Parents back unions’ urgent call to make education staff central to AI adoption in schools

• Major poll reveals stark gap between parent expectations and government priorities on AI in schools, as nine education unions offer a roadmap for giving educators a seat at the table.
• Only 38% of parents say they have been consulted about AI use in their child's education, yet 58% of those never consulted say they want to be.New polling found that while 80% of parents trust educators to make decisions about AI in education, just 56% trust government and regulators to do so.
• The findings come as nine major unions issue an urgent joint call for educators to be central at every stage of AI, from national policy formation through to tech design and classroom deployment.

As the government pushes ahead with plans to roll out AI in schools, unions representing millions of education staff are urgently calling for their voices to be heard.

New polling reveals that parents feel the same with a trust gap that should alarm policymakers. Eighty per cent of parents trust education staff to make decisions about AI in education, compared to just 56% who trust government and regulators.

Nine unions representing teachers, school leaders, support staff and specialists across the UK have today (Wednesday) called for educators and their unions to be involved “at every stage” of AI adoption in education.

In a joint statement Unison, Unite, UCU, NEU, NASUWT, NAHT, GMB, EIS and AEP say, "Technology is not a panacea. It is a tool.

"The potential to enhance education for students, educators and society at large depends on the way these tools are designed, deployed, and evaluated. Meaningful educator involvement is needed throughout to ensure that the rapid roll out of AI in education is shaped by professionalism and sound pedagogy."

New polling

The statement is published as new polling reveals the vast majority of parents want education staff to be central to AI governance. While 80% of parents trust educators to make decisions about AI in education, just 56% trust government and regulators to do so.

Parents’ levels of trust in educators to make decisions about AI use in their child's education crosses political divides.

• Conservative: Educators 85% vs EdTech 69% vs Government 63%
• Labour: Educators 84% vs EdTech 70% vs Government 67%
• Reform: Educators 73% vs EdTech 64% vs Government 47%
• Lib Dem: Educators 83% vs EdTech 67% vs Government 66%
• Green: Educators 75% vs EdTech 54% vs Government 46%
  
  The polling conducted by Survation shows only 38 per cent of parents have been actively consulted on the use of AI in their child’s education, and the families most likely to need reassurance are being left furthest behind.
  
  Only 26% of families with children who have special educational needs or disabilities have been informed about AI use in their child's education, compared to 46% of other families.

Joint statement

As AI is increasingly deployed throughout education – and despite this clear preference displayed by parents -- educators and their unions are not central to decision-making around these technologies. Unions are jointly issuing a statement calling for an urgent course correction.

The statement reads:

We are nine unions representing millions of educators across the UK – teachers, specialists, support staff, school leaders, and workers throughout the education system. Every day we support, teach and lead in schools, colleges, and universities across all jurisdictions of the UK.

As AI is being rolled out rapidly in education, there is an urgent need to ensure this is shaped by the expertise and professional judgement of these educators.

We recognise that AI and education technology (EdTech) can complement human-centred education.

But we know that AI cannot solve the education system’s deeper problems: underfunding, teacher shortages, overwhelming workloads, or the social and economic pressures educators face every day. And without clear guardrails, these technologies risk making existing problems worse and undermining both quality of education and students’ best interests.

To realise the potential that AI in education can offer, educators and their unions must be central to every stage of AI adoption, from policy formation and design, through procurement and deployment, to evaluation.

All actors and institutions must ensure that AI and EdTech strengthens, not replaces or undermines, the vital relationships between all education workers and students.

Calls for action

Calling for AI to be shaped by the expertise and professional judgment of teachers, support staff and education workers, signatories say government, employers, and technology providers must commit to involving educators and their unions at every stage of AI and EdTech adoption.

The statement calls for: 

• At the national policy making level: Educators and their representatives must be directly involved in policy formation, bringing pedagogical expertise to define what problems need solving and whether and how technology is the appropriate solution.
• In the design and development of systems by EdTech providers: Early involvement of educators and their representative unions in developing the technology itself is key to ensuring that EdTech has a positive impact on teaching and learning.
• At the local institution procurement and decision-making stage: At the local institution level, educators and their unions must be partners in the co-creation of policies and practices, including through collective bargaining and procurement.
• At the local deployment and evaluation stages: Implementation must be educator-led, with appropriate professional learning, planning time, and ongoing support. Educators must retain control over pedagogical decisions so they can decide what works best for their students.

TUC Assistant General Secretary Kate Bell said, "AI is a tool that could enhance education for generations to come. But AI cannot fix underfunding, staff shortages and overwhelming workloads.

"If the government wants public confidence in its AI agenda, it needs educators and their unions at the policy table from the outset. 

"Teachers, support staff and other education workers know better than anyone how this new technology could benefit both them and students. It is vital they are involved in decision making from day one.”

Read the full statement