Kay Kelly is the Executive Headteacher at Boynton Primary School and Wold Newton Foundation School, East Riding of Yorkshire
Artificial Intelligence has moved rapidly from the periphery of education into the centre of national debate. For many teachers, it still feels like something abstract — a future technology, a policy talking point, or a tool that belongs in secondary computing labs rather than primary classrooms. But for others, including my teams across Boynton Primary School and Wold Newton Foundation School, AI has become a daily companion that reduces workload, supports wellbeing, and gives staff back the one thing they never have enough of: time.
Why AI matters now
The Department for Education’s 2023 Generative AI in Education report found that more than 60% of teachers believe AI could significantly reduce workload, particularly in planning, admin, and resource creation. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) echoed this in 2024, highlighting AI’s potential to streamline routine tasks while reinforcing the need for professional judgement.
Meanwhile, the NEU’s own workload surveys consistently show teachers working an average of 54 hours per week, with administrative tasks cited as a major pressure. AI is not a silver bullet — but it is a powerful tool that can meaningfully reduce this burden when used safely and strategically.
My journey into AI: from secret tool to whole‑school strategy
My own introduction to AI was almost accidental. Eighteen months ago, I tried a generative AI tool for the first time and felt a mixture of excitement and guilt. It drafted letters, summarised documents, and turned my scribbled notes into polished reports in seconds. It felt like discovering a secret shortcut — one I wasn’t entirely sure I was allowed to use.
But the more it helped me, the more I realised I had a responsibility to share it. I began introducing AI to staff, then to cluster groups, then to other headteachers. What started as curiosity became a movement. Today, AI is embedded across leadership, teaching, assessment, and administration in both of my schools. And no — it hasn’t replaced teachers. It has supported them.
How AI is changing my leadership
In leadership, AI has become the colleague who never sleeps. When I’m preparing for a governor meeting, AI helps me distil complex reports into clear, accessible summaries. When I’m working on my Ofsted inspection preparation or researching a new initiative, tools like Notebook LM act as a personal research assistant, pulling together key themes and evidence in minutes.
Even routine leadership tasks — writing headteacher reports, aligning school documents with Ofsted frameworks, or turning meeting notes into action plans — have become faster and more manageable. The time saved isn’t abstract; it’s tangible. It’s the difference between finishing work at 6pm or 9pm. It’s the difference between a Sunday spent planning and a Sunday spent with family.
AI in the classroom: creativity, clarity, and confidence
Teachers across both schools now use AI in ways that genuinely enhance teaching and learning. When a teacher needs a model text for a writing unit, AI can produce one instantly, tailored to the age group and genre. When someone is planning a history lesson, AI can summarise key events or generate child‑friendly explanations. In EYFS, staff use AI to spark new ideas for continuous provision or to create imaginative scenarios for role play.
One of the most powerful uses has been turning children’s writing into images. When pupils see their stories visualised, they become more motivated to edit, refine, and extend their work. It has transformed the editing process from a chore into a moment of pride.
EEF research suggests that AI‑assisted planning can reduce planning time by up to 40% without compromising quality. Our experience mirrors this: teachers feel more prepared, more creative, and less overwhelmed.
Assessment and feedback: faster, clearer, more insightful
AI has also supported assessment practices. When moderating writing, teachers can use AI to compare samples, identify patterns, or articulate strengths and next steps. When analysing progress, AI can help visualise trends that might otherwise be buried in spreadsheets. It doesn’t replace professional judgement — it sharpens it.
The administrative revolution
If there is one area where AI has had the most dramatic impact, it is administration. Staff now routinely use AI to draft letters, create risk assessments, prepare newsletters, and summarise policies. Tasks that once took an entire afternoon now take minutes. One teacher told me AI had “given her weekends back”. Another used it to plan her entire holiday — flights, itinerary, packing list. AI is not just a professional tool; it’s a wellbeing tool.
Practical advice for NEU members
The most important message I share with colleagues is this: start small. Choose one repetitive task — a letter, a lesson outline, a policy summary — and ask AI to produce a first draft. You remain the expert; AI simply accelerates the process.
If you’re unsure where to begin, try something simple like a parent letter, a policy summary, or a lesson outline.
The second principle is to use AI for first drafts, not final decisions. AI is brilliant at structure, clarity, and speed — but it lacks context. Your professional judgement remains central.
And finally, protect pupil data. Never input identifiable information. Use AI for templates, structures, and anonymised scenarios only. This is non‑negotiable.
A clear perspective: AI as a tool for humanity
AI is not here to replace teachers. It is here to reduce workload, support wellbeing, improve inclusion, enhance teaching and learning, and give staff time back. In my schools, AI has become a quiet revolution. It has changed how we work, how we plan, how we communicate, and how we lead. It has given staff their evenings back. It has given some their confidence back. It has given many their joy back.
Final thought
If you take one thing from this blog, let it be this: AI is not about doing more. It is about doing less — better. Choose one task you will no longer do manually. Choose one hour you will reclaim each week. And protect that hour fiercely.
Welcome aboard the AI bus. There’s plenty of room.