The Three Spires Trust has developed a bespoke curriculum in conjunction with Harper Adams University to teach students to engage with artificial intelligence critically, ethically, and creatively. Aimee Williams gives us a whistlestop tour
AI Licence: Students at Three Spires Trust completing the key stage 3 curriculum can earn their AI Licence, an official accreditation in partnership with Harper Adams University - Adobe Stock

The world is changing – fast. Artificial intelligence is no longer the stuff of science fiction. It’s here, shaping the way we live, work, and learn.

In a world where financial literacy, oracy, and career readiness are becoming just as essential as reading and writing, at Three Spires Trust we have set out to ensure our students don’t just passively use AI but engage with it critically, ethically, and creatively.

By embedding AI into our curriculum at both key stage 3 and 4, partnering with Harper Adams University, and introducing AI accreditation, we are aiming to future-proof the education we offer, ensuring students can step into the world not just ready for AI, but ready to lead with it.

 

Key stage 3

We have designed what I believe is an innovative key stage 3 AI curriculum, one that teaches students not just how AI works, but how to engage with it responsibly, ethically, and effectively.

Students begin their journey by learning the AI fundamentals – how it works and its real-world applications.

We then move onto ethics and bias and understanding the limitations, risks, and responsibilities that come with the use of AI.

Our AI and creativity unit explores AI-generated music, art, and story-telling, while also debating the role of human originality.

And we also focus on data and AI decision-making, learning how AI processes information and makes predictions.

By the time students complete key stage 3, they will have earned an AI Licence, an official accreditation in partnership with Harper Adams University.

This certification validates their AI literacy and ensures they are equipped to use AI responsibly and effectively in their learning.

The AI Licence is not just a symbol of achievement – it is a passport into AI-driven learning, ensuring students step into key stage 4 with confidence, ready to use AI as a powerful tool for education.

 

Key stage 4

If key stage 3 lays the foundation for understanding AI, key stage 4 is where students learn how to use AI to enhance their studies. AI is no longer just a concept, it becomes a learning companion, a research tool, and a personal tutor.

Students are taught how to use AI for research and writing, identifying reliable sources, summarising complex information, and generating ideas while maintaining academic integrity.

We also focus on AI for study and revision, including developing personalised study plans, flashcards, and self-quizzing tools powered by AI.

And students work on enhancing creativity with AI – brainstorming, designing, and problem-solving across STEM, humanities, and the creative arts.
And of course we also look at AI and digital literacy, including recognising misinformation, deepfakes, and ethical concerns in AI-generated content.

By key stage 4, students have moved beyond just understanding AI – they are engaging with it critically, ensuring they control the tool, rather than letting the tool control them.

 

Beyond the classroom

To reinforce learning beyond the classroom, we have introduced LiteBites – our very own series of bite-sized AI podcasts, designed to summarise key AI concepts in engaging, accessible ways, provide real-world examples of AI in action, and help students revise, explore, and stay curious about AI at their own pace.

This year, we are also launching the Three Spires STEM AI Competition, where students will use AI to develop solutions to sustainability challenges – imagine AI-powered waste management systems, climate-friendly transport, or smart agricultural solutions. This isn’t just about learning how AI works - it is about learning how to use AI to make a difference.

 

Working together

We have partnered with Harper Adams University to ensure that AI education is not just theoretical, but hands-on, real-world, and accredited. Our students are gaining access to cutting-edge AI research, working with industry experts, and engaging with the latest AI innovations.

Our AI Network sessions serve as more than just collaborative meetings, they are a hub of innovation, leadership, and strategic development. We bring together teachers, university researchers, and industry professionals to co-create curriculum strategies that ensure our AI education remains dynamic and relevant.

But designing an effective AI curriculum is not enough – it must be driven by “AI enablers”. These are the leaders, educators, and specialists who will take ownership of AI integration, embedding it within the curriculum with depth, meaning, responsibility, and real-world relevance.

To embed AI into education, we need champions who will lead the way – individuals who understand how to make AI work for their students, their subjects, and their schools.

This is why we are building a community of AI leaders within Three Spires Trust, bringing together subject leads, digital learning experts, and school leaders to shape the curriculum collaboratively.

 

Final thoughts

At Three Spires Trust, our aim is not just to prepare students for an AI-driven future – but to ensure that the educators who guide them are equipped, empowered, and ready to lead the charge.

AI education will only succeed if those shaping it take ownership, innovate boldly, and work together to embed it meaningfully within our schools. The future of AI in education isn’t just about technology – it is about people, vision, and leadership.

  • Aimee Williams is director of school improvement at the Three Spires Trust, a multi-academy trust based in Staffordshire. She is also a Specialist Leader of Education for both English and teaching and learning. Find her previous contributions to SecEd via www.sec-ed.co.uk/authors/aimee-williams 

 

Three Spires Trust has kindly offered access to a number of its AI curriculum resources 

An example of a podcast (via Sharepoint) A Three Spires Trust video showing its vision for AI Key stage 3 and 4 curriculum overviews A sample year 7 lesson Three Spires Trust AI Policy

  

Further reading & listening