatic works in harmony with both, as well as exporting to many other platforms. This allows staff to:
- Export assessments directly into Microsoft Forms or Google Forms.
- Use self-marking and analytics features to track student progress.
- Build assessments and resources faster, with less duplication of effort.
- Share outputs in multiple formats that fit existing classroom workflows.
Benefits Beyond the Classroom
The advantages of TeacherMatic weren’t confined to classroom teaching. Luke noticed a wider ripple effect across the college. Staff who were previously hesitant about digital tools found that the platform built their confidence, giving them a safe and supportive way to explore AI. New teachers arriving at SGS could access ready-made resources almost immediately, helping them to focus on settling into their roles and engaging with students. Colleagues frequently commented on how the platform reduced the stress of workload and freed up time for what matters most – planning engaging lessons and working directly with learners.
Luke’s Verdict: Why He Recommends TeacherMatic
“I’d definitely recommend it to new starters – it saves them a lot of time. And I’d recommend it to anybody who’s not confident with large language model AIs. Very, very good for time saving.”His endorsement carries weight because it’s grounded in practical classroom experience, not just theoretical benefits.
The Bigger Picture: TeacherMatic as a Partner for Schools, FE and HE
Luke’s experience at SGS College reflects a wider trend across the education sector: the need for tools that make AI practical, safe and accessible.
TeacherMatic is already being used in:
- Further Education (FE) colleges.
- Higher Education (HE) institutions.
- Schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs).
And the benefits are consistent:
- Reduced teacher workload.
- Faster creation of high-quality teaching resources.
- Improved staff confidence with digital tools.
- Better outcomes for students through more engaging resources.
This aligns with broader digital transformation strategies in education, helping institutions adopt AI responsibly while keeping teachers’ needs front and centre.
Conclusion: What Educators Can Learn from SGS
The SGS College case study shows that AI doesn’t need to be intimidating. With the right tools, it can save teachers hours each week, provide student-ready resources, support both tech-confident and hesitant staff and make complex topics more accessible. For schools and colleges, it also helps deliver on efficiency, innovation and staff wellbeing.
Just as importantly, TeacherMatic answers the critical questions leaders are asking. Is it safe? Yes, data protection and GDPR compliance are built in, with no sensitive information used to train the large language model. Are the servers UK-based? Yes, ensuring security and data residency. Is it pedagogically sound? Absolutely, every generator is designed for teaching and learning, so outputs are reliable and classroom-ready.
For Luke and his colleagues at SGS, this combination of safety, simplicity and educational focus is what makes TeacherMatic stand out. It’s not just another AI tool. It’s a trusted partner that helps educators work smarter, support students more effectively and embrace digital transformation with confidence.
Want to see the same results in your school, college or university?
Start using TeacherMatic for free today and discover how our AI-powered generators can save you time, reduce workload and support your teaching.
Or, if you’d like to explore organisational access for your institution, get in touch with our team: