Guidance on AI-usage in schools published by DfE

The Department for Education has published its first ever AI guidance for schools and colleges, setting out how schools can safely and effectively use AI to transform the classroom experience for students.

The guidance was developed in partnership with education experts from the Chiltern Learning Trust and the Chartered College of Teaching, and sets out clear principles for AI use, with education standards and child safety at the centre. It makes clear that AI should be used to ensure learning remains teacher-led and that teachers should verify accuracy and protect personal data.

An additional £1 million of Contracts for Innovation funding will accelerate development of pioneering AI tools to help with marking and generating detailed, tailored feedback for individual students. Building on the successful AI Tools for Education programme announced last August, this investment will take the tools from the design stage into teachers’ hands – meaning world-first AI interventions are a step closer to being classroom-ready.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: "These resources are a welcome source of support for education staff. AI has huge potential benefits for schools and children’s learning, but it is important that these are harnessed in the right way and any pitfalls avoided.

"Government investment in future testing and research is vital as staff need reliable sources of evaluation – supported with evidence – on the benefits, limitations and risks of AI tools and their potential uses."

As part of this innovation drive, schools and colleges are being invited to become ‘test beds’ for evaluating promising EdTech products, creating an evidence base for technologies that genuinely improve both teaching quality and pupil outcomes.

These innovations will redefine teaching as a profession, transforming it into a more appealing career choice by significantly reducing administrative workload. It will play a crucial role in attracting and retaining talented educators, accelerating progress toward the government’s pledge to recruit 6,500 additional teachers.