Microsoft Copilot in Schools
September 3, 2024
Microsoft Copilot is now freely available on the web, without the need for Microsoft 365 licences or a technical rollout. Used well, it can save teachers time, support planning and differentiation, and give pupils a safe way to practise AI skills. This step‑by‑step playbook focuses on the completely free browser version, with concrete, low‑risk workflows you can use from day one. It also sets out clear guardrails around privacy, safeguarding, copyright and exams, so schools can move forward with confidence.
State of AI in UK Education: Sept 2024
September 2, 2024
As the new term begins, UK school and college leaders face a wave of guidance, commentary and concern about artificial intelligence. This briefing distils the latest DfE advice, Ofsted signals and union positions into clear, practical decisions for September 2024. It focuses on what is mandatory versus advisable, how to demonstrate ‘responsible AI’ during inspections, and how to align staff workload, safeguarding and curriculum planning with sometimes conflicting messages. Designed as a pragmatic, term-start guide, it helps leaders move from anxiety to action.
AI Marking at Scale: Lessons from Universities
August 22, 2024
Universities have been early adopters of AI-assisted marking, moving beyond hype to build practical systems that work at scale. This article distils what they have actually done – from moderation models, calibration routines and governance structures to student communication and union engagement – and translates those lessons into realistic workflows for schools. You will find concrete examples of AI-ready rubrics, feedback templates and phased roll-out plans that fit within existing assessment systems, while respecting exam-board rules, safeguarding and data protection requirements.
Future-Proofing Students: Skills AI Can't Replace
August 19, 2024
As AI tools become part of the everyday school timetable, the real challenge is no longer whether pupils can use them, but whether they can stay meaningfully human alongside them. This playbook offers practical, lesson-level routines that deliberately pair AI workflows with “human-only” thinking, so critical thinking, creativity and empathy are strengthened rather than sidelined. With examples for primary and secondary classrooms, guidance on curriculum and assessment, and a six-week starter plan, it helps schools future‑proof students’ uniquely human strengths instead of simply bolting character education onto technology use.
LGR22 and Inclusive Education: 15-Minute Access
August 15, 2024
LGR22 Section 1–2 treats inclusion as a core design requirement, not a later adjustment. This article turns that mandate into a repeatable, evidence-ready “Lesson Accessibility pass” you can run in 15 minutes on any lesson, while keeping teacher judgement at the centre. You’ll use four AI-assisted micro-tools to remove barriers, record auditable change notes, support learners using an additional language, and plan predictable routines for Year 3 transition behaviour. You’ll finish with a simple evidence pack and a copy-and-adapt prompt set that avoids sensitive data.
Google Gemini 1.5 Pro: Million‑Token Context
August 14, 2024
Google Gemini 1.5 Pro’s million‑token context window makes it possible to work with entire textbooks, course packs and reading lists in a single conversation. This playbook walks teachers step‑by‑step through safe, copyright‑aware workflows: from choosing and preparing files, to practical prompt patterns for syllabus mapping, gap analysis, differentiation and assessment design. It also sets out clear guardrails for data protection, verification and avoiding ‘black box’ teaching, so you stay firmly in control of curriculum and pedagogy.
Back to School AI Toolkit 2024
August 9, 2024
This practical back-to-school AI toolkit for 2024 gives teachers a curated list of genuinely free, low-friction tools you can set up in under 15 minutes. Organised by everyday tasks like planning, differentiation, communication, behaviour and admin, it focuses on tools that respect safety and privacy. You will find concrete classroom examples, clear “what to avoid” notes, and guidance on how to introduce AI gradually without overwhelming yourself. It is ideal for educators at any technical level who want to save time while staying in control of data and professional judgement.
Copyright and AI in Schools
August 7, 2024
AI tools have made it incredibly easy for teachers and students to copy, remix and share text, images and music in seconds – but copyright law has not suddenly disappeared. This practical playbook walks through everyday AI workflows in schools and shows where real legal and ethical risks arise, from copy‑pasting AI outputs to uploading pupil work. You will find simple risk tiers, plain‑language concepts, and concrete classroom rules, plus ready‑to‑adapt policy and consent wording. The aim is not to turn every teacher into a lawyer, but to build confident “copyright hygiene” habits that keep your school, staff and students safer.
