Teachers in England are now allowed to use artificial intelligence to streamline administrative tasks, including marking and drafting communications to parents. The Department for Education aims to reduce teacher workloads, enabling them to focus more on face-to-face teaching and personalized support.
The Department for Education has issued formal guidance on AI use in schools, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, transparency, and responsible AI use. Teachers are permitted to use AI for "low-stakes" marking, such as quizzes and homework, and generating routine letters to parents. However, they must be transparent about their AI use and rigorously check AI-generated content for accuracy, as AI can produce false information.
The move has been welcomed by educational bodies, with the ASCL General Secretary, Pepe Di'Iasio, noting the potential to ease staff workloads. However, he also highlighted significant financial pressures on schools to invest in AI infrastructure. The BCS Director of Education, Julia Adamson, called for further clarity on how teachers should disclose AI use to parents without creating additional pressures.
As teachers begin to adopt AI in their work, they will need to navigate the benefits and risks of this technology. With careful planning and implementation, AI has the potential to support teachers in their roles, improving work-life balance and job satisfaction. Ultimately, the effective use of AI in schools will depend on finding a balance between harnessing its potential and mitigating its risks.
