Question 1

What is Starlight? How exactly does the AI work?

Accepted Answer

Starlight analyses the transcript of a recorded lesson using natural language processing to identify key features of classroom dialogue — such as the types of questions asked, who is speaking, how vocabulary is used, and how student ideas are responded to. It uses these patterns to generate personalised coaching feedback, not judgments. The AI draws on research into effective teaching, including transcript-based lesson analysis (TBLA), and is designed to surface useful, actionable insights.

Question 2

How secure is our data? Where is it stored? Is it GDPR compliant?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is fully GDPR compliant and built with data protection at its core. All audio and transcript data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and stored securely on UK or EU-based servers. Only the teacher who uploads the lesson has access to their individual reports unless they choose to share them. Schools retain ownership of their data, and teachers can delete their recordings at any time.

Question 3

Who owns the data and recordings?

Accepted Answer

Schools own the lesson transcripts generated by Starlight, and teachers can delete their audio recordings at any time. We never sell or share identifiable data with third parties, and all personal data is handled securely and in line with GDPR.

Question 4

Will inspectors (Ofsted) have access to this data?

Accepted Answer

No — your data is never automatically shared with any external parties including Ofsted. Ofsted does not have access to Starlight data unless the school chooses to share it. The platform is designed for teacher development, not accountability.

Question 5

What happens to our data if we stop using your service?

Accepted Answer

If a school decides to stop using Starlight, all audio recordings are deleted. Teachers can also delete their recordings at any time. Schools retain ownership of their lesson transcripts. We retain anonymised transcripts to continue improving the platform.

Question 6

What is the Bias of the AI and how it reviews lessons?

Accepted Answer

Starlight doesn't judge lessons subjectively or evaluate teachers personally. It reviews transcripts using clear, research-informed indicators of effective teaching — such as questioning techniques, student participation, and vocabulary use. Unlike human observers, it applies these criteria consistently and without unconscious bias.

Question 7

Will this replace any of our teachers, mentors or observers?

Accepted Answer

No — Starlight is designed to support teachers, not replace them. It offers a consistent, scalable layer of feedback that complements human coaching by saving time and surfacing patterns that might otherwise be missed.

Question 8

What evidence do you have that this actually improves teaching quality?

Accepted Answer

Starlight has already been piloted in UK schools with promising results. Over 400 lessons have been analysed with an average user rating of 4.4 out of 5. Several staff have commented that the feedback prompted real changes to their teaching the very next day.

Question 9

Who else is using this software?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is currently being used by a growing number of schools across the UK, including secondary, primary, and special school settings. We're also in active discussions with several MATs and teaching hubs.

Question 10

How accurate is the AI transcription in noisy classrooms?

Accepted Answer

Starlight uses industry-leading speech recognition technology that performs well even in busy classroom environments with background noise, multiple speakers, and interruptions. Importantly, Starlight focuses on overall patterns of teaching practice — not word-perfect accuracy.

Question 11

Does the AI understand the full context of my classroom?

Accepted Answer

Starlight analyses the spoken dialogue in your lesson, but it doesn't have access to the full context that a human observer would — such as student backgrounds, SEN needs, or behaviour incidents. This is by design: it focuses on what's said and how, providing developmental coaching based on evidence-based teaching practices.

Question 12

What about student and parent consent for recording lessons?

Accepted Answer

Schools are responsible for ensuring appropriate consent policies are in place for recording lessons. Starlight uses audio-only recording, which significantly reduces privacy concerns compared to video. We provide comprehensive resources to support schools including guidance for communicating with parents and GDPR notices.

Question 13

How can we ensure teachers trust the feedback and don't feel demotivated?

Accepted Answer

Trust is built through three key principles: Starlight takes a non-judgmental, developmental approach; teachers retain complete control over their data and what they share; and the purpose is growth, not evaluation. In our pilot schools, teachers have given Starlight an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.

Question 14

How much time will teachers have to spend uploading or interacting with the system?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is designed to save teachers time, not add to their workload. Uploading a lesson takes less than a minute. The coaching report arrives within minutes by email, with no login or extra steps required.

Question 15

Does it integrate with our existing platforms or MIS?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is currently a standalone platform, but it's designed to fit naturally into teachers' existing routines. We're also working on future integrations, including single sign-on, Microsoft Teams, and API access for wider platforms.

Question 16

What sort of training or onboarding do you provide?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly — most teachers are up and running within minutes. We provide a short onboarding video, quick-start guide, and optional live demos or staff briefings to support rollout.

Question 17

What happens if there's a technical issue?

Accepted Answer

Our team provides responsive support for any technical issues. Users can contact us directly through the platform or by email, and we aim to respond promptly during the working week.

Question 18

Is this a long-term contract? Or can we try it for a month?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is offered as an annual subscription, but we provide a Launch Pad Partner Programme — a fully-supported trial for 4 weeks with 5 users for just £100. This allows senior leaders to see the platform in action before committing.

Question 19

Will teachers feel judged by this?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is designed to feel supportive, not judgmental. Because the feedback is private, focused on professional growth, and based on what's actually said in the lesson, most teachers find it empowering rather than critical. Many have described it as "a mirror" or "a coach that helps me think".

Question 20

Can we customise what your system focuses on?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Starlight offers flexible ways to align with your school or trust's priorities. Schools can create custom reflection templates, tag specific elements, or highlight areas they want teachers to focus on — such as questioning, oracy, or metacognition.

Question 21

Is it just for lesson observations or can it be used for CPD tracking?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is first and foremost a tool for teachers — designed to support professional growth, not performance management. While some schools use the platform to support peer reviews, coaching, CPD tracking, or even appraisals, this only works well in a culture of trust.

Question 22

Does it work equally well across subjects?

Accepted Answer

Yes — we've seen Starlight work effectively across all subjects. Some of our earliest and most enthusiastic feedback came from drama and arts teachers. Because spoken interaction is a key feature of most lessons, the platform can offer value in both academic and practical subjects.

Question 23

How quickly do we get feedback after a recording?

Accepted Answer

Feedback is typically available within 2–3 minutes of uploading a recording. Once the audio is processed, the teacher receives a notification and can access their personalised report immediately.

Question 24

What makes your platform different from other AI coaching tools?

Accepted Answer

Starlight is built specifically for teachers, by educators, with a focus on real classroom dialogue. Unlike generic AI tools or one-size-fits-all CPD platforms, it gives fast, personalised feedback based on actual lesson talk — not checklists, surveys, or assumptions.

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