The 15-Minute AI Policy: What Good Looks Like for Independent Schools

Most schools don’t have an AI policy because writing one feels like a massive undertaking. It doesn’t have to be.

A good AI policy isn’t a 30-page document that sits in a drawer. It’s a clear, defensible position that staff can follow and governors can understand.

Here’s what it should include — and what you can skip.

What a good AI policy covers

1. Scope. Who does this policy apply to? All staff? Students? Contractors? Be specific.
2. Approved uses. What can staff use AI for? Lesson planning, administration, communication drafts? State it clearly.
3. Prohibited uses. What’s off limits? Student data in free tools? AI-generated reports without review? Final assessments? Name them.
4. Data protection. What information can never be entered into AI tools? Names, SEN data, safeguarding information, exam content. Be explicit.
5. Student use. What’s your position on students using AI for homework and coursework? This needs to be clear enough to explain to parents.
6. Review cycle. When will this policy be reviewed? AI is moving fast. Annual review is the minimum.

What you don’t need

You don’t need:

• A technical explanation of how AI works
• Predictions about future AI developments
• Lengthy philosophical discussions about AI in education
• A list of every possible AI tool and whether it’s approved

Keep it practical. A two-page policy that staff actually read is better than a twenty-page policy that nobody does.

The test

A good AI policy passes three tests:

1. A new teacher can read it in 10 minutes and know what to do
2. A governor can understand your position in one paragraph
3. A parent asking “what’s your AI policy?” gets a clear answer

If your current policy — or lack of one — doesn’t pass these tests, you have a gap to close.

The Pedagogue Policy Architect generates board-ready AI policy documents in around 15 minutes, aligned to current DfE guidance. See how it works.