AI is being talked about as if it is about to transform education overnight. It is not. What it can do, when used properly, is support teachers by removing some of the repetitive workload that has steadily reduced the time available for real teaching.
AI does not replace teachers, and it never should. It cannot manage a classroom, understand pupil behaviour, or make professional judgements. What it can do is assist with preparation, explanation, and resource creation, which are areas where teachers are currently stretched thin.
The safest and most effective use of AI in schools is through teaching aids. This includes generating draft worksheets, creating alternative explanations, producing practice questions, and helping structure lesson materials. The teacher remains in control at all times, deciding what is used, adapted, or discarded.
Where schools get into trouble is when AI is treated as an authority rather than a tool. Generic content, unreviewed outputs, and over-automation undermine learning. Used sensibly, AI supports existing pedagogy rather than rewriting it.
For schools, the key question is not whether to use AI, but where it genuinely adds value without compromising standards. Teaching aids are the natural starting point.
Blending AI and Physical Teaching Resources for Better Learning Outcomes
Using AI to Create Teaching Resources Faster Without Lowering Standards
