City schools are increasingly integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their educational strategies, with a strong emphasis on safety, ethics, and human oversight.

The City of London's Education Board has been discussing the growing adoption of AI as a strategic tool across its family of schools to enhance teaching, learning, and operational effectiveness. This proactive integration aims to prepare pupils for a future shaped by the technology, ensuring responsible and effective use within the educational environment.

Children engage with an interactive display at a careers festival, with a banner promoting apprenticeships in the background.
Children engage with an interactive display at a careers festival, with a banner promoting apprenticeships in the background.Source: Education Board papers, 2 October 2026

Schools are developing structured approaches that include AI literacy curricula, staff training, and robust governance arrangements covering safeguarding and data protection. The City schools (CLS, CLSG, and CSJ) have developed a dedicated AI literacy curriculum for pupils, with the overall ambition to develop AI literacy for all.

Educators are also receiving training regarding AI integration. The City of London Freeman School, for instance, has promoted wider understanding through AI and digital week activities and dedicated staff development sessions. This training aims to equip staff to use AI effectively while maintaining professional accountability.

Across the City of London's family of schools, AI is increasingly being adopted as a strategic tool. Specifically, at the City of London Freeman School, all pupils from year seven upwards have access to Microsoft CoPilot. The City of London Academies Trust is also developing a trust-wide AI policy and is taking a cautious approach focused on data protection, safeguarding, security, and the implications of AI for teaching, marking, coursework, and homework.

A group of individuals, including a man speaking with his hands gesturing, are seated at a table during a meeting or presentation.
A group of individuals, including a man speaking with his hands gesturing, are seated at a table during a meeting or presentation.Source: Education Board papers, 2 October 2026

The City of London Academies Trust is developing its trust-wide AI policy with a strong focus on data protection, safeguarding, and security. Similarly, the City schools (CLS, CLSG, and CSJ) have established governance arrangements that specifically cover safeguarding and data protection. The trust is also considering the implications of AI for student assessment, including marking, coursework, and homework. The City of London Freeman School also has clear policies on AI use, academic referencing, and assessment integrity.

A common theme across all schools is a balanced approach, embracing the opportunities AI presents for learning and operational efficiency, while ensuring strong governance, safeguarding, academic integrity, and human judgment remain paramount in decision-making. This emphasis on human oversight is a cornerstone of the AI adoption strategy.

The trust is also establishing central capacity to support AI and automation, gathering evidence from schools to understand current practices and inform future developments. This includes encouraging staff to use AI to improve productivity and resource development, always within a framework of professional accountability.

A diverse group of young people, including a smiling woman in the foreground, are shown at an event, with the "City Youth Guarantee" text overlaid.
A diverse group of young people, including a smiling woman in the foreground, are shown at an event, with the "City Youth Guarantee" text overlaid.Source: Education Board papers, 2 October 2026

For more details on the Education Board's discussions, refer to the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.