Education Today Education Today Magazine
Education leaders, teachers and researchers recently came together at York St John University to celebrate the launch of the Institute of AI Education, a new initiative focused on helping schools navigate the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence in a practical and responsible way.
The event sparked lively discussions around some of the biggest questions facing education today: how do we build AI literacy, ensure fairness and inclusion, and give students and teachers real agency in how these technologies are used?
Co-founders Narinder Gill FCCT, NPQEL and Dr Beth Lane led an inspiring session on ‘Settling the Vision’, which explored their journey together in establishing the institute, and how research and collaboration can help create clear purpose and strong ethical foundations when using AI in learning.
NetSupport’s CEO Al Kingsley MBE, then took to the stage to lead an interactive session which posed thought-provoking questions to the audience to facilitate conversations and points of focus.
The day also featured contributions from speakers including Laura Knight, Founder of Sapio Ltd; Liz Birchinall, University of Manchester; and Victoria Hedlund, Founder of GenEd Labs, alongside educators sharing real experiences from schools already beginning to integrate AI tools into teaching and leadership practices.
The Institute of AI Education aims to become a collaborative hub, working with schools, universities and sector partners to develop research-informed guidance, professional development and practical support for educators. A key message from the launch was that AI in education should remain human-centred, supporting teachers and learners rather than replacing them.
The strong turnout and enthusiastic conversations throughout the day reflected the sector’s growing interest in working together to understand both the opportunities and challenges AI presents. Representatives from the Department for Education were also in attendance and were particularly impressed by the pioneering work already taking place in early years and primary settings.
Plans for further events and partnerships are now underway.
