2024/25 UK further education teaching staff digital experience insights survey findings
The digital experience insights survey for further education teaching staff took place between October 2024 and June 2025. Participating organisations were able to select their own survey period within these dates, typically a three to four week window.
There were 763 respondents from 18 different organisations. 17 of these organisations were based in England and one in Scotland. A survey run by Jisc for teaching staff who were not based in organisations that ran their own digital experience insights survey collected 74 responses. A separate analysis of the digital experience of teaching staff in colleges in Wales was conducted in 2024/25. These 18 organisations represent 7% of all further education providers in the UK.
The highest number of responses from a single organisation was 120 staff. The mean number of responses was 38 per organisation and the median was 30 per organisation. 4 of the 18 organisations contributed fewer than 10 responses.
A survey indicating the digital experience of further education teaching staff was run simultaneously and results can be found in our 2024/25 HE teaching staff report.
Through Jisc’s digital experience insights service, organisations can gain valuable data to inform strategic, operational and digital investment decisions, evidence year-on-year improvements and demonstrate return on investment. Organisations that take part have access to their own data to assess their unique situations as well as benchmarking data. Full information about the digital experience insights surveys is detailed on our information page.
Executive summary
Our 2024/25 digital experience insights survey for further education teaching staff explored the evolving landscape of digital teaching, focusing on the technologies used, the support provided, and the challenges faced. Teaching staff from 18 organisations shared their experiences, offering valuable insights into how digital tools are shaping teaching practices and environments.
This year’s findings show the maintenance of ‘good’ (or better) digital teaching environments across the further education sector. 70% of respondents rated their digital teaching environment as best imaginable, excellent or good. Similarly, 65% rated the quality of their digital teaching experience as above average, and 63% felt the support they received to teach effectively using technology was above average (a slight increase from 60% in last year’s survey). These ratings indicate that colleges are making steady gains or at least maintaining a good baseline of digital provision and support.
However, persistent challenges remain. Connectivity issues were widespread, with 65% of staff reporting problems with wifi (up from 60% last year). Nearly half (48%) said they could not access the systems they needed, and 41% lacked suitable devices for teaching at some point during the academic year. These issues were most commonly experienced on campus and continued to disrupt teaching activities.
The use of digital tools in teaching activities remained high, with 70% of staff producing or uploading online content and using interactive apps for teaching. Notably, the use of artificial intelligence tools rose sharply to 59%, reflecting the growing integration of AI into teaching activities. However, only 44% received training in the appropriate or effective use of AI, and concerns about the accuracy and reliability of AI platforms persisted. Teaching continued to be primarily campus based, with 90% of classes delivered mainly on campus. Staff preferences also leaned towards on campus teaching (80%), although many recognised the flexibility and engagement benefits of digital technologies and online content. Despite this, only 37% felt involved in decisions about their digital experience, though this marks a slight improvement from last year’s survey.
Support for digital skills development in a range of areas remained relatively low compared to the good ratings staff provide for their college’s overall support and digital teaching environment. While 53% received induction or refresher sessions around the devices, platforms and support available in their colleges, only 29% were given time to explore new tools, and just 21% received formal recognition for their digital skills. Staff called for more tailored training, better infrastructure, and improved access to reliable devices and software.
We hope these findings help further education organisations identify areas for improvement to continue to enhance the digital teaching experience for staff and learners. Some of these themes are also reflected in the higher education sector, detailed in our 2024/25 digital experience insights survey for higher education teaching staff. We also investigated the experiences of FE learners in our 2024/25 digital experience insights survey for further education learners.
Full report
Download our 2024/25 UK further education (FE) teaching staff digital experience insights survey findings [pdf].