Overton Grange School in Sutton, becomes first to trial ‘Quinly’ – an AI chatbot that offers students private support and links to help like Childline and Samaritans
A secondary school in southwest London has become the first in the UK to install an artificial intelligence chatbot on its website to quietly support pupils who may be struggling with anxiety, exploitation or emotional distress.
The chatbot, named Quinly, is designed to offer students calm, friendly responses and gently encourage them to seek real-world help from trusted organisations.
Launched this week at Overton Grange School in Sutton, the chatbot can be accessed directly from the school’s homepage and is being described as a “digital signpost” for pupils who might feel unable to speak to a teacher or parent.
It is the first of its kind in the country.
Quinly uses AI technology developed by OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, and has been trained to respond in age-appropriate language. It does not store data, diagnose problems or replace safeguarding procedures, but instead listens, offers reassurance and points children towards services like Childline, Samaritans, CEOP, and others.
The idea comes amid growing concern over child safety and mental health.
According to the Home Office, police in England and Wales recorded more than 38,000 child sexual abuse image offences last year – an average of over 100 per day.
A recent ONS survey revealed that 7.5 per cent of adults experienced some form of sexual abuse before the age of 16, rising to 11.5 per cent of women.
The Children’s Commissioner also estimates that 34,000 children involved in or connected to gangs were victims of violent crime in the past year.
And just this week, the NSPCC revealed record level of calls about children at risk of domestic abuse.
Ruth Sparkes, co-founder of SaferSpace who developed Quinly, said the idea came after a series of “difficult and upsetting conversations” – one with her son, a solicitor working with vulnerable young people in South Yorkshire, another about a grooming prevention project in the West Midlands, and a third after watching the Netflix documentary Adolescence.
“I lost sleep over it,” she said. “There’s a crisis unfolding and I wanted to do something practical that schools could actually use. Quinly is not a replacement for real care. It’s just a way to help children take the first step when they feel stuck.”
Overton Grange was involved in early testing and is the first to host the tool on its live site.
Overton Grange Headteacher, Chris McNab said: “We know young people don’t always come forward in the ways we expect. Quinly provides an accessible, supportive first step. It’s not a gimmick. It’s a meaningful addition to our pastoral care.”
The chatbot is available to schools and youth organisations for under £100 per year, and takes just minutes to install. Organisations simply add a single line of code to their websites.
International versions are already in the works, with versions being prepared for US, European and Scandinavian schools, tailored to local support services and languages.
“Every school could have Quinly today,” said Sparkes. “And I believe every school should.”