Only 2% of schools in England have AI strategies, new study finds

A new report from Accenture and Teach First reveals that only 2% of schools in England have formal artificial intelligence strategies, despite AI being already embedded in day-to-day teaching and learning. The survey of 200 secondary schools found that just 12% have any kind of AI policy, leaving the vast majority deploying AI without clear guidance. This lack of consistency means the education sector is falling behind enterprise and business counterparts in leveraging AI effectively.

School leaders generally believe AI has significant potential to improve education, but they are concerned about plagiarism, safeguarding, and bias. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of schools cite a lack of staff confidence as a barrier. However, early adopters are already seeing benefits in lesson planning, generating quizzes, and drafting mock exam questions. Government reports also highlight AI's potential for personalized learning and administrative efficiency.

Regional disparities exist, with London leading at 29% of leaders using AI daily, compared to just 12% in the rest of England. Top-down leadership plays a crucial role; skeptical leaders result in slower and patchier AI adoption. Accenture's UK&I Head Matt Prebble emphasized the need for clear guidance and confidence to implement AI effectively.

Accenture and Teach First outline five key priorities for schools: headteachers should engage directly with AI, policies should define purpose and boundaries, pilots should start where value is clearest, teachers should be given permission to experiment, and shared learning should complement formal training. The Department for Education stresses safety as the top priority, and Ofsted supports responsible AI use.

The biggest risk, according to an unnamed headteacher, is doing nothing. Teach First CEO James Toop stressed that ensuring every young person can safely benefit from AI opportunities must be a priority. Without formal strategies, schools risk inconsistent and inequitable outcomes for students across England.