Partnership

Graide and NCFE launch collaborative pilots to explore the future of AI-assisted marking and learner feedback

Awarding organisation NCFE and AI-powered assessment platform Graide have announced the launch of an exciting new collaboration to explore how artificial intelligence can enhance marking, feedback, and learner preparation. The partnership will run two structured innovation pilots to evaluate the impact of Graide’s automated marking capabilities on bothNCFE learners and colleagues.

The pilots form part of NCFE’s commitment to “promote and enhance learning”, enabling learners and educators to benefit from emerging technology in a safe, controlled, and research-driven environment. The programme will evaluate AI’s role in formative practice, marking support, and workflow enhancement.

The first track focuses on giving NCFE learners access to AI-powered practice assessments to support their preparation for summative assessments. Using Graide’s automated marking and instant feedback capabilities, the pilot aims to help learners better understand expectations, build confidence, and improve outcomes.Teachers will also benefit from a reduction in marking workload and delivery of formative assessment insights that can shape their delivery. Running in parallel, the second pilot track will explore whether AI can provide useful information to support human moderators and markers in the judgments they make about learner work .The focus is on building trust in the technology and identifying suitable use cases where AI can add value for human experts.

"We are thrilled to be working with NCFE on such an important and forward-looking programme. Our mission at Graide is to transform assessment so learners receive richer feedback, teachers save time, and awarding organisations gain greater consistency and confidence in marking. NCFE’s thoughtful and rigorous approach to innovation makes them the ideal partner, and together we’re excited to help shape how AI can genuinely enhance learning and assessment acrossthe sector."
Manjinder Kainth
CEO of Graide
“At NCFE, we explore emerging technologies not because they are new, but because they can help learners reach their full potential. This pilot will allow us to test AI-assisted marking in a safe, controlled way, building our understanding of how it can support learners, teachers, and NCFE colleagues. Working with Graide gives us a partner that shares our commitment to responsible innovation, and we’re looking forward to learning from this programme together.”
Dr. Gray Mytton
Innovation Manager (AI and Technology) at NCFE

About Graide

Graide is an AI-powered assessment platform that automates marking and generates high-quality feedback, helping educators save time and deliver consistent, pedagogically effective support to learners. Designed with transparency, explainability, and human oversight at its core, Graide is used by education and training providers across the UK and internationally to enhance assessment quality and reduce workload.

About NCFE

NCFE is a leading educational charity and awarding organisation with a mission to “promote and advance learning.” Working with a wide range of institutions, employers, and training providers, NCFE develops qualifications and services that support learners of all ages to achieve their potential.

For more information visit www.graide.co.uk or contact Jon Allen, Commercial Director at Graide on jon.allen@graide.co.uk

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