The Head’s Guide to AI: What You Need to Know (And What You Can Delegate)
As Head, you don't need to become an AI expert. But you need to know enough to ask the right questions.
As Head, you don’t need to become an AI expert. But you do need to know enough to ask the right questions and make informed decisions.
Here’s what to own, what to delegate, and what to ignore.
What you need to own
The strategic position. “What is our school’s approach to AI?” This is a question only you can answer. It touches curriculum, safeguarding, staff development, and school culture. It needs Head-level ownership.
The governance conversation. Governors will ask you about AI. You need to be able to explain your position, your progress, and your evidence. This can’t be delegated to IT or a deputy.
The parent message. When parents ask “what’s your AI policy?” — and they will — the answer needs to come from or be authorised by you. Mixed messages from different staff create confusion and erode trust.
What you can delegate
Policy drafting. The initial policy document can be drafted by a deputy or Director of Digital. Your role is to review, refine, and approve — not to write from scratch.
Training implementation. Rolling out staff training is operational work. Delegate it to whoever manages CPD. Your role is to set the requirement and review completion data.
Technical decisions. Which specific AI tools to approve? How to configure them? These are IT decisions. You don’t need to understand the technical details — just the risk and governance implications.
What you can ignore
You don’t need to:
- Understand how large language models work
- Evaluate every AI tool on the market
- Predict how AI will evolve over the next decade
- Have a personal view on whether AI is good or bad for society
These are interesting questions. They’re not your job.
The three questions to ask
If you ask nothing else about your school’s AI approach, ask these:
- “What can I show governors about our AI position?”
- “What percentage of staff are trained and current?”
- “If ISI asked about AI tomorrow, what would we show them?”
If your team can answer these clearly, you’re in good shape. If they can’t, that’s your priority.
The Pedagogue Standard gives Heads a clear answer to all three questions: documented position, training completion, inspection-ready evidence. See how it works.
