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Artificial intelligence (AI) in schools: staff factsheet

Get your head around the basics of generative AI, including ChatGPT and Google Gemini, and what it means for your school/trust. Share this information with your staff, and governors or trustees, to get everyone on the same page.

Last reviewed on 28 April 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 46559
Contents
  1. What is AI?
  2. How to respond to AI
  3. Ofsted will judge your use of AI
  4. Share this information with your staff and governors/trustees
  5. Try out The Key's AI-powered assistant

What is AI?

AI isn't new

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the use of computer systems to solve problems and make decisions. It’s already a part of everyday life – you’ve probably come across it in the form of personalised suggestions on social media, shopping sites or route-planning apps.

However, the technology is developing rapidly and throwing up many new challenges for schools.

What is generative AI?

Generative AI takes a written prompt and runs it through an algorithm to generate new, ‘natural’-seeming content – i.e. that seems like it was created by a person, not a computer. Tools include:

  • Chatbots such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini and GrammarlyGO, which generate text
  • Text-to-image programs like DALL-E and Midjourney, which create images (some programs can make AI-generated animations and near-photorealistic videos, too)

How to respond to AI

You may decide to set out your overall approach in an artificial intelligence (AI) policy. This

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