What Every Teacher Should Know About AI: Insights from the Latest BCS Report

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept — it’s becoming part of the day-to-day reality of teaching. A report from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, shines a spotlight on how AI is impacting secondary education today — and what it could mean for teachers across all stages and subjects. Whether you’re an early years practitioner, a primary classroom teacher, or a secondary or FE educator, the findings are thought-provoking.

The Big Picture: AI is Here, But We’re Not Ready

The BCS research surveyed over 5,000 secondary school teachers across the UK. It revealed that while AI tools — particularly generative AI like ChatGPT — have exploded into public awareness, schools and teachers are still grappling with what this means for everyday practice.

• 67% of teachers first encountered AI through ChatGPT.

• Yet, 64% of teachers aren’t using AI at all in their professional work.

• 41% said their school has no clear AI policy — and 17% didn’t know if one existed.

• Only 6% of schools teach students how to use AI tools effectively.

In short: AI is impacting education whether we are ready or not, and many of us don’t yet feel equipped to deal with it confidently.

Why Teachers Should Care — Whatever Their Subject

One key finding is that AI is already supporting teachers who embrace it. It saves time, helps generate lesson materials, offers new creative approaches to familiar topics, and can tailor tasks for different learning needs. Examples include:

• Creating quizzes and test materials

• Writing letters to parents and reports

• Adapting resources for different age groups and abilities

• Developing creative classroom activities (like escape rooms or interactive network models)

Teachers who have started using AI often say it boosts their creativity and relieves some of the pressures of heavy workloads.

But There Are Big Barriers

The report found that many teachers are still cautious — or even fearful — of AI. Common barriers include:

• A lack of time to explore AI tools properly.

• Permission anxiety — a fear that using AI might be seen as ‘cheating’ at teaching.

• Low confidence with digital skills overall.

• Concerns about plagiarism, data privacy, and student dependency.

Without clear policies, training, and leadership support, many teachers are understandably hesitant to experiment.

Students and AI: A Hidden World

The research also highlighted that students are already using AI — often more than teachers realise. Teachers report noticing AI-generated homework, with tell-tale signs like Americanised spelling, odd phrasing, and inconsistent writing styles.

Yet only 41% of teachers are regularly checking for AI-assisted plagiarism, and 84% have not changed their assessment practices in light of AI’s rise.

This means that if we are not proactively teaching students to use AI responsibly, they are learning to use it without guidance — a real risk to academic integrity and skill development.

What Needs to Change

The BCS report makes some important recommendations:

• Every school should have a clear, published AI policy.

• Teacher training should include AI skills, both for classroom use and leadership.

• Digital literacy — including AI literacy — should become a core part of education across all subjects.

• Ethical, transparent AI tools should be prioritised in schools.

In short: schools and the education system need to catch up — quickly.

Where to Find Support

You don’t need to navigate this change alone. The Computing At School (CAS) community offers free resources, webinars, and an online forum where you can connect with other teachers exploring AI. Whether you teach Computing or not, CAS provides practical, classroom-focused help for building your own confidence with AI and supporting your students to use it wisely.

See the AI support from CAS

Final Thought: AI Won’t Replace You

One reassuring theme from the report is that teachers overwhelmingly believe AI will support them, not replace them. AI cannot replicate the deep relationships, insights, and pastoral care that teachers bring to their students. Instead, it can free up time and energy, allowing teachers to focus more on the parts of the job that matter most.

If you’re a teacher, no matter your subject or phase, it’s time to start thinking: how could AI support me and my students?

And if you feel unsure — you’re not alone. But the conversation is starting, and we all need to be part of it.