Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Released 22nd October, 2025, the purpose of this guidance is to support school leaders and teachers to develop an understanding and knowledge of relevant considerations regarding the use of AI in teaching and learning and school leadership.
What is AI?
“Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the development of computer systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. It involves creating algorithms – a list of rules or steps – that are used by computers to analyse, understand, and respond to information.
While AI systems can process and analyse large amounts of data to recognise patterns and make predictions, they are not able to think and understand context like humans can.“
(Definition: Webwise AI and Online Safety)
Watch our video What is AI?
Generative AI
Generative AI or GenAI is a relatively new type of AI. It can generate new content in the form of text, images and videos. The content is generated based on a query or a prompt that is entered into the GenAI tool. Examples of GenAI tools are ChatGPT from OpenAI, Microsoft CoPilot, Google Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude.
Watch our video What is GenAI?
Exploring AI for your school – the 4P Approach
Just like with any new technology, deciding on whether and how to use AI starts with your overall goals as a school.
The Guidance on Artificial Intelligence in Schools document recommends the 4P Approach.
- Purpose: Establishing a clear purpose for using AI.
- Planning: Ensuring that the use of AI aligns with existing school plans, such as the digital learning plan and school improvement plan.
- Policies: Reviewing existing policies to ensure responsible and effective implementation of AI.
- Practice: Setting expectations for the practical use of AI to optimise learning while ensuring alignment with the curriculum, safeguarding student wellbeing and maintaining the central role of the teacher.
We’ve compiled some questions and considerations, aligned with SSE and the DL planning process below.
Guiding Questions
Why AI?
Have you seen AI improve learning in your own school or elsewhere?
Are there current challenges you think AI could help solve?
Talk to colleagues about why you want to start exploring AI. Watch some good practice videos to see how other schools are getting started.
What is your SSE and DL Plan focus?
Could AI support your School Self-Evaluation goals?
Does the use of AI support your digital learning planning goals?
Identify one or two areas you are already focussing on (e.g. inclusive practice, literacy, assessment) where the use of AI could have a positive impact.
Staff readiness
Are there staff who are already exploring and using AI in their teaching?
Is there a need for upskilling?
Share existing courses such as our online AI course or explainer videos with colleagues.
Set a target
With SSE and your DL Plan in mind, identify and state your target.
Your target should be both tangible and achievable.
Safe and ethical use
Does your Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) support the ethical and safe use of AI?
What tools do you plan to use and how will you evaluate them? View our 5 considerations for AI use.
What are the age restrictions on the tools (some AI tools are not permitted for under 13s)?
Review your current AUP and update it using the Webwise AUP Generator tool.
Make an action plan
What steps will you take to explore AI use?
What supports can your school avail of?
Use the DL action planning template to plan your next steps. Tap into AI supports offered by Oide Technology in Education and others.
Monitor actions
What is working well and what needs adjusting?
Ask if and how AI is supporting your school’s SSE goals.
Continually monitor progress and share and celebrate successes. Update your Digital Learning plan as required.
