Back in 2023, I wrote an AI policy template that I hoped would be useful. What I didn’t expect was just how many schools would download and use it. Since then, I’ve considered updating it several times, but I held off. Schools tend to update policies on annual cycles, and I was also waiting to see what further guidance might come from the DfE.
A few weeks ago, that guidance arrived in the form of the DfE’s latest policy paper, Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s well worth your time. Add to that the existing guidance from JCQ, updates to KCSIE, and other policy developments from Ofsted, and it felt like the right time to revisit and refresh my AI policy template.
It’s increasingly clear that when Ofsted visits, schools and Trusts will need to show how they:
- Manage risks associated with AI, such as data privacy, intellectual property, bias, and ethics.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, data governance, and intellectual property regulations.
- Use AI effectively to support workload, accessibility, and equity in their schools.
Why am I sharing this?
For as long as I’ve been writing, I’ve shared resources to make life easier for others. Whether it’s guides, templates, or just insights from my work, my goal has always been to help educators reduce workload and make informed decisions.
Over the last decade, I’ve worked with hundreds of schools, Trusts, and organisations worldwide, supporting them with digital strategy, policy creation, and the ethical use of technology, including AI. Conversations around AI policy, safeguarding, bias, and governance have been central to that work, whether I’m developing policies, delivering training, or speaking at events.
Before I first published my AI policy template, I’d already helped dozens of schools develop their own. Since then, I’ve continued refining my approach based on real-world challenges and feedback from schools implementing these policies.
My work at NetSupport since 2021 has only strengthened this, giving me direct experience in compliance, safeguarding, and digital governance at scale. Large projects like this year’s Safeguarding Guide (which you can download for free here) have only reinforced the need for clear, adaptable policies that help schools make informed decisions.
This policy template will be particularly relevant for schools inspected by Ofsted, but also for British Schools Overseas, where inspections follow similar frameworks, and independent schools under ISI.
The technical bit
At the bottom of each page, you’ll see the Creative Commons licence applied to this document. In simple terms, this means you are free to:
✅ Adapt it
✅ Copy it
✅ Reuse it
However, you cannot:
❌ Use it for commercial gain
Any adaptations or reuse must credit the original source and carry the same Creative Commons licence. For full details, you can find more information on this link.
Please access the policy template here. Feedback is welcomed. I’d also love to hear stories about how it has helped you at all.
📥 Download the AI Policy Template (2025 Update)
This free resource helps schools align with Ofsted, ISI, and DfE AI guidance while ensuring compliance and risk mitigation.
If your school or Trust needs support in implementing AI policies or training staff on AI governance, let’s talk.
I’d love to hear how you’re using it in your school, and if you need support in writing or refining your AI policy, or with training staff to use AI effectively, get in touch.
Footnote: Thanks to co-author in the EdTech Playbook, Olly Lewis, for giving this a once-over with me. Cheers, buddy 🙂
