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on learning, the importance of the teacher-learner relationship and the risks of bias and misinformation. ” In many ways, students are becoming test subjects for a technology, the long-term implications of which still remain uncertain. The impact of AI on children’s learning and development is fast becoming a growing cause for concern. One US teacher quoted in the New York Times , described how their students were becoming overly reliant on AI for brainstorming and writing tasks, warning that they’re, “ Losing the ability to think critically, and overcome frustration with tasks that don’t come easily. ” There’s also, of course, the issue of academic misconduct. AI makes it far easier for students to cheat on assignments by using chatbots to generate entire essays or solve complex problems. One study cited by Forbes magazine found that 90% of US students are already making regular use of ChatGPT to complete homework assignments. For this reason, it’s vital that schools implement software to detect plagiarism, and adopt strategies aimed at preserving students’ problem-solving skills. Context-specific policies With a broader regulatory framework yet to emerge, some institutions have opted to introduce tailored AI policies of their own, which is a trend we can expect to see more of. The Russell Group, for instance, has developed ‘5 AI principles for university education’, which include ‘ Promoting AI literacy ’, ‘ Upholding academic integrity ’ and ‘ Adapting teaching and assessment ’ to formally incorporate the ethical use of AI. The AI policy adopted by Camden School for Girls, meanwhile, emphasises the need for appropriate citation of any AI-generated content, regular assessments to identify potential biases and a commitment to ongoing training for staff around effectively integrating AI into their practice. And in the South West, the policy adopted by the independent Queen’s College Taunton states that the school reserves the right to use AI detection tools to discernmachine- generated work from that produced by students. Striking the balance Regulatory elements that other schools and colleges should consider including in their own policies might include: • Conducting risk assessments to identify potential AI misuse and mitigation strategies • Defining appropriate uses of AI for teachers and students, including subject- or year group- specific sub-policies • Ensuring that all AI tools used within the school are overseen by appropriate safety, filtering and monitoring features • Reviewing homework policies to address AI-generated content and establish clear guidelines on ethical AI use • Encouraging students to critically evaluate AI- generated outputs, with teachers providing oversight on suitable AI usage in research and learning activities • ‘AI literacy’ professional development for teachers to ensure effective integration of software AI has the potential to transform education, but its success will depend on how schools regulate and integrate it. Used wisely, it could reduce workloads and enhance learning – but without proper oversight, it risks undermining the learning of critical thinking skills and academic integrity While some schools are taking the lead in setting AI policies, there’s a pressing need for clearer national guidelines. The challenge now is to strike the right balance so that AI’s benefits can be embraced, while at the same time safeguarding the fundamental role of teachers in shaping students’ learning and development. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kirsty Treherne is a former headteacher and education lead at the school safety management platform iAM Compliant; for more information, visit iamcompliant.com INDUSTRY REGULATION While the UK government has stated that “ Schools and colleges are free to make their own choices about AI tools ”, it has also emphasised that they must comply with existing statutory obligations, such as the ‘Keeping children safe in education’ guidance. As AI adoption continues to accelerate, however, we can expect to see clearer and more structured guidelines to emerge, which will likely focus on the following areas: 1 Just as digital literacy has become a standard educational focus, AI literacy will likely be incorporated into school curricula 2 Government guidance may mandate that AI-generated content be clearly identified, similar to how schools currently require proper citation of sources 3 The sharing of sector- wide best practice on responsible use of AI in assessment, which may potentially include the mandatory adoption of AI detection tools 4 Tighter controls on how AI-powered tools store and share data 5 A further strengthening of existing safeguarding measures, including restrictions on AI use among younger students 61 teachwire.net/secondary E D T E C H