This episode looks at the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, offering advice and suggestions for whole-school AI policy and strategy as well as for teaching, resource-creation and lesson-planning.
Classroom tips: As well as whole-school AI strategy, this episode name-drops a few useful AI resources that our expert panel are using with success in their schools - Adobe Stock

In this episode, we speak to three experts who are working in schools to develop AI in effective and safe ways.

We kick off the discussion by asking our panel to list what they consider to be the three biggest benefits of AI in schools and the three biggest risks/threats.

We then look at whole-school AI strategy and policy. What does a good AI strategy look like and what elements need to be included in a school’s AI policy? What does effective staff training look like? How should education around AI be fed into the curriculum? What kind of “rules” need to be in place? And what does Ofsted have to say about AI?

We also talk AI in the classroom. How might teachers use AI in their lesson-planning and resource-creation? We discuss a number of ideas for using AI to create resources/plan lessons.

Also, what risks should teachers be aware of when using AI? What pitfalls do teachers need to avoid?

We talk about diversity in resource-creation, the pitfalls of prompt engineering, and data protection.

We name-drop a few resources that our panel are using with success, and we end the podcast with their biggest “lessons learned” so far and their final reflections.

This episode was hosted by SecEd’s editor Pete Henshaw. His guests were:

  • Rob Robson is a freelance consultant who works in specialises in AI among other areas. He works extensively with the Association of School and College Leaders. Rob has more than 30 years of experience in schools and education which has included teaching, middle leadership, 15 years as a headteacher, and six as an executive principal and founding CEO of one of the first MATs.
  • 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 
  • Ben Merritt is head of modern foreign languages at King Ecgbert School, part of Mercia Learning Trust. He offers CPD to schools on using AI in education. Email him via cpdinsights@gmail.com. Find his previous contributions to SecEd via www.sec-ed.co.uk/authors/ben-merritt 

To hear other SecEd podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'The SecEd Podcast' in your podcast streaming application of choice. Or visit www.sec-ed.co.uk/podcasts. For details about The SecEd Podcast, or to suggest future topics, email editor Pete Henshaw at editor@sec-ed.co.uk