A new digital resource developed by Powys County Council is set to enhance reading progression for students in the region. The Reading Assessment and Text Transformation Tool aims to empower teachers while supporting pupils in their reading development. This initiative underscores the council’s dedication to leveraging technology to improve education and demonstrates the benefits of cross-service collaboration.
Since summer 2025, the Education and Digital Services departments have been working together to create a bilingual tool that enables teachers to quickly assess students’ reading ages and adapt texts to meet individual learning needs. Currently being trialled in four schools in Powys—Archdeacon Griffiths CiW School, Gwernyfed High School, Newtown High School, and Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd—the tool will be rolled out more broadly in November 2025.
The tool is designed to save educators time by streamlining the reading age assessment process. It supports adaptive teaching by modifying texts to align with learners’ reading levels, ensuring equity by allowing all students to access curriculum content, and promoting independent learning through personalized reading materials.
Empowering Educators and Students
Councillor James Gibson-Watt, Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, “This is a fantastic example of how innovation and collaboration can directly benefit our learners. By harnessing AI responsibly, we’re giving teachers powerful tools to tailor support and improve outcomes for every pupil. It’s about making education more inclusive, more efficient, and more effective.”
In addition, Councillor Raiff Devlin, Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital and Community Services, noted the human aspect of digital transformation. “This project shows how our digital services can work hand-in-hand with education to create meaningful change. We’re proud to be leading the way in using AI to support our communities and improve lives.”
The Reading Assessment and Text Transformation Tool represents a significant step forward in educational technology. By prioritizing both teacher efficiency and student engagement, the council aims to create a more effective learning environment for all students in Powys. As the pilot progresses and the tool becomes available in a wider context, its potential to transform reading education continues to grow.
