The Education Policy Institute partnered with the NEU to hold a private roundtable on: ‘How can we empower teachers to use AI without undermining their professionalism or relationships with students?’
Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers opportunities to enhance and support learning in and out of the classroom. Teachers are already using AI to support in lesson planning and resource creation, now backed by government investment in the development of bespoke AI tools to reduce teacher workload. The government has also announced plans to make AI tutoring available to disadvantaged students by 2027.
While many schools are embracing AI, previous EPI research shows that the use of these tools varies widely across schools and subject areas. The speed at which new AI technology has been adopted by teachers has outpaced many schools’ ability to develop suitable policies. Of teachers surveyed by NEU in February 2026, three quarters were using AI tools for day-to-day work, but only 49% stated that their school had a policy on AI usage for staff and students. Teachers also expressed concern about AI tutoring tools being used to replace face-to-face teaching, without considering the long-term impacts.
Without specific training programmes for teaching staff and an evidenced national strategy in place there is a risk that AI-learning will widen existing gaps in education and undermine teacher professionalism. Engaging teachers in that strategy will ensure the resulting changes make a purposeful change to their working life.
This roundtable brought together education sector representatives, MAT leaders and policymakers to discuss the policy implications of how schools and MATs are currently approaching staff AI use – and how they are supporting and enabling them to think critically about safe and effective uses, alongside the potential risks. The insights from this roundtable have been published in a summary paper.
Partner with us
This roundtable was an invitation-only event as part of the Education Policy Institute’s partnership programme. To discuss running a private roundtable with EPI, please contact Tim Archer (tim.archer@epi.org.uk) or Adam Richards-Gray (adam.richards-gray@epi.org.uk) – or you can find out more about wider partnership opportunities here
