The development and evolution of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) presents one of the most exciting opportunities for education in the 21st Century. With the potential to transform our world, it is a force we cannot ignore. However, its rapid advancement also places us on the edge of the unknown, urging us to proceed with caution while embracing its possibilities. At Surbiton High School, we believe in the cautious implementation of GenAI to enhance and complement our pupils’ learning experience, not replace it. AI is a tool that can support our teachers, making learning more engaging, and tailored and keeping it at the forefront of technological advance.
Traditional vs AI
While GenAI can enhance the efficiency of and engagement with educational content delivery, we remain steadfast in our commitment to nurturing human intelligence. Traditional teaching methods will continue to be at the heart of our pedagogy, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and intellectual curiosity in our pupils. We remain dedicated to preserving the essence of teacher-pupil interactions and the cultivation of essential habits of learning that empower our pupils to excel in an ever-changing world.
Fostering Ethical Integration
We aim to create an environment where pupils are not just passive consumers of technology but active participants in shaping its ethical integration. Pupils will be encouraged to question the validity and ethical implications of technology in their daily lives. Our teachers guide, support, and inspire pupils to become responsible digital citizens who use technology as a force for good.
Transparency
Transparency is fundamental to our approach: we ensure that all stakeholders clearly understand the role of AI in our educational processes, including how AI systems are used, the data they collect, and the algorithms that underpin them, and we maintain open dialogue with pupils, parents, and staff about ethical considerations to foster trust and accountability. Central to this commitment is the protection of pupils’ data; the school strictly adheres to all data protection regulations and treats AI in the same way as all software, apps, and websites, guided by the principle that no data should be shared unless absolutely necessary, and where it is unavoidable, a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is completed in advance, ensuring that pupil data is never used for commercial or unethical purposes.
AI at School
We are dipping our toes in gently. Often, our pupils will be unaware that their teacher has utilised any form of AI. We have blocked the pupils from accessing the sites of a few of the main protagonists in the AI arena, in part because there are often age restrictions that need to be adhered to (e.g. ChatGPT guidelines stipulate 13+). These restrictions (as with all websites) are also filtered on the pupils’ iPads at home. However, on their own devices, this will unlikely be the case. Therefore, we ask you to join us in opening up the debate at home, helping to safeguard your child, and reinforcing their need to take a critical approach to the use of AI.
