What schools and colleges need to know about generative AI

The Department for Education’s (DfE) policy paper, ‘Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education’, makes its position on the use of generative AI in schools clear: it can support education, reduce workload and improve outcomes, but schools and colleges must use it safely and responsibly.

For school leaders, academy trusts and colleges, the key issue is not whether they should ignore AI or adopt it without question. The more important question is how we can introduce generative AI tools in a way that supports staff and pupils while complying with existing legal and safeguarding duties.

What does the DfE say about AI in education UK?

The DfE recognises that generative AI could bring significant benefits to the education sector.

Used carefully, generative AI may allow teachers to spend more time focusing on their classroom by assisting teachers with their administrative and design tasks. However, teaching and learning do require a human touch.

The DfE is clear that AI should help to support teachers, not replace them. Professional expertise, relationships with pupils and the ability to exercise judgement remain central to effective education – factors AI cannot replicate.

Opportunities for schools and colleges

Generative AI may assist schools and colleges in a number of ways, including:

• supporting lesson planning and resource development;
• helping staff draft communications, policies or reports;
• generating ideas for differentiated learning activities;
• assisting with feedback and targeted support;
• helping teachers adapt content for different pupil needs;
• reducing time spent on some routine administrative tasks.

There may also be opportunities to use AI to support personalised learning. It can help pupils engage with material in different ways.

However, the evidence based around pupil use of AI is still developing, meaning there are uncertainties of AI’s usefulness in education.

The risks of generative AI tools

Misinformation

Generative AI tools can produce outputs that are inaccurate, misleading, biased or unsafe:

they may present false information confidently, making it harder for users to identify errors.

For schools and colleges, this means they should always check AI-generated content before they use or share it.

Data protection and safeguarding

Data protection is one of the most important legal issues for schools and colleges considering the use of AI.

Staff should be cautious about entering personal data, pupil information, safeguarding details or confidential school information into generative AI tools. Before adopting any AI product, organisations should understand how the tool collects, stores, processes and uses data.

Schools and colleges will need to ensure that any use of AI complies with data protection law, internal policies and wider information governance requirements. This may involve carrying out a data protection impact assessment, reviewing supplier terms and ensuring staff receive appropriate guidance.

Alongside data protection concerns, schools must also consider the safeguarding implications of AI use.

AI systems may generate inappropriate or unsafe content, and pupils may use AI tools in ways that staff have not anticipated. Schools and colleges should therefore consider how the use of AI aligns with existing safeguarding procedures, online safety policies and staff supervision practices.

Intellectual property considerations

The DfE also draws attention to intellectual property risks.

Copyright and licensing rules continue to apply when using generative AI. Schools should consider whether copyright protects materials they upload into AI tools, whether they have permission to use those materials that way, and whether AI-generated outputs could reproduce protected material.

This is particularly relevant where staff use published resources, textbooks, images, worksheets or third-party materials to prompt or train AI tools. Schools and colleges should ensure staff understand that AI use does not remove the need to act lawfully when using and sharing content.

Assessment and academic integrity

Assessment is another area of concern. Generative AI can create essays, answers, summaries and other written work quickly and convincingly. This creates obvious risks around plagiarism, malpractice and the authenticity of pupil work.

Schools, colleges and awarding organisations should take reasonable steps to prevent inappropriate use of AI in assessments. This may include updating assessment policies, reviewing homework and coursework practices, communicating expectations to pupils and parents, and ensuring staff are familiar with relevant sector guidance, including guidance from the Joint Council for Qualifications.

Governance and accountability

The DfE’s position is that responsibility remains with education leaders and staff.

Do not rely on AI-generated content without reviewing it. Schools and colleges should ensure that staff understand the limitations of AI tools and remain accountable for decisions, resources and communications produced with AI support.

Where AI is introduced, schools should consider:

• who is permitted to use AI tools;
• which tools are approved;
• what information must not be entered into AI systems;
• how AI-generated outputs should be checked;
• how pupil use will be managed;
• how risks will be documented;

how the school’s approach aligns with safeguarding, data protection, assessment and behaviour policies.

Conclusion

The DfE’s approach is broadly supportive of innovation, but it is also cautious. People view generative AI as potentially transformational, but it still evolves.

Used well, generative AI may become a valuable support tool in education. Used without oversight, it could create legal, safeguarding and reputational risks.

Schools and colleges should therefore carefully govern, properly understand, and align any use of AI with their existing legal duties.

How can we help?

If you would like to discuss any issues concerning generative AI in education, please contact a member of our Education Team.