MAIKAI AND HARRIS FEDERATION ANNOUNCE LANDMARK THREE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP TO PREPARE STAFF AND STUDENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF WORK

Staff and students from Harris Federation, alongside representatives from Tottenham Hotspur Foundation and Maikai, at the launch of Maikai’s AI for Schools programme at Harris Academy Tottenham earlier this year. The initiative forms part of a new three-year partnership focused on AI, digital skills and employability pathways for staff and students across the Harris Federation.

London, 1st June 2026: Maikai, the social impact business helping organisations and educators prepare for the future of work, today announces a new three-year strategic partnership with the Harris Federation to deliver one of the UK’s most ambitious school workforce and student readiness programmes, focusing on AI, digital skills and employability.

The partnership will support the Harris Federation’s staff and students through a long-term programme spanning professional development, employability pathways and national leadership on AI in education.

The programme will provide data-led insight into AI, digital, data, leadership and pastoral capability across the trust. The findings will inform tailored training and development pathways for staff and students across Harris schools.

As part of the agreement, Maikai will deliver levy-funded short courses, bootcamps and apprenticeships aligned to the academic calendar, helping busy teachers and support staff build practical AI and digital skills. The training will integrate with the Harris Federation’s existing CPD frameworks and leadership development programmes.

The partnership will also create structured employability and life-skills pathways for students aged 11–18, including employer-led sessions, mentoring, mock interviews and routes into apprenticeships and future careers.

Alongside delivery in schools, Maikai and the Harris Federation will establish a Harris AI & Skills Forum for staff, governors and students, bringing together education leaders, employers, EdTech organisations and research partners to explore best practice and innovation in AI-enabled education.

The partnership also includes the development of AI and leadership programmes for the more than 800 schools that engage with the Harris Institute, positioning Harris Federation as a national leader in workforce transformation and responsible AI adoption in education.

David Ellis, Founder and CEO of Maikai, said: “Schools are under enormous pressure to prepare young people for a rapidly changing world while also supporting staff through unprecedented technological change. This partnership with Harris Federation is about building a long-term model for how schools can embrace AI and digital transformation responsibly, creating better outcomes for both educators and students.”

Lee Mallin, Assistant Director for the South Quadrant of Secondary Schools at Harris Federation, said: “AI and digital skills are becoming essential across every sector, and schools have an important role to play  to ensure both staff and students have the training and confidence to use AI safely and responsibly. This partnership gives us the opportunity to take a strategic, trust-wide approach that builds capability and opportunity across our workforce and student community.”