SearchGPT vs Google for student research
August 5, 2024
OpenAI’s new SearchGPT promises faster, more focused answers than traditional web search – but what does that mean for school research? This practical guide walks students through a full research workflow, from first background scan to final bibliography, showing when to use SearchGPT and when Google (or other search engines) still works best. With concrete example queries, ethical guardrails, and citation workflows, it is designed as a student‑friendly playbook that teachers can share or adapt. The focus is on safe, critical and policy‑aligned use of AI.
When AI Helps vs When It Harms Learning
August 2, 2024
As AI tools become part of everyday school life, the real challenge is no longer “AI: yes or no?” but “AI: when and how?”. This article offers a developmental, research-based framework to help schools decide when AI should act as a scaffold and when it risks becoming a shortcut. With concrete, age-banded classroom rules from early primary to post-16, it focuses on protecting productive struggle, metacognition and deep work, while still harnessing AI’s potential to personalise, explain and extend learning.
Human + AI: The Co‑Pilot Model in Teaching
July 25, 2024
AI is often seen as a planning tool or a distant threat, but its real power emerges when it works alongside teachers in the live flow of the school day. This article walks through a full day in three phases – before, during and after lessons – showing which tasks stay firmly human, which can be safely delegated to AI, and how to design simple, repeatable co‑pilot routines. You will find practical examples for different subjects, safeguards for professional judgement and data, and ideas for working with colleagues to embed a sustainable Human + AI approach.
September AI Readiness Checklist
July 22, 2024
Treating AI like any other major infrastructure change is the safest route to a successful September rollout. This staged, summer-long AI readiness playbook is designed for school and college leaders who want to move beyond experimentation and towards reliable, safe and sustainable AI use. It walks through clarifying use cases, mapping data flows, tightening security, updating governance and acceptable-use policies, and planning targeted staff training. With concrete, week‑by‑week tasks for IT, safeguarding and pedagogy leads, you can arrive in September confident that AI supports teaching and learning – not the other way round.
Summer Learning Loss and AI Tutors
July 17, 2024
Summer learning loss remains stubbornly persistent, particularly in maths and reading, and many schools simply cannot run full-scale holiday programmes. This research-grounded guide explores how AI-powered tutoring can offer targeted, low-prep support over the break, even with limited staff time. Drawing on evidence from high-impact tutoring, it outlines practical models such as take-home AI tutors, short online clinics, and family-supported use. You will find concrete subject examples, clear guardrails for equitable and balanced use, and advice on working with families. The aim is to help you design a realistic, sustainable summer strategy that genuinely lightens your load.
Planning for Autumn: LGR22 unit plans with AI
July 16, 2024
Autumn planning can feel like rebuilding everything from scratch, especially when you want clear LGR22 alignment and documentation that stands up to scrutiny. This workflow shows how Swedish primary teachers can use AI to draft two full 10-lesson units—one in History (Medeltiden i Norden) and one in Geography—while explicitly evidencing the terminsplanering triangle: syfte, centralt innehåll and betygskriterier. You’ll also generate an audit-friendly mapping table, a fully planned Digerdöden lesson (Lesson 5), and a shared subject glossary, without manually rewriting your whole scheme.
AI for SEND: Beyond Personalisation
July 15, 2024
AI tools are often promoted as “personalisation engines”, but that is not enough for learners with dyslexia, autism and ADHD. This practical playbook shows teachers and SENDCos how to turn Automated Education’s tools into concrete, repeatable support plans. You will find sample pupil profiles, step‑by‑step prompt examples and ready‑to‑copy classroom workflows for reading, writing, behaviour and assessment access. The focus is on neurodiversity‑affirming practice, safeguarding and realistic classroom routines, so you can quietly embed support for SEND pupils in everyday teaching rather than bolt‑on interventions.