Embracing AI in education: a leadership perspective from Lift Schools

More than 75 teachers from across Lift Schools took part in a pilot to understand the positive impact of AI in the classroom

It’s time for school leaders to embrace AI

Through my career as a technologist and then MAT leader, I’ve heard a common refrain from some school leaders: “I’m a tech luddite” or “I don’t do IT”. While these sentiments may have been understandable in the past, they are now increasingly untenable. The world has shifted dramatically, and with it, so too must our approach to leadership in education. School leaders who fail to embrace this reality risk being left behind, much as they would if they were not abreast of the latest trends in any area of education development.

I’m not suggesting that all school leaders need to become technology experts or ‘techie’. Instead, they must become citizens of tomorrow – embracing the values we teach – and understand and harness the strategic importance of technology, particularly AI. Just as it is the responsibility of leaders to lead from the front in areas like behaviour, attendance, and teaching quality, they now need to bring the same level of focus and vision to AI and technology.

AI is not a threat; it’s an opportunity

Even the word ‘AI’ can conjure up images of dystopian futures, job redundancies, and depersonalised learning, a fear I addressed head on in a session at one of our principals' conferences last year. While these concerns are valid, it is equally important to acknowledge that AI is not a threat when used thoughtfully. 

Rather, it’s an unprecedented opportunity to enhance education and reduce workload for teachers. From generating personalised learning materials to moderating work against specific criteria, AI has the potential to significantly improve both teaching and learning. That's precisely the exciting territory explored in pioneering research led by Google, with Lift Schools at the forefront, demonstrating the truly transformative potential of generative AI for our educators.

The groundbreaking AI Works initiative, which concluded last month, wasn't just about tinkering with tech; it was a deep dive into how AI could genuinely ease the heavy workload our teachers carry, boost their wellbeing, and gift them that most precious of commodities: time. The results from the pilot, involving 75 teachers across Lift Schools, are nothing short of remarkable.

Click here to read the full results from the pilot

On average, each teacher participating in the pilot discovered a staggering 109 hours reclaimed annually - that’s the equivalent of over two and a half weeks of freed-up time – time that can now be reinvested where it truly matters: crafting more impactful lessons, providing personalised support to students, and engaging in invaluable professional development.

But the story doesn't end with time savings. The pilot also illuminated a profound shift in how teachers perceive and utilise technology. An impressive 80% of participants reported being positively surprised by the capabilities of AI, with many expressing that it had fundamentally reshaped their daily routines and approaches to teaching. This wasn’t just a short-lived trend; nearly half of the teachers who participated are already using these AI tools in their daily routines, showing how practical and easy to adopt they are. This represents enormous progress in itself and signals a major departure from the caution and unease that characterised attitudes toward AI just a year ago.

And even before this pilot, the positive impact of AI was already evident in classroom settings.

For example, in the run-up to Year 11 and Year 13 exams, teachers at Lift Tendring used AI functionality to generate engaging and effective revision questions. The system transformed traditional materials — worksheets, slide decks, and videos — into high-quality multiple-choice questions. This approach kept students focused on their learning while saving valuable time for staff. In fact, one teacher noted that by using AI in this way, they saved at least two full days’ worth of planning time and expect to save even more in the future as they reuse the materials with new cohorts. When multiplied across a typical secondary school, the potential time savings are striking - as much as 30 full days of planning time each year.

Examples aren’t limited to older children either - at Anglesey Primary Academy, AI has assisted with generating short extracts for reading comprehension, tailored to specific topics, and even provided handwriting practice linked to spellings. These real-world applications are both time-saving and enhance the learning experience.

At Lift Schools, we have adopted a cautious but optimistic approach - I refer to it as ‘the sweet spot’. The trust has been on the front foot in exploring the potential and limitations of emerging technology but we recognise that while AI is a powerful tool to enhance the classroom experience, it cannot - and will never - replace the fundamental role of teachers. Educators bring deep contextual understanding, emotional intelligence, and the ability to foster meaningful and supportive relationships with students. These irreplaceable human qualities are vital to creating positive, effective learning environments—something technology simply cannot do.

Click here to read more about the AI pilot on the Lift Schools website

The key is responsible AI use. AI, when overused or used improperly, can lead to a depersonalised learning experience or exacerbate existing inequalities. But when used wisely, AI has the potential to personalise learning, reduce administrative burdens, and streamline workflows for teachers.

Think of it as a tool as opposed to a crutch and the results can be significant.

At Lea Forest Academy, AI takes written reports and transforms them into engaging, two-person scripts for a weekly school news podcast in a fraction of the time it used to take. Both staff and even children then get involved to refine and take ownership of the script, in the process learning about how AI can enhance their work whilst maintaining their creative input.

Empowering our leaders with the right tools

At Lift Schools, we’re fortunate to have a cutting-edge IT service that supports our leaders at every level. Our technology support officers provide hands-on support for staff on the ground, while our centralised team of digital experts continually examines how AI can shape everything we do. 

This structure is critical because technology is not just something that happens in the classroom — it’s a whole-school and trust consideration that requires strategic vision from the top. 

I'm also absolutely convinced that the organisations that will succeed in the coming wave will not be those that can predict the future (even the world’s AI experts regularly disagree on that), but rather set themselves up to be the best at learning and evolving.

Acknowledging the undeniable importance of AI, Lift Schools has developed a comprehensive and long-term AI strategy. This strategy focuses on three key areas: easing staff workload pressures, personalising student learning, and enhancing operational efficiency to drive better outcomes for our staff and students.

Drawing inspiration from McKinsey’s Three Horizons model, our 10-year AI strategy offers a balanced approach, integrating long-term objectives with immediate actions. This ensures we are not only leveraging AI effectively across the trust right now but are also well-positioned for an unpredictable and ever-evolving AI landscape. 

We have an ambitious vision, but the potential for transformative change is truly exciting.

By 2034, Lift Schools aims to be a leader in AI-enabled education. But what does this mean exactly? Within the next decade, we envision a future where AI is an integral part of the classroom, empowering teachers to deliver personalised, impactful lessons that support the success of every student. 

Simultaneously, AI insights will provide teachers with more time to focus on the crucial and irreplaceable human aspects of learning like creativity, empathy, relationships and mentoring. In addition, we see a world where operational systems will be fully integrated with AI to proactively predict and address challenges, creating an environment where human empathy and technological innovation coexist seamlessly.

The leadership imperative

AI is no longer a future prospect or optional extra for school leaders; it's a present reality and needs to be embraced. We are not asking our leaders to do everything themselves; instead, we are asking them to lead by example and ensure that their schools are equipped to thrive in a world that is increasingly shaped by technology.

In the coming years, AI will become a fundamental part of the workplace, and it is our responsibility as leaders to ensure that our students are prepared. By embracing the possibilities of AI today, we can ensure that our schools are not only ready for the future but are actively shaping it.

Leading from the front

The next generation of educational leaders will not be those who shy away from technology but those who harness it to enhance their schools and improve student outcomes. At Lift Schools, we are proud to be at the forefront of this change, ensuring that our leaders are not just prepared for the future but are leading the way towards it.

And speaking of leading from the front, I’m proud to say that this article has itself been a product of AI collaboration, with some welcome review and critique from Gemini before I put it in front of any human eyes. In doing so, whilst I saved time I also found the process provoked and contributed to my thinking. And above all I have demonstrated that AI isn’t just a concept for the classroom — it’s a tool that can enhance the work of leaders, too. If I can embrace this shift, so can you.