AI for teachers: reports, planning and pupil data

AI can take on a lot of the mechanical writing in teaching. It has never met your class, though, and pupil data needs more care than almost anything else. The useful line is between the mechanical work and the observation that is actually the job.

Mechanical versus observational

Formatting a report, varying sentence structure, adapting a worksheet's reading level: mechanical, and AI does it well. Noticing that a pupil has started asking better questions in science: observational, and only you can do it. Reports that keep the observation and hand over the mechanics read like you wrote them, because the part that matters is yours.

Pupil data: the hard rules

Pupil data involves children and often special category information, so treat it as red. Don't put names or identifying details into a consumer AI tool. Use codes instead of names, keep sensitive details out, and follow your school's policy. If your school has no AI policy, raise it before you start rather than after.

Keeping your own voice

Give the tool a few paragraphs you have written and ask it to match them. Then read every output as the parent will. If a report could be about any child, it needs another observation from you, not another prompt.

Go deeper in the course

• Report Season, Module 1 (free to read)
• Privacy and safety
• The AI-Safe Desk (free short course)

Read Report Season Module 1