Aspect 3 of 5

AI foundations and applications

The school knows which AI tools it uses, approves new ones through one route and gives staff and pupils reliable access.

What leadership puts in place

Indicator 3.1What leadership puts in place

Not yet: Nobody knows which AI tools are in use.
Acquire: A list of the main AI tools exists, but it is incomplete and not kept up to date.
Deepen: A register lists every tool, its owner, its approval status and its risk level, and is updated each term.
Create: The register is open to staff, governors and parents and the school shares its format with other schools.

High-risk AI in education and employment (EU AI Act, Annex III) (opens in a new tab)AI used to decide admissions, evaluate learning or steer learning, set the level of education a student receives, or monitor students during tests is high-risk, as is AI used to recruit, evaluate or manage staff. From 2 December 2027 a school using such a system must follow the provider's instructions, keep human oversight and logs, and inform the people affected.

Indicator 3.2What leadership puts in place

Not yet: Staff start using new AI tools without asking anyone.
Acquire: Some new tools are checked, but there is no single route and checks vary.
Deepen: Every new tool goes through one route that checks safety, data protection and value before use.
Create: Staff help improve the route and other schools use it as a model.

DfE guidance on generative AI in education (opens in a new tab)Schools can use generative AI to support teaching and reduce workload, but staff stay responsible for checking outputs for accuracy and appropriateness. Personal data should not be entered unless necessary and lawful, students' work must not be used to train AI tools without consent, and tools should meet the DfE's generative AI product safety standards.
Prohibited AI practices (EU AI Act, Article 5) (opens in a new tab)Using AI to infer the emotions of students or staff in a school is banned, except for medical or safety reasons. Schools must not use tools such as webcam or voice-based emotion or engagement detection.

Indicator 3.3What leadership puts in place

Not yet: Staff and pupils have no approved AI tools to use.
Acquire: Some staff have access to an approved tool, but pupils and some staff do not.
Deepen: Staff and pupils have reliable access to approved tools and devices for the uses the school plans.
Create: Access is planned with pupils and staff and the school helps other schools secure access.

Indicator 3.4What staff do

Not yet: Most staff cannot explain how generative AI produces its answers.
Acquire: Staff know AI can make mistakes, but not why or when it is most likely.
Deepen: Staff can explain in plain terms how generative AI works and predict where it will go wrong.
Create: Staff explain how AI works to pupils, parents and other schools.

Indicator 3.5What staff do

Not yet: Staff do not know which AI tools are approved.
Acquire: Staff know some tools are approved, but not what each may be used for.
Deepen: Staff know which tools are approved for which uses and can find the list easily.
Create: Staff suggest new uses and tools through the approval route and help keep the list current.