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Evidence and guidance referenced in our AI for Schools content
This page lists the main public sources, guidance and research referenced in Stack Integral’s AI for Schools content.
It is provided for transparency, so school leaders, governors and staff can see the policy and evidence base behind the page.
This page is not legal, safeguarding, data protection or statutory SEND advice. Schools should continue to work with their DPO, DSL, SENCO, governors, trustees and relevant statutory guidance.
Last checked: May 2026 - AI guidance and education policy are developing quickly. Schools should always check the latest version of official guidance before making policy or compliance decisions.
Quick index:
Government guidance and policy
Ofsted guidance and research
Curriculum, assessment and AI literacy
Research and statistics
Sector commentary
Important note
Government guidance and policy
(Department for Education. Generative AI: Product Safety Standards) Department for Education (January 2025). Generative AI: Product Safety Expectations. Sets out requirements for AI products used in schools, covering data protection, transparency, children’s safety by design, intellectual property, and testing standards. Guidance on the safety standards for generative AI products and systems developed for use in educational settings. Primarily aimed at edtech developers and suppliers, but also useful for schools and colleges assessing whether AI products are safe for education use. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-ai-product-safety-expectations
Department for Education (June 2025). Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education. Policy paper and guidance for schools and colleges on the safe and effective use of generative AI, including data protection, risk assessment, pupil AI literacy and approved tools. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education
Department for Education / Chiltern Learning Trust / Chartered College of Teaching (June 2025). Using AI in Education Settings: Support Materials. Four free training modules for school and college staff (Understanding AI; Interacting with Generative AI; Safe Use; Use Cases), plus a dedicated leaders’ module. Module 3 flagged as essential regardless of staff experience level. Chartered College of Teaching also provides free certification assessment. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/using-ai-in-education-settings-support-materials
Department for Education (September 2025). Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025. Statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges in England. Relevant to AI because online safety, filtering and monitoring, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and pupil protection all intersect with emerging AI use.; links to DfE generative AI product safety expectations. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
Government Digital Service (March 2026). AI Insights: Agentic AI. Explains the nature and risks of agentic AI systems – those capable of autonomous decision-making and action. Highlights that complete autonomy is problematic where it removes critical layers of human oversight and ethical judgement, and that organisations should match AI to genuine business needs rather than adopting it for its own sake. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-insights/ai-insights-agentic-ai-html
Ofsted inspection guidance and research
Ofsted (April 2024, updated October 2025). Ofsted’s Approach to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Sets out the broad principles for how Ofsted considers AI encountered during inspection and regulation. Confirms AI is not a standalone inspection area but is assessed through existing frameworks for safeguarding, outcomes, leadership and data protection. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofsteds-approach-to-ai
Ofsted (June 2025). AI in Schools and Further Education: Findings from Early Adopters. Research into 21 schools, FE colleges and MATs using AI for at least one year. Key findings: workload reduction as primary motivation; need for more systematic thinking about AI in teaching and learning; the ‘biggest risk is doing nothing.’ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-in-schools-and-further-education-early-adopters
Ofsted (November 2025). Education Inspection Framework (EIF) 2025. New inspection framework replacing the 2019 EIF; introduces 11 evaluation areas rated on a five-point scale; safeguarding graded separately. Technology policy and leadership included as evaluation areas. Relevant to how AI governance will be assessed from November 2025 onwards. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-inspection-framework
Francis, B. CBE (February 2026). Curriculum and Assessment Review: Final Report and Government Response. Recommendations accepted by DfE include: a new 16–18 qualification in data science and AI; replacement of the narrowly focused computer science GCSE with a broader future-facing computing curriculum; digital skills as an explicit curriculum strand across key stages; abolition of the EBacc; expanded triple science at GCSE. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-final-report
Assessment and academic integrity
Joint Council for Qualifications. AI Use in Assessments: Protecting the Integrity of Qualifications. Guidance for centres on AI misuse, plagiarism, coursework, non-exam assessment and academic integrity. Relevant where pupils may use AI for homework, coursework, writing support, research or assessment-related tasks. https://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-office/malpractice/artificial-intelligence/
Research and statistics
Department for Education (December 2025). School and College Voice Survey. Findings include: 82% of primary teachers and 78% of secondary teachers report using generative AI tools in their professional role; only 28% of primary and 43% of secondary teachers report that pupils have received guidance on safe and effective AI use. The principal statistical basis for the ‘gap’ framing in Section 2 of the revised content. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/school-and-college-voice-survey
Schools Week (June 2025). “Ofsted reveals how it will inspect schools’ AI use.” Reports Ofsted chief Sir Martyn Oliver’s statement that AI use will be assessed through existing frameworks rather than as a standalone judgement area. https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ofsted-reveals-how-it-will-inspect-schools-ai-use
This page is provided for transparency. It does not replace official guidance, legal advice, safeguarding advice, data protection advice or statutory SEND advice.
Schools remain responsible for their own policies, decisions, risk assessments, safeguarding processes, data protection arrangements and statutory duties.
Where guidance changes, official government, Ofsted, JCQ and statutory sources should take priority.
