Autology's chief executive Eric Hobson said the deal would showcase its technology to thousands of teachers. And he hopes to announce more deals in coming weeks to grow the business still further, priming the firm for "explosive growth".

He said: "Microsoft is in effect showcasing a light version of our product. It showcases the web content we have digested.
"That will go to every Windows PC being sold in schools for the foreseeable future. This year that will probably be 500,000 PCs.
"It also means it will go to the Microsoft UK Partners in Learning Scheme, which involves 21,000 teachers.
"For us, it's a good route to market, and a way of exposing the educational market to the power of our technology. Hopefully we will be able to upsell the full version.
"We are a small company at the moment - we have under 10 people. We anticipate that will take off and we will go through rapid growth."
Autology's software includes a search system that tailors search results to meet a pupil's needs. A GCSE student and a primary school pupil would receive different results if they searched for the same phrase.
It searches through educational learning content from publishers including Heinemann and Letts, but also offers access to more than 50,000 vetted websites.
Last year, Autology became the first company to win investment from the £15m North West Fund for Digital and Creative. It secured £375,000 from the fund, unlocking another £285,000 from private investors.
Autology is currently updating its software to integrate social media tools into the version students use at home.
Mark Stewart, UK education partner lead, at Microsoft, said the software giant was keen to sign partnership deals with companies such as Autology.
He said: "Learners win, because they have access to more resources on their PC, educators win because they have access to enhanced learning resources and publishers win because they have new channels to market and the prestige associated with being an approved Microsoft Learning Suite partner."