A leading British educator has called for the Department for Education (DfE) to be placed under “special measures” for six months due to its handling of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. Sir Anthony Seldon, former headmaster of Wellington College and vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, described AI as the most transformative innovation to impact education, but warned it also posed significant risks, including threats to young people’s safety, mental health, intellectual rigor, and the integrity of assessments.
Ahead of the publication of a report co-authored with tech entrepreneur Tim Bunting from Balderton Capital, one of Europe’s largest venture capital firms, Seldon argued that Britain’s response to AI in education has been “too little, too miniaturist and too late.” He noted that pupils are using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini far more widely than education authorities realize—sometimes turning to these technologies to manage mental health concerns while awaiting professional support.
Seldon and Bunting propose establishing a rapid response team within the government, modeled on the Covid-19 vaccine task force, to lead a comprehensive overhaul of AI policy in education. The team would include independent experts and build on the AI task force set up by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham in July, which aims to integrate AI across public services. This initiative would develop a National AI Education Adoption Framework to facilitate safe and effective use of AI in classrooms while preventing issues like cheating or overreliance on AI for academic work.
The educators recommend adopting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) education for human flourishing framework, which emphasizes equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world while maintaining strong foundations in subjects such as mathematics, English, and science. They argue that schools should move beyond traditional knowledge-focused models to develop “human-rich” education that nurtures creativity, entrepreneurialism, and work ethic.
The DfE has responded by announcing an autumn consultation to establish certification standards for educational technology, including generative AI tools, filtering, and monitoring systems. The department acknowledged both the challenges and opportunities AI presents, emphasizing the need to use it “safely, responsibly and effectively” to enhance creativity, critical thinking, and deep engagement. It has also committed £23 million toward evaluating the impact of EdTech alongside updates to the national curriculum and assessment to better prepare students for further education and employment.
Seldon attributed much of the slow progress to frequent changes in political leadership. He noted that the DfE has seen 12 education secretaries in as many years and seven prime ministers in a decade, with only current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak showing a clear understanding of AI issues, exemplified by his establishment of the AI Security Institute. Without consistent leadership, Seldon cautioned, efforts to integrate AI into education will falter.
He called on policymakers, including Burnham, to seize this moment—especially in the 50th anniversary year of Jim Callaghan’s 1976 Ruskin College speech that reimagined education—to launch a new era of AI integration in British schools. Seldon warned that without swift government intervention, AI could hinder rather than support young people’s intellectual development.
The forthcoming report, titled "Britain’s Greatest Education Opportunity Ever," will be published on September 22 and outlines these proposals in detail.