Writing a School AI Policy for School Leaders
Draft, consult on and launch a workable AI policy covering staff, pupils, data and assessment
A taste of a lesson
Our governors want a total ban on AI for pupils. Is that sensible?
It's understandable but rarely works. Pupils already use these tools at home, so a blanket ban mostly pushes use out of sight and stops you teaching good habits. A middle path is often stronger: no pupil accounts on tools below their age limits, teacher led demonstrations, clear AI use levels for each task, and secure conditions where you need them. That gives governors control and reassurance. Which specific risk is driving the governors' request: integrity, safeguarding or data?
Written by the teacher as an example. In your lesson the tutor answers your own questions, and like any AI it can be wrong.
What you will be able to do
- Structure a concise school AI policy from principles to review cycle
- Prepare vendor and data protection questions with your data lead
- Plan consultation with staff, pupils and parents
- Write practical staff and pupil guidance with clear examples
- Set up monitoring, training and an annual review
Lesson plan
- 1 Starting from your school's reality Map current AI use, existing policies and risks before drafting anything new. Start
- 2 Principles and scope Write short principles that guide decisions when the policy does not cover a case. Start
- 3 Data protection and tool approval Set a clear route for approving tools and protecting personal data, with your data lead. Start
- 4 Staff, pupils and assessment Write practical guidance for staff use, pupil use by age, and assessment integrity. Start
- 5 Safeguarding and equity Cover deepfakes, harmful content and unequal access in the policy and procedures. Start
- 6 Consultation, launch and review Consult, launch with training and keep the policy alive through monitoring and review. Start
Try asking
About this tutor
For headteachers, deputies, trust leads and governors responsible for how AI is used across a school. We build a policy that people will actually follow: principles, acceptable use for staff and pupils, approved tools and data protection, assessment and integrity, safeguarding, staff training and a review cycle. You learn the questions to ask vendors, how to run a data protection impact assessment conversation with your data lead, how to consult staff, pupils and parents, and how to keep the policy short enough to read. This is education, not legal advice: you check final wording against your local law, regulators and governing body.
Reviews
4.7
3 ratingsSample
- Patrick D.Sample
We went from a ten page draft nobody read to two pages of principles plus a staff guide. The vendor question list made our DPO very happy.
- Nadia E.Sample
Strong on structure and consultation. It is clear about not giving legal advice, which is right, but it meant some questions went back to our lawyers.
- Chidi U.Sample
The scenario testing of our principles exposed two gaps before governors did. Practical and honest about what the evidence does not yet show.
About the teacher
Former classroom teacher helping schools use AI with care for pupils, workload and good teaching
9 tutors 425 lessons taught Sample
I taught secondary science for a long stretch, then coordinated teaching and learning across a school, which meant planning, observing lessons and helping colleagues through every new initiative. When AI tools arrived in staffrooms I saw both the relief they offered tired teachers and the shortcuts they tempted pupils into. I now teach teachers and school leaders how to use...
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