How EdTech can help teachers manage larger class sizes
With the UK education system facing growing class sizes and staff shortages across the sector, it’s important that teachers feel adequately equipped to deliver engaging and informative lessons. Sean D’Arcy, Chief Solutions Officer at game-based learning platform, Kahoot!, argues that EdTech can play a key role in supporting teachers in work.
EdTech first made its way into UK classrooms over a decade ago, became a mainstay during the pandemic, and is now arguably more crucial than ever. A recent report by The National Foundation for Educational Research found that teacher shortages in schools are having an increasingly negative impact on pupils, with class sizes often growing as a result. Whilst efforts must be made to improve teacher recruitment and retention, in the meantime it is crucial that institutions commit to ensuring that teachers have the right tools to engage pupils in this increasingly challenging environment. With a proposed VAT increase expected for private schools in the UK, it’s fair to expect that state schools may become further strained, with a potential influx of students shifting in line with rising school fees. Data obtained via a Freedom Of Information request conducted by The Telegraph found that 124 local councils in England, Scotland and Wales received 3,011 applications from private school pupils to move to a state school after the proposed VAT hike.
Despite being a nation of highly skilled teaching professionals, a report from The National Foundation for Education Research found that teachers are already leaving the profession in record numbers in 2025. Crucially, one of the reasons cited for teacher vacancies was increasing difficulty managing pupil behaviour since the pandemic. With lockdown having significant effects on pupils’ attention span and learning methods, making learning engaging for larger class sizes is harder than ever. Tasks such as offering personalised support, monitoring classrooms and gauging pupil progress now require new, non-traditional methods.
Whilst there is no silver bullet for managing larger class sizes, and there is certainly no quick fix to attracting new teachers into the profession, EdTech tools can play a crucial role in helping teachers manage this transition, offering scalable classroom-ready solutions. Digital learning platforms allow every pupil in the room to participate simultaneously – a feat that’s increasingly difficult through traditional methods in larger groups. Teachers can use interactive experiences, such as polls and games to assess understanding and gauge participation instantly, without the need for lengthy marking or administrative effort. Digital tools don’t just make lessons more engaging, they in fact help teachers identify learning gaps, giving them insights in real-time.
Recent independent meta-analysis has also shown that game-based platforms like Kahoot! can improve not just engagement, but academic performance too. The study, which reviewed more than a dozen peer-reviewed papers, found that learners using Kahoot! performed significantly better than control groups in which no learning tools were used – in some cases improving outcomes by a full grade. The same analysis linked the platform to increased motivation, higher knowledge retention and improved attitudes towards learning – all critical factors when trying to sustain attention across larger classrooms.
Even five years on from the pandemic, many pupils are still reacclimatising to structured learning environments, with figures from the Department for Education (DfE) showing that more pupils are being suspended repeatedly, and for longer periods, than before the pandemic struck in 2020. Game-based learning can re-engage those who struggle with conventional teaching methods, helping to restore classroom energy and focus – without adding pressure to already overburdened teachers.
By reducing administrative tasks and streamlining lesson delivery, EdTech gives teachers more space to focus on what really matters: impactful teaching. Whether that’s checking understanding, facilitating discussions or offering meaningful feedback, the right tools can amplify a teacher’s reach and presence, even in classes that feel stretched to capacity. With fewer teachers expected to do more, lesson planning time is increasingly limited. Here, platforms with built-in AI support can help teachers save time by generating engaging learning experiences quickly and efficiently.
In a climate where class sizes are rising and resources remain tight, giving teachers the digital tools to teach smarter is no longer optional. It’s essential.