AI in Schools: Are You Leading Change or Watching it Happen?
We all know that AI has huge potential to transform education. From automating admin tasks for teachers to personalising learning experiences for our pupils, AI tools are already changing how we teach and work. But as exciting as this is, a recent conversation with colleagues from across the international schooling sector, has brought me to an uncomfortable realisation: most schools are simply not ready. And that’s not because of the technology, it’s because of the gaps in teacher training, confidence, and access.
Right now, there’s a growing divide. Whilst some teachers are confidently using AI to reduce their workload, create personalised resources, and generate assessments in minutes, others are unsure where to start or are understandably cautious. They have concerns about privacy, ethics, or simply feel they haven’t had enough time or support to explore the tools properly. For some schools, a fragmented picture has emerged where a handful of staff are racing ahead, and others are being left behind, not because they lack potential, but because they lack support.
Why Celebrating “Pockets of Excellence” Is Not Enough
In many schools, it’s tempting to celebrate individual teachers who’ve embraced AI. They become our “champions”, those who’ve self-trained or experimented with new tools in impressive ways. But while their work is valuable, it can give us a false sense of progress. As with all new initiatives, a few champions don’t amount to a school-wide strategy. When we rely on isolated success stories, we risk ignoring the bigger picture. It’s not just about staff inequality, it’s about pupil inequality as well. One class might benefit from AI tools that give instant feedback, adapt content, or support with writing. Another class, just a few doors down, might get none of that. And when the experience a child gets depends on which teacher they happen to have, we’ve got a problem.
As school leaders, our job is to ensure consistency, equity, and access, not just celebrate brilliance in silos.
The Real Challenge Isn’t the Technology, It’s the Strategy
Let’s be honest: the tools are there. Many are free, and most are user-friendly. The real challenge is not access, it’s leadership. If schools are going to use AI in a way that truly supports teaching and learning, we need more than a few training sessions. We need a clear, thoughtful strategy and that means starting with where staff are now, understanding their confidence levels and what they need. It means being clear on the why: Are we using AI to save time? To personalise learning? To enhance planning? Once we know that, we can design a roadmap that includes training, experimentation, and support for everyone, not just the tech-savvy few.
Crucially, this work isn’t optional. AI is becoming part of what it means to be digitally literate in today’s world. It’s shaping how we plan, teach, assess, and even communicate. Schools that don’t engage will fall behind. And with a tidal wave of changes and innovations on the horizon, the gap will only widen.
Training and Culture Have to Go Hand in Hand
In terms of solutions, we need to provide teachers with more time, scaffolds, and space to try things out without fear of doing it wrong. That only happens in a culture where experimentation is encouraged, and leaders show that they’re learning too. When senior and middle leaders actively use AI in their own work, it sends a clear message: this is part of how we work now.
We need to create a culture where every teacher feels confident and equipped to use the tools of tomorrow.
Three Tips for School Leaders
Listen before you launch! Don’t begin with tools, begin with your teachers. Use surveys, focus groups, or informal check-ins to learn what staff already use, what they’re curious about, and where they feel stuck. This helps you shape a strategy that meets people where they are.
Model AI use from the top. Use AI tools in leadership tasks, whether it’s generating agenda summaries, analysing feedback, or drafting reports and talk openly about how they’ve helped. This builds trust and normalises experimentation.
Create a culture of shared discovery, not pressure. Introduce AI with curiosity, not compliance. Build small peer groups, highlight examples of trial and error, and make time for staff to reflect on what worked (and what didn’t). Focus on long-term confidence, not quick fixes.
If we’re serious about using AI to improve education, we can’t just rely on a few standout individuals. We need to build confidence across the whole system. That’s what real progress looks like. It’s time to move from admiring isolated innovation to creating a culture where every teacher feels confident and equipped to use the tools of tomorrow. Equity in education doesn’t just mean fair access for students—it means fair readiness for teachers. And at the heart of that shift isn’t technology, it’s leadership.
