Guidelines by field
AI guidelines in education what the field's own bodies ask
Education is unusual in treating AI literacy itself as something to learn. International bodies, governments and exam boards are trying to keep students thinking for themselves while teaching them to use, question and sometimes refuse these tools.
Last reviewed 27 October 2026. Every claim links to its source.
At a glance
Human-centered, matched to age
AI should support teachers and learners, with people in control. UNESCO suggested 13 as a minimum age for using chatbots alone.
Vet tools and protect pupils' data
Tools should meet safety expectations before they reach classrooms.
Name the help
In assessed work, name the tool and date, keep a copy of what it produced and verify its sources.
A person marks the work
Teachers authenticate work; AI can never be the sole marker.
Teach AI literacy
Including when not to trust it, and involve parents and teachers in decisions.
Who has spoken
- Binding law, regulation, court ruling or enforceable professional rule
- Voluntary guidance, principles or a code an organization chooses to follow
Voluntary 2023; 2024; updated Jan 2026
UNESCO
Guidance for generative AI in education and research; AI competency frameworks
Human-centered use, age-appropriate access, data protection, and frameworks for what teachers and students should know about AI.
Binding Apr 2025
Joint Council for Qualifications (UK exam boards)
AI Use in Assessments, Revision 2
Unacknowledged AI use is malpractice. Students name the tool and date and keep a copy of the output; teachers authenticate work.
Binding 2023 to 2026
UK Department for Education
Generative AI in education; product safety expectations; Keeping children safe in education 2026
Policy and supplier expectations, now including protection of children's cognitive, emotional and social development. The 2026 statutory safeguarding guidance covers AI-generated nude images and deepfakes.
Binding Apr and Jul 2025
US Department of Education and the White House
Guidance on federal funds for AI; Executive Order 14277
Confirms federal funds may pay for AI tutoring and materials, and created a White House AI Education Task Force. Federal grant rules bind how the money is spent.
Voluntary May 2023
Quality Assurance Agency (UK)
Advice on generative AI
Encourages rethinking assessment rather than relying only on bans.
Voluntary May 2025
OECD and European Commission
AI Literacy Framework (draft)
A shared framework for schools, and the basis for a 2029 international assessment of media and AI literacy.
Binding and voluntary
Binding
Exam-board rules for UK qualifications (malpractice can mean disqualification), England's statutory safeguarding guidance, and US federal grant rules.
Voluntary
UNESCO guidance and frameworks, the UK policy paper and supplier expectations, QAA advice, the OECD and EU framework, and most university policies, which bind only their own students.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- The US moved to actively promote AI in schools in 2025, with a White House task force and confirmation that federal funds may pay for AI tutoring.
- England added standards in January 2026 on protecting children's development and on manipulation, and its 2026 safeguarding guidance covers AI deepfakes.
- UK exam boards revised their AI rules in April 2025.
Where people still disagree
Governments differ on emphasis: the US is promoting AI tutoring with federal funds, while England's newest standards put protection of children's development first. Both appear in the sources.
Questions to ask yourself
- Could I explain to a student exactly where AI is allowed in this assignment, and why?
- Does this tool meet a recognized safety standard for children, and who sees the data it collects?
- Is the AI doing the thinking the assignment was meant to build?
How this lines up with my everyday guidelines
| My everyday guidelines | The field's nearest rule |
|---|---|
7. Model healthy use for the family Demonstrate balanced reliance: a tool, not a crutch. | AI should support learners, with people kept in control and use matched to age (UNESCO). |
2. Practice transparent collaboration When AI helps create something, make sure you understand it and can explain it. | Name the tool and date and keep a copy of the output (JCQ). |
6. Stay curious and critical Keep learning. AI knowledge has cutoff dates and limitations. | Teach AI literacy, including when not to trust it (UNESCO; US Department of Education). |