Updated on
June 17, 2026
AI Policy Template for Schools (Free, DfE-Aligned)
Download a free, editable AI acceptable use policy template for your school. DfE-aligned, covering data protection, safeguarding and assessment integrity.
Every school using artificial intelligence needs an acceptable use policy that staff and learners can actually follow. This page gives you a free, editable AI policy template to download and adapt, plus a short guide to putting it in place. It reflects the Department for Education's Generative AI in education guidance (updated August 2025) and related statutory expectations.
Download the AI policy template
The template is a branded, editable A4 document with highlighted fields for you to complete. It is a starting point, not legal advice, so adapt each clause to your setting and approve it through your usual governance route.
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Free AI Acceptable Use Policy template
DfE-alignedEditable sections, ready for governors
A DfE-aligned, ready-to-adapt AI policy your school can take to governors. Add your details and download it now.
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Free to adapt for your school. Not legal advice. We will email you occasional evidence-based resources; unsubscribe any time.
What your AI policy should cover
A workable school AI policy sets out clear expectations for staff and learners and links to your existing safeguarding, data protection and assessment policies. The template covers:
- Purpose and scope: who and what the policy applies to, on school and personal devices.
- Principles: safety first, human judgement in charge, transparency, and fairness.
- Roles and responsibilities: governors, senior leaders, the designated safeguarding lead, the data protection officer, staff and learners.
- Acceptable use by staff: planning, resource creation and feedback, with outputs always checked.
- Acceptable use by learners: supervised, age-appropriate use with clear permissions.
- Prohibited use: entering personal data, bypassing safeguarding, or passing AI work off as a learner's own.
- Data protection and privacy: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018; the DfE recommends not putting personal data into AI tools.
- Safeguarding, filtering and monitoring: covering generative AI within your whole-school approach.
- Academic integrity and assessment: following Joint Council for Qualifications guidance and designing assessment that stays valid.
- Transparency, intellectual property and review: being open about AI use, respecting copyright, and reviewing the policy at least annually.
How to adapt the template
Complete the highlighted fields, check each clause against your existing policies, and have the policy approved by your governing board or trust. Given how quickly AI changes, review it at least once a year. For a fuller walk-through of the decisions behind each section, read our guide to creating an AI policy for schools, and check the latest position in the DfE guidance on AI in schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do schools legally need an AI policy? There is no single law requiring one, but you must still meet data protection, safeguarding and assessment duties. A clear AI policy is the practical way to show you are meeting them.
What should an AI policy include? Purpose and scope, acceptable and prohibited use for staff and learners, data protection, safeguarding, academic integrity, and a review date. The template above covers each of these.
How often should we review it? At least annually, or sooner if national guidance or your own practice changes.
Related guidance
Explore more in our AI and EdTech tools hub, and see how policy connects to AI and academic integrity in the classroom, or build the bigger picture with our whole-school AI strategy guide.
