BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has called for teacher training courses and headteacher leadership qualifications to include education on AI.

AI has been high on the agenda for a range of industries and public bodies over the past six months following the launch of generative AI platform ChatGPT in November last year.

The IT experts said that using technologies like AI in the classroom should be “prominent” in initial teacher training.

These measures could help teachers use AI tools for lesson planning, creating worksheets, and marking, as well as to better understand how students are using the technology at home, says the organisation.

The comments come after schools, led by the headteacher of Epsom College, recently wrote a letter to The Times warning of a lack of policy guidance on AI in education.

At the time, the group announced a new-cross sector body made up of leading teachers and guided by independent tech experts.

Earlier this year BCS' Computing at School network rated teachers' understanding of ChatGPT as 'low' or 'very low', warning that most school do not have plans for the impact of AI.

“Teachers and school support staff should be able to use digital technology in every aspect of their work; but they aren’t trained to do that and are being let down,” said Julia Adamson, managing director for education and public benefit, BCS. “We are calling for the National Professional Qualifications for heads and leaders to include having a vision for the safe and effective use of technology in their schools, including understanding of the impact of AI.”

BCS has also called for schools to be asked to publish digital strategies covering areas like cyber security, backed by professional IT staff.

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