Join the education revolution: your path to AI certification

There are five elements to the certification framework, selected to cover the fundamentals of school and college life.

1

Enrol

Click the enrol button to purchase your access to the full detailed framework, specific criteria, evidence guidance and submission portal.

2

Self-Assess & Plan

Use the framework and guidance materials to evaluate your current practice against the criteria for your target level (Explorer, Practitioner, or Innovator). Identify areas for development.

3

Gather Evidence

Collect your assets: relevant documents, examples, screenshots, links or descriptions that demonstrate how you meet the criteria.

4

Complete your submission

Compile your self-assessment responses and supporting evidence through our secure online portal.

5

Review & Certification

Our expert assessors review your submission. Successful schools receive their official AiEd Certified digital badge and certificate for their level. Feedback may be provided.

Explore the framework

Leaders

Digitally literate, recognise significance of AI, know there are benefits and challenges of implementation, arbitrary training completed.

Staff

Digitally literate, have used AI in an experimental and ad-hoc way, aware of potential issues / trustworthiness.

Students

Digitally literate in school, have heard about AI, used in unstructured way.

Leaders

Confident AI users, awareness of issues around prompting, bias, limitations. Provides training / CPD opportunities to staff.

Staff

Regular AI user with critical approach to inputs and outputs.

Students

Understand the risks and benefits of using AI, able to apply a critical lens to outputs.

Leaders

Creates bespoke training for own context, shows awareness of potential hidden interests (business, politics) in AI and actively manages this risk.

Staff

Confident approach and critical practice are second nature. Are given time to embrace developments and implement innovations.

Students

Can use AI in subject specific and creative, cross curriculum ways. Understands wider societal risks and benefits (e.g.environmental, geo-political).

Leaders

Have basic safeguarding policies, perhaps defensive bans on certain products.

Staff

Wary of issues such as security, safety and data protection, concerned about risks of bias.

Students

Awareness of inherent bias / misinformation in AI outputs and the potential impact. Takes responsibility for safety of self and peers.

Leaders

Strategic approach taken. All policies take AI into account, with data privacy, intellectual property, security and online safety a priority. Clarity for all stakeholders, including parents/guardians on data issues.

Staff

Fully briefed on policies and demonstrate safe and ethical practice.

Students

Understand ethical implications of using AI, including plagiarism, intellectual property, appropriateness of content.

Leaders

Regular policy update schedule acknowledging ever changing technologies. Take a collaborative approach with stakeholders to agree ethical approach.

Staff

Time allowed to understand policy updates. Participate in defining implementation strategies.

Students

Understanding of and openness to changing policies, including why updates are necessary. Student voice is heard.

Leaders

Digital infrastructure and Edtech available throughout school, with data integration. Using obvious and embedded tools (e.g. ChatGPT, MS Co-pilot) for internal administrative tasks.

Staff

Curious about AI, beginning to individually use freely available tools in a subject specific way.

Students

Likely using AI in an ad-hoc way outside of school, perhaps some in-lesson use.

Leaders

Identifying AI tools to address specific needs, and implementing school-wide, including user training and support.

Staff

Using AI tools provided by school, beginning to seek out subject specific tools and requesting management support in implementing.

Students

Taught to use specific AI tools effectively across a variety of subjects.

Leaders

Making strategic and commercial decisions, linking systems and paying attention to the AI lifecycle (including monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement) as part of a long-term view.

Staff

Contribute to tool selection and developing best use practices.

Students

Understand why the chosen tool is beneficial. Students have a voice in tool selection for different tasks.

Leaders

Ad-hoc use of AI in curriculum planning tasks.

Staff

Occasional use of AI to create lesson plans / teaching resources.

Students

Sporadic use of AI to complete given tasks, focus on ‘right’ answer.

Leaders

Systematic and regular use of AI to make regular tasks easier. Upfront time investment giving ongoing benefits. Applied to learning design and overall curriculum, school wide systems create ‘joined up’ thinking by learner and by subject.

Staff

Creative and ongoing use of AI to produce resources, activities and promote engagement. Some automation of tasks such as marking / feedback may be applicable on a by subject basis.

Students

Demonstrate an awareness of their learning process, supported by AI but student takes the lead in activities.

Leaders

AI Pedagogy is at the forefront of stakeholder / governance decision making and projects, including overall strategy. Particular attention is paid to necessary changes to assessment. School is transparent about aims and ongoing projects.

Staff

Systematic approach to Learning Design with AI. Uses AI to provide feedback and guidance without impacting social interaction. Links AI use to future careers / life outside school.

Students

Value automated feedback and guidance, knows when teacher interaction is beneficial. Treats AI as an assistant / collaborator, taking responsibility for learning.

Leaders

AI issues feature in meetings and activities; non-compulsory training or information is shared.

Staff

Informal AI discussions and knowledge sharing between staff referencing external sources.

Students

AI interest is demonstrated through ad-hoc discussions, in and outside of classroom likely focused on news / latest developments.

Leaders

Responsibility is taken for co-ordinating knowledge sharing. Formal training and managed groups exist and collaborate regularly.

Staff

Subject specific working groups led by teachers create and share knowledge. Effort is made to monitor impact of AI on learning and behaviour.

Students

Students and parents are engaged with learning using AI through ongoing communication about practice (newsletters, website, open evenings).

Leaders

Takes the lead in collating / sharing experiences and best practice. Contributes data and participates in wider activities with government / exam board / research / community initiatives.

Staff

Are empowered to implement AI initiatives and create evidence-based practice with new technology. Collaborate within and between subjects.

Students

Students share their knowledge and experience with parents, able to transfer school practice to the real world, including community-based activities.

Explore the framework

1. AI literacy

▪ Understanding AI’s benefits, risks, and limits is key to meaningful adoption in education.

▪ Digital literacy and daily tech use are essential for all school stakeholders.

▪ Structured time is needed to teach critical, ethical, and effective AI use.

2. Policies & Ethics

▪ A unified, institution-wide AI policy must be clearly communicated to all stakeholders.

▪ Policies should address safeguarding, data privacy, security, IP, bias, and equity.

▪ Staff and students should model safe, inclusive AI use and contribute to ongoing policy updates.

3. Tools & Systems

▪ Robust infrastructure and integrated data systems are essential for strategic AI use.

▪ AI tools should be selected purposefully, with input from end users.

▪ Purchasing decisions must include plans for training, support, and impact monitoring.

4. Digital Pedagogy

▪ AI should enhance - not replace - teaching, learning, and support roles.

▪ It can assist with planning, admin, resource creation, and inclusive learner engagement.

▪ AI must support a socially-led approach, with humans guiding its use for feedback and progress.

5. Collaboration & Community

▪ Collaborative learning about AI is essential for successful implementation.

▪ Schools should engage with staff, students, communities, and external partners to share best practice and evidence impact.

▪ A culture of collaboration should be modelled by leaders and empower staff and students to innovate.