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GEMS Education has unveiled a plan to launch an AI-led learning model from the start of 2027 in the latest example of an international schools group trying to provide a new education offer to parents.

The GR8 School learning model, GEMS says, is based on three pillars that mark a significantly different approach to traditional schooling.

The first is what it calls “hyper-personalised learning”. This means letting students use AI to work through core academic material at their own pace, rather than on a set timetable.

To keep tabs on progress, there will be a learning system that assesses progress, identifies where the student needs additional support or further challenge. and adapts what they are working on accordingly.

Supporting this will be teachers - who GEMS refers to as “human mentors” - who will use the data from the learning system to offer one-to-one support when required, rather than having to teach the entire class at the same time throughout the day.

Finally, students will have their interests and ambitions mapped to connections with specialists, industry experts and real-world experiences to link what they are learning to possible future careers.

As well as taking this approach, GEMS says the school day will be structured differently, with a likely balance of around 90 minutes to two hours of teacher-led learning and two to three hours of enrichment activities, alongside the AI-led learning.

GEMS has also suggested this approach be available across different price points, with fees likely to sit somewhere between US$8,000 to £10,000 (£6,000 to £7,500) for affordable offerings and $20,000 to £40,000 for premium schools (£15,000 to £30,000).

New AI approach ‘right for certain pupils’

Announcing the plan, GEMS founder Sunny Varkey acknowledged that the GR8 model is “not for everyone, nor is it intended to be”. However, he said the group is confident there will be appetite from certain parents and children to learn in this way.

“We are making this pathway available to all our families, but we expect it will appeal to a select group of students who are ready for greater independence, personalisation and ownership of their learning,” he said.

“For the right student, we believe it can be transformative.”

He added, though, that the intention is not to suggest that teachers are not central to education, but that the rise of AI shows a new approach to how education is structured is possible.

“Artificial intelligence is changing how we learn and work, but the answer cannot simply be to put more technology into classrooms. We have to ask a bigger question: if we were designing education for young people today, knowing how rapidly the world around them is changing, what would we do differently?” he said.

“GR8 is our answer to that question. It starts with the individual child and asks what combination of technology, great teachers, industry experts and real-industry experiences will help that young person achieve academically and discover what they could become.”

The first GR8 school will soft launch in January 2027 within an existing GEMS school in the United Arab Emirates, with GEMS continuing to refine the systems behind the model, including its learning technology, academic model and teacher and guide roles, before full launch.

The offering echoes a similar plan from Inspired Education, which is launching what it calls its Edge curriculum that also places AI at its heart to allow students to move at their own learning pace.

Its first Edge school is due to open in September 2027 in London, followed by several other locations worldwide, starting with pupils in the later primary years.