New DFE guidance allows AI to mark quizzes and write letters, but warns teachers to check results
Teachers in England have been given the green light to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to mark homework and draft routine letters to parents, according to new government guidelines revealed this week.
The Department for Education (DfE) has released training materials outlining how schools can use AI to reduce teacher workloads and free up time for face-to-face teaching. The guidance marks the first official framework offered to schools, following growing interest in AI’s role within classrooms.
The DfE stressed that AI should only be used for “low-stakes” marking, such as quizzes and homework assignments, and any work generated by AI must be carefully reviewed by teachers to ensure accuracy. It also approved the use of AI for generating routine parental letters, providing examples such as letters about head lice outbreaks based on previous school correspondence.
Embed from Getty Images“Teachers can use AI to help automate routine tasks, but must always check its results,” the DfE said. “Transparency is essential, and schools should inform parents when AI has been used.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described the move as a way to reduce paperwork and focus on classroom teaching. “We’re putting cutting-edge AI tools into the hands of our brilliant teachers to enhance how our children learn and develop – freeing teachers from paperwork so they can focus on what parents and pupils need most: inspiring teaching and personalised support,” she said.
However, the announcement has sparked debate across the education sector. Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), welcomed the potential benefits but raised concerns over the financial pressures facing schools. “Many schools and colleges are already safely and effectively using AI. It could ease heavy staff workloads and help with recruitment and retention challenges,” he said. “However, there are some big issues. Budgets are extremely tight, and realising the potential benefits of AI requires investment.”
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, called the guidance “an important step forward” but warned that teachers need clearer rules on informing parents. Julia Adamson, managing director for education at BCS, said: “Teachers will want clarity on exactly how they should be telling those parents where they’ve used AI, for example in writing emails, to avoid additional pressures and reporting burdens.”
Emma Darcy, a secondary school leader who advises on digital strategy, argued that teachers have “almost a moral responsibility” to learn how to use AI because students are already experimenting with it. “If we’re not using these tools ourselves as educators, we won’t be able to confidently support our young people,” she said.
However, Darcy cautioned against over-reliance on AI, highlighting the risks of errors and data breaches. “AI can come up with made-up quotes, facts and information. You have to make sure you don’t outsource whatever you’re doing fully to AI.”
The DfE also urged schools to establish clear policies on AI usage, including strict rules on when both staff and pupils may use the technology. Teachers remain responsible for manually checking student work to prevent cheating, and only approved AI tools should be deployed.
Pupils will also be taught to recognise deepfakes and misinformation, as part of the DfE’s broader strategy to prepare students for the digital world.
Elsewhere in the UK, governments in Scotland and Wales have similarly supported AI for marking tasks, provided it is used professionally and responsibly. In Northern Ireland, education minister Paul Givan recently announced a study by Oxford Brookes University to explore how AI might improve educational outcomes for pupils.
As AI continues to reshape education, schools across the UK face the challenge of embracing new technologies while ensuring they are used safely and responsibly.
