Peter Doyle
Policy & Research Manager, BESA
Government policy continues to support large multinational tech corporations that don’t always act in the interests of the UK. In this article, we’ll explain why this approach is wrong.
Edtech ranks among the UK’s largest and most respected sectors, generating over £2bn in exports and accounting for more than 50% of all inward investment in the European edtech market.
Growth in homegrown edtech
We are great at it because it leverages two areas where the UK has a strong pedigree in excelling in: technology and education.
By prioritising a sovereign edtech sector, the UK can further capitalise on this strength, exporting home-grown digital platforms, assessment tools and learning resources.
This supports the Government’s growth agenda by boosting GDP, creating high-skilled jobs and fostering innovation within the domestic tech ecosystem, putting our schools at the forefront of technology development.
Protecting digital infrastructure
The prevalence and dependence of technology within education were perhaps most obvious during the pandemic. Though, as several recent high-profile cyberattacks have shown recently, our dependence on tech extends far beyond exceptional global events.
the UK has a strong pedigree in excelling in: technology and education.
Relying heavily on foreign-owned tech platforms can expose schools to vulnerabilities, including data security risks. By investing in sovereign capacity, the UK can ensure that data, content and delivery systems remain secure and resilient, protected from foreign interference or geopolitical tensions.
Making tech accountable to schools
A sovereign edtech sector empowers the UK to hold technology providers fully accountable to domestic regulatory standards.
This is especially vital in areas such as data privacy, safeguarding, accessibility and quality assurance. The introduction of the Online Safety Act has demonstrated that some foreign tech companies have resisted compliance, prioritising legal loopholes over the protection of children.
Full legal accountability upholds the rights and interests of learners, educators and schools, as well as ensuring that tools are fully compliant with existing laws.
Building a sovereign capacity for educational technology is essential for the UK’s economic prosperity, national security and regulatory sovereignty. It is an investment in the nation’s future, ensuring that British edtech remains robust, innovative and globally influential for years to come.
