Artificial intelligence in schools

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of it in the workplace is increasingly prevalent.  One matter which we are increasingly discussing with schools is the safe use of AI in the education sector. Whether it is consideration of the use of AI by teaching staff, for example to plan lessons, or the use of generative AI functions such as Chat GPT by pupils in their learning, it is difficult to ignore the fact that AI appears to be here to stay.  Schools must navigate the opportunities associated with AI whilst safeguarding pupils from the risks of improper use.

How might schools utilise AI?

We are aware of governance professionals increasingly using AI to collate information ahead of trustee meetings. Given that volume of information that schools hold, particularly in large MATs, this can be an effective way of ensuring that statistics are provided to trustees whilst ensuring the efficient use of time.

The Department for Education recognises in its policy paper “Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education” that, if used with the right infrastructure in place, AI can support every pupil to achieve at school and develop their life knowledge and skills, regardless of their background.  One of the predicted benefits of using AI tools in schools is the ability for teachers to efficiently create personalised resources for students with additional needs. It can also help to reduce teacher workloads by supporting with lesson planning.

Risks of AI in schools

However, the use of AI in schools does not come without risks. The true extent of the risks associated with the use of AI in schools will become evident as it is more readily utilised. It is already understood that, owing to its machine learning being based on data which is not always representative of the group which will be served by the AI, there is an inherent risk of bias in the information it provides.  

There is currently a risk that the information provided by AI systems is inaccurate, sometimes misquoting information or using sources which critical human-thinking would know not rely on without further scrutiny.

Schools must also be conscious of the safeguarding risks which come with using AI in schools. AI tools which have not been designed specifically for schools are unlikely to be suitable for pupils. As a minimum, schools should ensure when using AI tools that minimum age requirements are understood and enforced, to prevent pupils being exposed to unsuitable images or materials. Whilst schools have autonomy to make their own decisions around the use of AI tools, this should always be in line with the school’s statutory obligations, including those set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

One issue which many schools may not consider is intellectual property rights. The use of AI by teachers has the potential to reduce their administrative burden and free up their time to focus on the classroom. This could be, for example, using AI to mark pupils’ work. However, teachers may not be aware that a pupil’s intellectual property rights may be breached if, for example, their work was entered into an AI system for marking without the pupil’s permission. If the AI then uses the pupil’s work to train the AI model without the pupil’s permission, there is a risk of an intellectual property right breach.

Schools could also fall foul of copyright infringement if, for example, AI is used to create images for the school’s website which has used copyrighted material as its input.

Preparing your school

Choosing AI tools for your school should be a decision based on what will be the most effective, and safe, product for your staff and pupils. Some key considerations to keep in mind include:

-      is an identified problem being solved by the use of the AI tool?

-      is the AI tool already used effectively in other schools?

-      is the AI tool secure and does it safeguard against the loss of student data or intellectual property?

-      will the school be prevented or hindered from comply with its safeguarding obligations by using the AI tool?

If you currently use AI in your school, or plan to do so in the future, you should ensure that your school has a robust AI policy in place, setting out the school’s obligations and processes when using AI, including ensuring that any use of generative AI complies with the Department for Education’s product safety expectations.

As well as putting in place a robust AI policy, you should also ensure to update other school policies, such as your school’s behaviour policy, to reflect expectations in respect of the use of AI in school

We can support schools to implement a robust AI policy which meets requirements placed on them and update other policies to reflect procedures and expectations.