All schools in England are expected by the end of 2026 to adopt an AI use policy, in line with non-statutory Department for Education (DfE) guidance aligned with Department for Education (DfE) and Ofsted guidance. The policy must cover data privacy, bias, and intellectual property protection.
By Q3 2026 (end of 2025/26 academic year), all schools and Multi-Academy Trusts must have ratified their AI policy. Ofsted has confirmed it will assess how schools govern AI use during inspections, asking schools to demonstrate how they manage risks associated with AI and ensure compliance with safeguarding and data governance.
Who it affects: All state and independent schools in England; multi-academy trusts; school leadership and governors.
What is notably missing: Clear specification of minimum standards for AI governance at school level; guidance on enforcement mechanisms if schools fail to adopt policies by deadline; details on the content requirements beyond privacy, bias, and IP.