Perform Partners, a multi-award-winning change delivery consultancy, has recently supported Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT), alongside Ingram Micro, to launch Fixter, a teacher-led AI feedback and assessment tool.
This innovation acts as a ‘teacher sparring partner’. Rather than replacing the educator’s judgement, the AI-powered assistant works with them, adding an extra layer of consistency, efficiency and objectivity to support teachers in delivering high-quality marking and feedback.
This approach allows teachers to reclaim up to five hours each week; creating space that can be channelled back into teaching or used to reduce the strain of extended workdays.
The Fixter project was accelerated by $25,000 in AWS credit funding through the One Government Value Agreement (OGVA), a program launched by Crown Commercial Service (CCS) AWS to support UK public sector organisations in using AWS services. The OGVA is available through AWS Partner Network (APN) members such as Perform Partners and Ingram Micro. By managing the OGVA funding process and delivering the technical development, they supported the successful acquisition, development, and adoption of this innovative AI tool.
A Human-Centred AI Story
In the UK, excessive workload is a concern in relation to the work of teaching staff. The launch of Fixter comes at a moment of some public debate about teacher workload and retention.
Towards the end of last year, a growing number of voices called for pilot schemes to give teachers a shorter working week, arguing that burnout, unpaid overtime and rising vacancies are putting the sustainability of the profession at risk. While no government-wide shift has been confirmed, some institutions are seeking creative responses to ease educator burden.
Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) has found a way to ease some of the burden, turning to AI to create a tool that lightens the load.
Fixter acts as a “sparring partner” for assessments: it reviews student work, drafts feedback, and checks quality standards, while still keeping teachers firmly in control of the final judgement. The result is more consistent, high-quality feedback for students and more time for teachers to focus on what matters most: teaching and supporting learners.
The tool takes its name from Lisa Fixter, a BCoT engineering lecturer who moved from initial scepticism about AI to becoming an advocate for its use in improving work-life balance:
“My main concern was that often students use it as their first port of call when trying to find something out, and to the extent to which they could use it to cheat; and to be honest, that is still a concern, but as I’ve used it, I can see how useful it can be.
AI has helped enhance my lesson content, helped me change how I give feedback and assess against criteria on assignments and provided assessment ideas which can actually discourage the use of AI. It’s giving me a better work-life balance.”
This teacher-first approach puts people at the heart of innovation. As the pressures on teachers rise, Fixter provides a tangible, teacher-led solution, enabling staff to regain time from marking and admin, actively supporting their well-being. It’s a powerful example of how AI can work with educators, not replace them, but to ultimately improve their work-life balance.
Unlocking Innovation Through OGVA Funding
Cost and complexity can present barriers to digital innovation in education; at BCoT, these were addressed for Fixter with support from the multi-award-winning West Yorkshire consultancy, Perform Partners.
As members of the AWS Partner Network, Perform Partners were able to handle the OGVA application process on behalf of the college, securing the right incentives and funding to support the Fixter project.
Scott Hayden, Head of Teaching, Learning, and Digital at Basingstoke College of Technology commented:
“The process of applying for OGVA funding was a seamless one for us as it was managed by our partners at Perform Partners. We chose to work with Perform Partners and Ingram Micro because of the personable and efficient and professional communications from the very first meeting.”
Perform Partners helped unlock $25,000 in AWS credits and AWS Skills Builder training licences, removing financial barriers and creating space to test, learn, and refine Fixter.
“Innovation can often be a gamble and when we found out that there was this sum of money that would be available to help support the project, it certainly helped to reduce the level of that risk (…) The first time that I heard about the OGVA funding was through Perform Partners. They guided us through the whole process, and it couldn’t have been easier, basically everything was taken care of for us by Perform Partners.”, added Greg Devereux-Cooke, Head of Data & Funding, Basingstoke College of Technology.
Scott further talks about how the college’s partnership with Perform Partners and Ingram Micro allowed staff to stay focused on educational outcomes:
“Fixter was designed by teachers for teachers and has been rigorously quality checked throughout a year-long piloting and testing phase. We consciously designed the tool with ‘friction’ in mind. This model of co-creation of feedback reflects our ongoing commitment to deliberate and mindful technology to enhance teaching and learning, ensuring the AI acts as a true sparring partner to enhance, rather than replace our brilliant and irreplaceable teaching experts like Lisa.”
Responsible AI in Education
BCoT approached AI as an opportunity to model how technology can be used responsibly in education. Working alongside Perform Partners and Ingram Micro, and supported by AWS funding, the college made governance, ethics, and data security fundamental to every stage of development, ensuring innovation never came at the expense of trust.
Rather than adopting AI for efficiency alone, the team designed Fixter with responsibility built in. Teachers remain in control of the marking process, with deliberate “friction” ensuring human judgement stayed central.
Teachers contributed to design and tested the tool, ensuring it met real classroom needs. Staff also have access to AWS Skills Builder training to develop the digital skills needed to use AI effectively and responsibly.
All feedback generated by Fixter is in strict alignment with the guidance provided by relevant awarding bodies (e.g., Pearson BTEC, NCFE, City & Guilds, UAL). This ensures consistency and adherence to qualification standards.
Fixter is also Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) trained and adheres strictly to the latest guidance from JCQ, Ofsted, and GOV.UK regarding assessment and feedback practices. This ensures continuous alignment with national standards.
A Wider Sector Shift in Motion?
The Fixter project may very well signal a wider shift in education, showing that colleges and other educational institutions can lead responsibly in the age of AI.
By combining Perform Partners’ expertise in OGVA funding and change delivery with the technical support of AWS and Ingram Micro, BCoT has created a repeatable model for responsible innovation across the education sector.
“BCoT had the courage to reimagine what AI could mean for teachers. Not as a shortcut, but as genuine support,” said Paul Rhodes, Co-Founder & Director at Perform Partners. “We’re proud to have helped them bring that to life. By navigating OGVA funding and leading ethical delivery, we’ve shown how innovation can give time back to teachers while protecting the heart of education: human connection.”
About Perform Partners
Perform Partners is an independent, multi-award-winning change delivery consultancy formed with a clear mission: to improve how organisations achieve change. Working alongside education providers, public sector organisations, and industry partners, Perform Partners helps turn innovation into practical, human-centred outcomes.
About Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT)
Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) is a leading further education college specialising in advanced technical and vocational training. We offer an extensive range of full-time, part-time and higher education courses, alongside robust apprenticeship programmes and professional qualifications. Our curriculum is designed to equip students with the practical skills and recognised qualifications necessary to excel in university, secure meaningful employment or launch a successful apprenticeship.