AI Tutoring Review: EdTech Expert Jodie Lopez’s Independent Assessment Of Skye

Jodie Lopez is a former teacher and respected EdTech expert, known as the EdTech Ninja UK, who specialises in evaluating how education technology products can support learning in the classroom.

We asked Jodie to independently trial Skye, our spoken AI maths tutor, and share her honest assessment of the system’s strengths and areas for development.

Jodie tested Skye with her two sons – one completing a Year 5 lesson and one a GCSE lesson – to evaluate how the system works across different key stages and ability levels.

For those of you on the go, here’s a video version of Jodie’s independent review of the AI tutor Skye:

Or you can read the full review here:

When Third Space Learning approached me to test their AI tutor Skye, I was keen to see how it compared to other AI products I’ve been evaluating. I tested the system with my two sons – one did a Year 5 lesson and one took a GCSE revision lesson – so I could experience how it works across different key stages.

It’s important to note upfront that AI isn’t replacing teachers. But what I discovered is that AI solutions in schools, like tutoring, have real potential to fill gaps where there’s currently nothing, where schools simply don’t have the budget or resources for one-to-one support.

Here’s my honest assessment of what I found, including both the impressive aspects and the areas that still need work.

AI tutoring review key takeaways: 

• Third Space Learning used its 10+ years of knowledge of what works in tutoring and has poured it into this platform. 
• They’ve created something affordable for schools with pupils who need extra support but cannot afford traditional one-to-one tutors.
• There’s something valuable here for pupils who might find AI less intimidating than working with a human tutor. 

AI isn’t replacing teachers, but it can replace nothing

Let me be clear from the start: AI tutors will never replace human teachers. Humans add something essential to every conversation, and in teaching, they’re irreplaceable. 

So, the key question isn’t whether AI tutoring is perfect, but whether it can serve a real purpose for schools where they don’t have other options for that one-to-one human support. 

From what I observed, it absolutely can.

In creating Skye, Third Space Learning has provided something affordable for schools where traditional tutoring isn’t an option. This could be because there’s no budget for anything, or because you’re a rural school where it’s difficult to find local tutors who are reliable.

This is about filling a gap where there’s currently nothing, not about replacing good teaching. And that’s a crucial distinction that schools need to understand when considering AI tutoring solutions.

A less intimidating alternative for some pupils

One of the most interesting benefits I observed is how some children find AI tutoring less intimidating than working with a human tutor.

I made it very clear to my sons beforehand that they were dealing with an AI, not a human. This transparency actually takes some pressure off. If they get it wrong, it’s only a bot that knows about it. No human is sitting there with expectations.

For children who are struggling but don’t want to admit it, or who need a little confidence but don’t feel comfortable sitting down with a tutor for various reasons, the AI provides something genuinely different.

The AI is never disappointed. Skye has been trained to be encouraging, motivating, and positive, so children won’t feel they’re letting anybody down. It will guide them through, asking them to check different elements, referring to the visuals and the conversation.

For some children, this creates a feeling of safety that allows them to take risks with their learning.

Teachers remain in control of the learning process

One aspect that impressed me was that the teacher isn’t removed from the process with Third Space Learning. I still had complete control over which lesson my children completed. 

Within the platform, once you’ve set up a tutoring session, you can reorder the lesson to personalise it for each child.

This means schools can ensure the AI tutoring aligns with their curriculum planning and pupils’ individual needs. The system doesn’t operate independently – it works under the teacher’s direction.

This level of control is crucial for schools considering AI tutoring. You’re not handing over educational decisions to the AI; you’re using it as a tool that delivers the content and approach you’ve determined is right for each pupil.

Lesson format: visual, structured, spoken support

Third Space Learning has built something truly different from generative AI products, where you enter a prompt to learn about maths. Skye uses structured lessons with carefully planned visuals that walk you through concepts.

Skye adds a conversational layer on top of these visual lessons. It verbally explains examples to the child, then they do one together, and finally, the child tackles examples independently.

This brings together all Third Space Learning’s expertise from 10+ years of human tutoring. They’ve taken what works and built it into this platform, creating lessons that follow the same I do, we do, you do structure you’d expect from effective maths teaching.

A combination of planned lessons with responsive spoken conversation makes it feel more like actual tutoring rather than just another online maths tool.

The system accommodates different communication preferences

Although the AI behind Skye is dialogue-driven, children can talk as much or as little to the tutor as they want, and Skye will keep talking back and prompting them. 

You don’t have to talk lots – if a child doesn’t want to speak much, they can interact on screen, but the tutor will still verbally guide them through as they work.

This flexibility is important because not all children are comfortable speaking aloud, especially when they’re uncertain about their answers. The system doesn’t force verbal participation but encourages it when children are ready.

If there’s silence, a gap, or if they’re struggling, the tutor will prompt them and ask them to think about certain things related to the maths.

The conversational element adds value without creating barriers for less confident speakers.

Meaningful mathematical guidance when students struggle

When children get answers wrong, Skye doesn’t just mark them incorrect and move on. It explains misconceptions from a mathematical point of view and helps guide them to the right answer. 

For example, it might say “have a look at the tens column and think about what is in the tens column” – talking them through the specific concept they’re struggling with.

This creates very little chance of failure because the tutor actively helps children work through examples. 

If a child doesn’t understand and can’t move past a problem, the tutor explains the right answer and ensures they understand before moving to the next question. Children don’t get stuck for too long.

Skye refers to the visuals on screen as well as providing verbal guidance, so children can see and hear the mathematical reasoning behind each step.

This approach mirrors what you’d expect from effective human tutoring – identifying the specific misconception and addressing it directly rather than just providing the correct answer.

Current limitations

Of course, nothing is without its limitations, but the Third Space Learning team are rolling out updates and improvements every week.  

During my sessions, there were a couple of instances where Skye didn’t always understand what the children were saying. 

Some children might worry that they got the answer wrong when actually the tutor just didn’t understand them. This caused a couple of small frustrations during our testing.

However, the tutor simply carried on and moved through the lesson anyway, so it didn’t stop progress. I suspect this will improve quickly as the AI trains on more student interactions – that’s how AI generally progresses.

These are the kind of technical issues that will iron out as the technology develops and as more children use the system.

AI tutoring: a valuable solution for schools

AI maths tutoring is a workable solution. It adds something different to just using a chat functionality because spoken and visual guidance is progressive, and qualified teachers plan lessons for the tutor to work through.

The AI tutor adds an extra layer of support on top of structured content. Children can work through and get help as they go, similar to having a human next to them guiding the process.

From a cost and capacity perspective, this gives children valuable extra support. For schools with a small budget, Skye is a good option.

Third Space Learning is putting all their expertise into what good tutoring looks into this platform. They’re building something sustainable and useful for schools.

We paid Jodie for her time, but her review is unscripted and impartial.