"This is the best thing you’ve ever created." — Year 11 Student
From Pathological Demand Avoidance to Confident Exploration
When a Year 11 student at Moon Hall School hesitated to ask questions in class for fear of "sounding stupid," few could have predicted that an AI tutor would become his trusted ally. Using a Careers tutor on Mindjoy, he explored future options at his own pace without judgement or interruption from others. The following day, he returned to class energised, full of conversation and newfound confidence.
This story isn’t unique. It’s one of many that show how Moon Hall School, a specialist dyslexic school supporting neurodivergent learners, is harnessing AI not as a gimmick but as a deeply impactful learning solution. By partnering with Mindjoy, they’re building a model for inclusive, emotionally aware, and effective education.
The Challenge
Moon Hall students often arrive at the school after facing difficult experiences in mainstream education. They require not only subject support, but emotional safety, autonomy, and personalised learning pathways. Traditional methods weren’t enough. The school needed a solution that:
- Engaged students in both visual and auditory formats
- Offered support without undermining student independence
- Integrated with their existing therapeutic and assistive teaching methods
How Mindjoy Supports Moon Hall
David Curran, Assistive Technology Lead & Head of Careers at Moon Hall School Reigate created custom Mindjoy AI tutors aligned with the school’s pedagogy, dyslexia-specific methodologies, and safeguarding standards. Key innovations include:
- Bimodal Learning: Voice-enabled tutors let students hear and see content simultaneously, reinforcing memory and reducing cognitive load.
- Subject-Specific Tutors: From Design Technology and Science to Geography and iMedia, each specialised tutor guides students whilst preserving and encouraging critical thinking skills.
- Creative Writing Support: Their English Helper tutor facilitates rich discussions around tone, audience, and style without doing all the writing for the student - building confidence rather than dependency.
- Career Coaching: AI-powered interview simulations help students practice completing college applications, while tutors filter complex information for easier access.
- Teacher Tools: Automated generation of student support plans and student passports saves staff several hours each week whilst maintaining personalisation to the school's teaching and learning methodologies.
- Tutor Co-Design: Moon Hall educators and students shape the tutor’s behavior using assessment criteria, school-specific pedagogy, and continuous feedback loops to refine responses.
Classroom Magic: Stories of Change
- A Birthday Surprise: During an ICT teacher's 49th birthday, what started as a fun tutor interaction turned into a spontaneous revision session, with students enthusiastically calling out answers and collectively building confidence together.
- Zombie Story Sparks Insight: When a student submitted a creative piece involving zombies, the English Helper tutor gently highlighted language that prompted a thoughtful discussion about tone, context, and audience, which are critical skills for exams and real-world writing.
- Personalised Guidance, Safe Space: A Year 11 student used the careers tutor to prepare for college interviews, then presented confidently using PowerPoint and Microsoft’s Presentation Coach—all sparked by his tutor interactions.
Measurable Impact
- 100% of David Curran’s students now have access to personalised AI learning support
- 91% of teachers use Mindjoy for curriculum design, feedback, and admin
- Reduced teacher admin through automated student plans
- Secure, monitored AI usage that protects student privacy while preserving their autonomy
- Increased student agency, confidence, and performance
- David’s Mindjoy DT Bot is being presented in a practical workshop at The Big D&T Meet.
- David’s Mindjoy FuturesBot was nominated for a CDI National Careers Award 2025 and featured in the CDI's "AI for Careers Practitioners" course resource.
Why It Works
David Curran, Head of Careers at Moon Hall Reigate, explains:
"Imagine if you had a personal assistant in the classroom. What would you want it to do? That’s your Mindjoy tutor. It won’t make you tea, but it will help you better invest your time, help your students feel seen, and bring your pedagogy to life."
The school also trains tutors using its own assessments, reading programs (like Phonographics), and therapeutic methodologies. The result? AI that understands dyslexia without being patronising, supports creativity without taking over, and helps teachers without replacing them.
Advice to Other Schools
"Don’t treat AI like a subject to be learned. Treat it like a helper. Ask what you want help with, and start there."
Moon Hall School Reigate's partnership with Mindjoy proves that when technology aligns with values, every student can thrive—quietly, confidently, and in their own voice.
Keen to find out more?
- Book a call with us
- Connect with David Curran on LinkedIn
- Keep an eye on our Community Calendar for upcoming events on the topic
