Reading with AI Research Project
The RAISE Programme’s Reading with AI Research Project is a new research study that will provide schools with an opportunity to see how AI tools can support literacy. The study is led by Oxford Brookes University, using Amira Learning, a reading support tool, aligned with research-informed approaches to early literacy and powered by AI.
About the Study
The Reading with AI Research Project assesses the effectiveness of evidence-based AI literacy tools on improving reading outcomes. It uses a matched-pair design to identify rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to inform national literacy policy and support targeted interventions.
There are 114 schools with 469 classes and involving 8,426 pupils, in Years 3, 5, 7, and 8, participating in the Reading with AI Project.
For this study, pupils in Years 3, 5, 7 and 8 will first complete a brief 15-minute baseline assessment to evaluate their reading skills and identify potential challenges such as dyslexia. . Over the duration of the study, pupils will engage with Amira Learning, for frequent sessions totalling 20-40 minutes weekly for 6 months.
The research methodology includes continuous monitoring and data collection to evaluate effectiveness. Teachers receive face to face and online training from Oxford Brookes University to support teachers to interpret assessment data through detailed reports, enabling them to identify struggling readers and then implement individualised, evidence-based, targeted interventions aligned with the Science of Reading. This comprehensive approach supports Northern Ireland's ongoing shift toward evidence-based tools making a positive impact on reading outcomes while providing data-driven insights to inform both classroom practices and broader educational policy decisions.
- Reading with AI Research Project – Communication to Schools
- Amira Learning - Frequently Asked Questions
- Reading with AI Research Project - School selection process explanation
- Reading with AI Research Project - List of participating schools
About Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes is a national leader in teacher education, with over 25 years’ experience in training teachers, supporting schools and shaping education policy. Its research in primary literacy, inclusive pedagogy and professional development has informed teaching practice across the UK and internationally.
Through its publishing and education development arm, Hamilton Brookes, the University works directly with schools and education systems to co-create practical resources that help teachers apply research in real-world settings.
About Amira Learning
Amira listens to students read out loud, assesses mastery, screens for dyslexia, and delivers personalized 1:1 tutoring for students who are learning to read. As the student reads aloud, Amira uses AI to decipher what obstacles the young reader is facing, selecting in real-time from over 60 reading science-based micro-interventions to bridge specific reading skills gaps. The AI Avatar delivers the science of reading with decodable texts, guided practice, and explicit systematic instruction in phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary and comprehension. Amira was born from over 30 years of research at Carnegie Mellon University, where a team of AI scientists conducted more than 100 studies, proving that intelligent tutoring systems can significantly improve reading outcomes.