1.⁠ ⁠Purpose
The Old School France recognises that Artificial Intelligence (AI), including generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, can provide useful educational and administrative support.
AI must, however, be used responsibly, transparently and critically. It must enhance teaching and learning rather than replace the professional judgement of teachers or the independent thinking and work of students.
This policy establishes clear expectations for the safe, ethical and educationally appropriate use of AI within the school.

2.⁠ ⁠Our Principles
The school will promote the following principles:
AI is a tool, not a replacement for human judgement.
Students must remain responsible for their own learning and submitted work.
Teachers remain responsible for professional decisions, assessment and safeguarding.
AI-generated information must be checked for accuracy, bias and reliability.
Personal, confidential or safeguarding information must not be entered into public AI systems.
AI must never compromise examination regulations or academic integrity.
Students should develop AI literacy so that they understand both its benefits and limitations.
The use of AI should be proportionate and purposeful rather than automatic.

3.⁠ ⁠Student Use of AI
AI can be a useful learning resource when used appropriately. Students may use AI to support their learning, but it must not replace their own thinking, research, creativity or written work.
Appropriate uses may include:
Explaining a difficult concept in an alternative way.
Generating questions for revision.
Supporting brainstorming and the development of ideas.
Helping students identify areas they need to research further.
Practising vocabulary or language.
Receiving feedback on work where the teacher has permitted this.
Supporting revision and independent study.
Exploring different approaches to a problem.
Students must not:
Submit AI-generated work as their own.
Use AI to complete an assignment where independent work is required.
Use AI during examinations or controlled assessments unless specifically permitted by the examination regulations.
Ask AI to write an essay, coursework or other assessed work and submit it as their own.
Use AI to fabricate references, quotations, sources, experimental results or evidence.
Use AI to impersonate another person.
Use AI to generate harmful, abusive, discriminatory or inappropriate material.
Upload another person's personal, confidential or sensitive information to an AI system.
Where AI has been used substantially in completing work, students may be required to declare how AI was used.

4.⁠ ⁠AI and Academic Integrity
Students remain responsible for the authenticity of all work submitted for assessment.
The use of AI does not remove the requirement for students to demonstrate their own:
knowledge;
understanding;
reasoning;
creativity;
research skills;
written communication; and
subject-specific skills.
Teachers may ask students to explain, discuss or demonstrate work that they have submitted. This may include asking students to explain their reasoning, sources, methods or development of ideas.
AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies, invented information, inappropriate sources or fabricated references. Students must therefore verify information independently.

5.⁠ ⁠AI in Examinations and Assessments
Examination and assessment regulations take precedence over this policy.
Where an awarding organisation, including Pearson Edexcel, JCQ or another examination body, prohibits or restricts AI, those requirements must be followed.
Students must never use AI during an examination or controlled assessment unless its use has been explicitly authorised under the applicable regulations.
The school will provide students with clear instructions regarding AI before formal examinations and assessed work.

6.⁠ ⁠Developing AI Literacy
The school will help students develop the skills required to use AI responsibly.
Students should understand:
how generative AI works at a basic level;
that AI can produce incorrect information;
the meaning of AI hallucinations;
the importance of fact-checking;
the possibility of bias in AI-generated information;
the importance of using reliable sources;
issues relating to copyright and intellectual property;
appropriate use of AI-generated images and text;
privacy and data protection;
academic integrity; and
when AI should not be used.
The objective is not simply to teach students how to use AI, but to teach them when, why and when not to use it.

7.⁠ ⁠Staff Use of AI
Staff may use AI where it provides a genuine educational, administrative or organisational benefit.
AI should be regarded as a supporting tool rather than a substitute for professional expertise and judgement.
Appropriate uses may include:
supporting lesson planning;
generating ideas for classroom activities;
brainstorming;
producing draft classroom instructions;
adapting resources;
creating practice questions;
generating alternative explanations;
summarising large quantities of non-confidential information;
producing first drafts of routine administrative material;
identifying possible approaches to a problem; and
supporting repetitive tasks which follow a clear pattern.
All AI-generated material must be reviewed by the member of staff before it is used.

8.⁠ ⁠Professional Judgement
AI must not replace the professional knowledge, experience or judgement of teaching staff.
Staff should exercise particular caution where a task requires:
detailed knowledge of an individual student;
safeguarding judgement;
SEN or disability-related decisions;
professional assessment;
pastoral judgement;
confidential information;
knowledge that is not reliably documented;
interpretation of complex circumstances; or
decisions with significant consequences for a student.
AI may assist with administrative preparation, but the final professional decision remains the responsibility of the appropriately qualified member of staff.

