Over 10% of parents are using Alexa voice assistants to help them homeschool their kids

One in ten parents admit to using voice assistants like Alexa and Siri when homeschooling their children, research has found.

In a survey testing parents on primary school homework questions, only six per cent scored full marks. The vast majority are turning to technology - including artificial intelligence and the internet - for help.

The study by Oxford Home Schooling reveals two thirds of parents lack confidence in the quality of their teaching. 31 per cent report feeling embarrassed about failing to answer their children’s questions, with 11 per cent resorting to artificial intelligence, and 76 per cent the internet.

Schools have been largely closed in the UK since March 20, with most students likely to stay home for remainder of the academic year.

Since then, tweets and memes have chronicled the hysterical struggles of parents attempting to educate their children at home.

But artificial intelligence is not just a last resort, with educational softwares built into Alexa’s design.

Children can practice mental arithmetic using Amazon Math, and unknown answers can be instantly summoned by saying “How many bones are in the human body?” or “How do you spell onomatopoeia?” (as I just did).

The kids' edition of Echo Dot includes interactive games such as Name the Animal. Five clues invite listeners to guess a certain species based on its characteristics in what could prove a very useful tool to the amateur biology teacher.

For younger kids, Alexa will read stories, sing the ABC and layout interactive scenarios of Scooby-Doo.

Given these functions, there is no shame in parents making the most of their devices. This test, however, may tell a different story.

The test was written by primary school teacher Victoria Humphreys in collaboration with Oxford Home Schooling, who provide home education courses for A Level, GCSE and KS3. It consists of questions from the Year Three syllabus.