Shelley Lance, Headmistress of Feltonfleet Prep School, on the vital importance of building AI literacy and responsibility from early years
In an era where technology shapes our daily lives, understanding artificial intelligence (AI) has become crucial. As educators, we carry a profound educational and moral responsibility to lead the way in AI literacy. By prioritising this critical aspect of education, we empower our young people to engage thoughtfully and ethically with technology, while also being aware of its limitations and potential risks. Schools have a unique obligation to ensure that young learners not only become informed participants in the AI revolution but also become a generation that respects human dignity and values human intelligence.
At Feltonfleet, we strive to harness AI and prepare young people with the skills needed to thrive in a technology-driven society. Integrating AI responsibility into our curriculum is vital for equipping our pupils with a nuanced understanding of technology, allowing them to recognise both its benefits and risks. By fostering pupils’ capacity to navigate AI’s complexities, we are encouraging them to use it morally, with discernment, and for good and purposeful reasons.
Achieving school-wide AI literacy is a shared goal, one on which our entire school community is aligned. This includes comprehensive staff training, parent workshops, and collaborative discussions with other leading schools and Ed Tech companies. By engaging everyone – from teachers to parents – we aim to cultivate discerning AI citizens who grasp the implications of technology on society. Our approach aims to provoke ethical considerations & debates; facilitate informed decision-making; empower schools & individuals to use AI appropriately and equip us to respond tofuture developments.
Currently, narrow AI is embedded in our adaptive learning programs, enhancing personalised educational experiences. We are also trialling generative AI applications for EAL pupils and those with special educational needs, measuring their impact on learning outcomes. This practical approach not only enriches the curriculum but also prepares pupils for a future where AI will play an integral role in all aspects of their lives.
To further ensure our pupils understand the relationship between human intelligence and AI, we are developing the ‘Intelligences Curriculum’, one that emphasises the importance of both. Ultimately, our goal is to highlight the immense value of the human brain’s metacognitive abilities, meta contextual awareness and emotional intelligence in this evolving landscape. Recognising human intelligence fosters empathy, ethical reasoning, and critical thinking – all are essential for navigating an AI-driven world.
As educators, our role is not simply to teach pupils about AI but to develop their ability to think critically, adapt, and lead in an increasingly automated world. While AI can enhance learning and problem-solving, it is human intelligence – our creativity, empathy, and moral judgment – that will define the future.
By cultivating AI literacy alongside these uniquely human strengths, we ensure that our young people grow into responsible, ethical innovators. The challenge ahead is for schools and families to work together, helping the next generation harness technology for good while never losing sight of the values that make us human.
Feltonfleet School feltonfleet.co.uk
Further reading: York House on AI’s benefits for gifted and talented pupils
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