Teachers in England now have official approval to use AI tools in the classroom—but only for administrative and “low-stakes” tasks. While this shift is framed as a step toward modernisation, it exposes deeper systemic issues in the UK’s education sector.
AI to Lighten the Administrative Load
According to the UK Department for Education (DfE), teachers can now use AI to assist with basic responsibilities such as writing letters to parents, planning lessons, and marking homework. The DfE hopes this will reduce the unpaid overtime many teachers work, ease mental health burdens, and help retain talent in a profession facing chronic staffing shortages.
These permissions follow a 2023 survey that found most teachers were optimistic about the potential of AI. In high-pressure subjects like maths, where teacher shortages are especially severe, automation is already informally filling the gap in tasks like grading.
Hope for Better Work-Life Balance
Teacher burnout has become an urgent issue—36% of UK teachers report experiencing it, according to Education Support. The use of AI is seen as a way to reduce that load and improve work-life balance. The DfE’s move is also intended to make teaching more appealing to graduates, amid a widening pupil-to-teacher ratio and an attrition rate hovering near 9%.
While AI might help streamline workloads, teachers are still expected to verify the accuracy and appropriateness of AI-generated content. The government has clarified that the ultimate responsibility still rests with the educator and their institution.
AI Enters School Evaluation, Sparking Union Backlash
Beyond classroom use, the government has extended its AI endorsement to companies conducting curriculum and assessment reviews for school rankings. Ofsted classifications like “good” or “outstanding” may now be partially influenced by AI-generated insights. This has drawn opposition from teaching unions, who question both the methodology and fairness of such automation in high-stakes evaluation.
Technology Can’t Replace Funding
Despite all the talk of innovation, the core problem in English education remains financial. Capital spending on schools dropped by 29% between 2009 and 2022, and real-terms funding per pupil has fallen by 9%. Many schools resort to costly short-term supply teachers due to unfilled vacancies.
AI subscriptions might be affordable on paper, but they’re not a substitute for long-term investment in education infrastructure. Tools like ChatGPT or lesson planners won’t solve overcrowded classrooms or restore crumbling school buildings.
Symbolic Progress or Structural Solution?
AI’s role in education continues to grow—but whether it becomes a solution or a distraction depends on how it’s implemented. Enabling teachers to automate mundane tasks is a sensible first step, but it won’t fix the root issues facing the profession.
Unless technology adoption is paired with genuine investment in people, infrastructure, and curriculum development, the benefits of AI may be limited to papering over deeper cracks.
