By Miriam Scott: AISNSW Education Consultant for Generative AI

The rise of generative AI in education has been rapid and disruptive, leaving schools in various stages of response. 

Some have embraced it as a tool for innovation, while others are cautiously assessing its risks. What is clear, however, is that generative AI is not a passing trend, it is reshaping education in ways that require careful, strategic thinking.

When discussing AI with school leaders and educators, a common theme emerges: the initial focus is often on immediate concerns. Safeguarding assessments, improving workflow efficiencies, and refining documents are important considerations, but they only scratch the surface of AI’s impact on education. Schools are navigating a complex and evolving landscape, and while there is no single right approach, some strategies have proven more effective than others.

Where Does Your School Sit?

Schools are taking different approaches to AI integration, and it can be helpful to reflect on where your school currently sits. Consider these questions:

  • Are we focusing only on short-term solutions, or are we embedding AI into a long-term strategy?
  • Are we waiting until we have all the answers, or are we taking measured steps to explore AI’s role in our school community?
  • Are we making isolated, department-level decisions, or are we approaching AI as a whole-school conversation?
  • Are we equipping staff and students with the confidence and skills to use AI effectively, or are we leaving them to navigate it on their own?

These questions help frame AI as an opportunity rather than a problem to be solved. Schools that have made the most progress aren’t necessarily those with all the answers, but those that are engaging in thoughtful dialogue and setting clear expectations for AI’s role in learning and operations.

What We See That Works

The schools making the most meaningful strides in AI integration share some common approaches:

Leadership Alignment
Schools that embed AI into their strategic planning, policies, and leadership discussions create a strong foundation. When AI is aligned with a school’s broader vision, staff and students have greater clarity on how to engage with it responsibly.

Building AI Literacy for Staff and Students
AI literacy is not a standalone skill but an extension of digital literacy. Schools that are making progress with AI integration focus on helping staff and students develop a nuanced understanding of its capabilities, limitations, and ethical implications. By embedding AI literacy into ongoing professional development and student learning programs, they cultivate a culture of informed and responsible use.

Consistent Implementation
Clear expectations around AI tools, how they fit into teaching and learning, how they align with digital literacy frameworks, and what ethical guidelines should be followed, lead to smoother adoption. Schools that communicate a consistent approach across staff and students avoid fragmented and ad hoc AI integration.

A Whole-School Approach to AI

AI is not an IT issue, nor is it a concern limited to one department. Schools navigating AI effectively are those treating it as a whole-school conversation, incorporating diverse perspectives to develop an approach that is thoughtful, strategic, and aligned with their educational values.

Three key elements contribute to success:

  • Leadership engagement
     AI adoption works best when driven by clear leadership vision and alignment with school values.
  • Ongoing professional learning
     A one-off AI training session is unlikely to provide staff with the skills and confidence they need. Schools that weave AI literacy into broader digital learning initiatives see stronger, more sustainable outcomes.
  • Contextual decision-making
     Schools vary in their culture, priorities, and readiness. AI strategies should reflect each school’s unique context rather than be dictated by external pressures or market trends.

Looking Ahead: Asking the Right Questions

Schools do not need to have all the answers today, but they do need to start asking the right questions:

  • How does AI align with our educational values?
  • What guidelines will provide clarity for staff and students?
  • How can we integrate AI literacy into our professional learning and curriculum?

Schools that take an intentional, strategic approach to AI will be better positioned to harness its potential. Rather than waiting for a perfect roadmap, they will be shaping AI’s role in education, ensuring it enhances teaching, learning, and school operations in meaningful ways.

AI isn’t something happening to schools; it’s something schools have the power to shape. The question is: how will your school take the lead?

For more information and for In-school consultancy support on Generative AI, contact Miriam Scott.