Why Teachers Deserve Better Feedback — And How AI Can Deliver It Fast

In schools across the country, teachers give everything. They craft lessons, nurture relationships, and adapt on the fly. Yet when it comes to their own professional growth, feedback is often sporadic, time-consuming, or uncomfortably performative. It's no wonder many teachers feel they are flying blind.

Starlight exists to change that.

By using AI to analyse classroom audio, Starlight offers teachers fast, private, evidence-based feedback. It's not about judging. It's about insight.

"I was very surprised at the level of interpretation the AI was able to apply – small, quirky details in a drama role play were placed within context and 'understood'." — Helen

What makes AI feedback different?

Traditional lesson observations are limited. They often happen once a year, are influenced by the presence of an observer, and can feel disconnected from daily teaching reality. By contrast, Starlight's feedback is:

• Timely: arrives within minutes of uploading a lesson

• Private: delivered straight to the teacher

• Non-judgemental: designed for self-reflection, not appraisal

• Actionable: suggests practical next steps

"It allowed me to choose what would be helpful to move forward with... I particularly liked the evidence-based approach." — Rachel

"Really good at summarising and suggesting what to work on next, felt no judgement – that it was just for myself to use." — Lisa

Teachers are asking for this

The reaction from early users has been overwhelmingly positive. Some describe it as "phenomenal," others as something they "dreamed of".

"This is something I've always dreamed about. Since I was a little boy when I used to talk to myself that I would love to have a mirror where I will be able to see myself through other person's eyes. Amazing!" — Walen

"I wanted to let you know that the feedback was phenomenal. I can't believe how clever it is and I have tons of ideas to consider now moving forward." — Mick

"Tim and I spent Wednesday lunchtime talking about it and how it's the best thing since sliced bread." — Vicky

"I am LOVING this." — Kim

Coaching, reimagined

We're not claiming AI replaces human dialogue. Instead, it kickstarts it. By giving teachers a clear and thoughtful reflection of their own practice, it invites real professional growth. Think of it as a mirror, not a magnifying glass.

"It was a much more pleasant way to receive feedback than I imagined... the summaries were phrased in a very appreciative way and 'echoed' back to me the things I was looking for." — Helen

As we move toward a September launch, we're inviting more schools to experience this for themselves. Teachers deserve feedback that helps them grow — not in months or years, but tomorrow.

Let AI be the spark, and reflection do the rest.

The Insight Engine is written by Adam Sturdee, founder of Starlight, the UK's first AI-powered coaching platform, and Assistant Headteacher at St Augustine’s Catholic College. This blog explores the intersection of coaching, education, and AI—sharing practical insights, emerging research, and real-world stories about how technology can support human growth. Whether you're a teacher, school leader, coach, or curious innovator, you’ll find ideas here to spark change—one insight at a time.

Adam Sturdee

Co-founder of Starlight | Assistant Headteacher | Coaching Enthusiast

www.starlightmentor.com | www.coaching.software