AI Tools for Lesson Planning (UK) — Quick-Start & Best Apps
This practical guide to AI tools for lesson planning UK classrooms shows how to save time without losing your professional judgement. Use AI to draft lesson outlines, retrieval practice, quizzes, worksheets and success criteria—then edit with UK curriculum language (KS1–KS4) and your school’s policies.
Quick Start (5 mins)
- Pick one task to automate today (e.g., retrieval quiz or lesson outline).
- Use the prompt below in your chosen AI tool; paste your spec: year group, topic, exam board, and misconceptions.
- Run student-paced first (for quizzes) to collect misconceptions; then reteach top 3.
- UK-ify the outputs: terminology, grade boundaries, success criteria, and inclusivity notes.
- Record what worked in a planning log; reuse and refine next week.
Starter prompt: “You are a UK teacher. Create a 45-minute [subject/topic] lesson for [Year/KS] following [exam board/spec]. Include: learning objective, success criteria in pupil-friendly language, key vocabulary, prior knowledge check, 8 retrieval questions (MCQ + short answer with answers), a scaffolded task with differentiation (SEN/EAL), and a 3-minute exit ticket. Use UK spelling and terms.”
Best AI Tools for UK Lesson Planning
Each tool below lists a “Best for”, pricing snapshot, and a quick UK classroom tip. Always review outputs for accuracy and safeguarding.
| Tool | Best for | Free? | UK Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | Flexible planning prompts, success criteria, model answers, retrieval questions. | Yes (basic); paid tiers available. | Add exam board cues (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC) and KS stage; request UK spelling. |
| Microsoft Copilot | Drafts lesson outlines inside the Microsoft ecosystem; good with Word/PowerPoint. | Free tier; education licensing varies. | Great if your school uses O365—export to Word, then apply your school template. |
| Google Gemini | Brainstorming activities, question banks, and quick explanations. | Free tier; paid add-ons. | Use with Google Docs/Slides; add UK vocab lists and literacy tiers (Bronze/Silver/Gold). |
| MagicSchool.ai | Education-specific generators: lesson plans, IEP/targets language, question stems. | Free tier; Pro available. | Choose UK English in settings; adapt rubrics to school assessment policy. |
| Diffit | Differentiate texts at varied reading levels; generate questions & vocab. | Free tier; Pro available. | Good for literacy across the curriculum; export reading at Y7/Y9 levels. |
| Curipod | Interactive slide decks with auto-questions, polls and quick checks. | Free tier; paid plans. | Switch off public leaderboards for KS3 and below; use anonymous nicknames. |
| Quizizz AI | Auto-generate quizzes from topics or text; homework and self-paced modes. | Free tier; School plans. | Edit wording to match UK spec terms; tag questions by objective for revision. |
| Canva Magic Write | Worksheets, displays and knowledge organisers with AI-assisted copy. | Free for Education (check eligibility). | Apply school fonts/brand kit for consistent classroom visuals. |
A Simple Weekly Workflow
- Plan: Use ChatGPT/Copilot to draft outline + success criteria.
- Resources: Generate retrieval questions (Quizizz AI) and a differentiated text (Diffit).
- Slides: Build an interactive deck (Curipod) with a 3-minute exit ticket.
- Publish: Export to Docs/Slides/PowerPoint. Add your school’s template.
- Reflect: Log misconceptions and adjust next week’s prompt.
Safeguarding & GDPR (UK)
- No pupil personal data in prompts. Use generic class descriptions.
- Class codes over emails. Avoid collecting pupil emails where possible.
- Disable public leaderboards for Y7 and below; use anonymous nicknames.
- Check UK data statements for each app; prefer Education/UK hosting where available.
- Teacher review required: AI outputs can be wrong. Verify facts and worked solutions.
Copy-Paste Prompts (UK-ready)
Retrieval (10 Qs): “Create 10 mixed-format retrieval questions for [topic] for [Year] following [spec]. Include answers. Use UK spelling and short, clear wording.”
Success Criteria: “Write pupil-friendly success criteria for [objective] at [KS/GCSE] with three tiers: Secure, Developing, Extending.”
Differentiated Task: “Design a scaffolded task with supports for SEN/EAL and an extension for high attainers on [topic]. Include vocabulary and model sentence frames.”
FAQ
Is AI allowed for teachers? Most UK schools permit staff use for planning with professional oversight. Follow your school’s policy and never share personal data.
Will AI replace my planning? No—treat it as a draft generator and idea partner. You decide pedagogy, sequencing and assessment.