9.⁠ ⁠SEN, Safeguarding and Student Support
AI must not be used as a substitute for professional assessment or safeguarding procedures.
In particular, staff must not rely solely on AI to:
diagnose a student;
determine whether a student has a particular condition;
make safeguarding decisions;
assess risk;
determine a student's eligibility for SEN support;
make decisions regarding a student's welfare; or
interpret highly sensitive personal circumstances.
AI may assist staff in preparing general resources, but decisions concerning individual students must be based upon appropriate professional evidence and human judgement.

10.⁠ ⁠Confidentiality and Data Protection
Staff and students must protect personal and confidential information when using AI.
The following must not be entered into publicly available AI systems unless an appropriately authorised and secure system specifically permits it:
student names where unnecessary;
addresses;
medical information;
safeguarding information;
psychological or diagnostic information;
family information;
examination candidate information;
passwords or security information;
confidential correspondence;
staff personal information; or
any other information that could identify or disadvantage an individual.
Where AI is used to assist with school documentation, information should be anonymised wherever possible.

11.⁠ ⁠Checking AI-Generated Information
AI systems can produce information which appears authoritative but is inaccurate.
Staff and students must therefore consider:
Is the information accurate?
Can it be independently verified?
Is the source reliable?
Could the information be biased?
Could the AI have misunderstood the question?
Has the AI invented a source or quotation?
For academic, legal, safeguarding, medical, examination or other high-stakes information, the original authoritative source should be consulted.

12.⁠ ⁠AI and Teaching Resources
Staff may use AI to generate or adapt teaching resources, but the teacher remains responsible for ensuring that resources are:
accurate;
age appropriate;
curriculum appropriate;
accessible;
inclusive;
factually reliable; and
suitable for the individual students using them.
AI-generated resources must not be distributed to students without appropriate professional review.

13.⁠ ⁠Appropriate and Inappropriate Use
Appropriate use
Inappropriate use
Brainstorming lesson ideas
Allowing AI to replace professional judgement
Generating practice questions
Entering confidential student information
Producing draft classroom instructions
Using AI to make safeguarding decisions
Supporting lesson planning
Submitting AI-generated student work as original
Summarising non-confidential information
Using AI during prohibited examinations
Creating revision activities
Relying on unverified AI information
Developing alternative explanations
Fabricating sources or references
Supporting repetitive administrative tasks
Using AI as a substitute for SEN assessment

14.⁠ ⁠Staff Responsibility
Any member of staff using AI remains responsible for the final material produced.
Staff should:
Check AI-generated information.
Correct errors.
Remove inappropriate material.
Ensure resources meet school standards.
Protect confidential information.
Consider whether AI is actually appropriate for the task.
Maintain professional judgement and accountability.
AI should not become the default response to every task.

15.⁠ ⁠Reporting Concerns
Students or staff who encounter:
inappropriate AI-generated content;
harmful or discriminatory material;
suspected misuse of AI;
a potential breach of confidentiality;
suspected academic misconduct; or
an AI-related safeguarding concern
should report the matter to a member of the senior leadership team or the school's Designated Lead.

16.⁠ ⁠Staff Development
The school will provide appropriate guidance and professional development to help staff understand:
the opportunities presented by AI;
its limitations;
responsible classroom use;
academic integrity;
data protection;
safeguarding considerations; and
examination requirements.
Particular care should be taken to support staff who are still developing their confidence and understanding of AI.

17.⁠ ⁠Review of the Policy
AI technology is developing rapidly. This policy will therefore be reviewed regularly and amended where necessary to reflect:
changes in technology;
examination-board requirements;
safeguarding guidance;
data-protection requirements;
educational practice; and
the school's experience of using AI.

18.⁠ ⁠Policy Statement
The Old School France supports the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence as a tool to enhance education, teaching and learning. AI must complement—not replace—human expertise, professional judgement, independent learning and authentic student work.
The school will encourage informed and critical use of AI while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, confidentiality, academic integrity and educational quality.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
Policy status: School Policy
Applies to: All students, teaching staff, support staff, volunteers and other members of the school community
Responsible person: Headteacher / Designated Lead
Date adopted: 24 September 2026
Review date: September 2027