Everyone is talking about AI.
For children and young people, it’s already part of everyday life. From voice assistants and chatbots to smart search, content generation and personalised recommendations.
That reality makes Safer Internet Day 2026 especially relevant for education. This year’s theme,
“Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI” isn’t about whether AI should exist in schools, but about how learners, educators and leaders develop the skills, confidence and judgement to use it well.
At Academia, we work closely with schools, trusts, colleges and universities across the UK, supporting the safe, intentional and effective use of technology. Safer Internet Day is an opportunity to pause, reflect and refocus on what responsible AI use really looks like in education.
AI Is Already in the Classroom Whether We Plan for It or Not
AI is no longer new. Across education, it is already embedded in tools staff and students use daily, from writing assistance and data analysis to lesson preparation, accessibility support and administration.
The challenge for education leaders is no longer adoption.
It is focus, impact and responsibility.
Without clear guidance, AI risks becoming:
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A shortcut rather than a learning aid
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A safeguarding concern rather than an accessibility win
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A source of confusion rather than confidence
The question has shifted from “Can we use AI in education?” to:
“Where should we use it, why and how do we ensure it supports learning rather than undermines it?”
Teaching Young People to Make Smart, Safe Choices
With many children and young people encountering AI online, education has a vital role to play in helping them:
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Understand what AI is and what it is not
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Recognise its limitations, bias and potential inaccuracies
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Use AI tools ethically, creatively and critically
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Make informed decisions about privacy, data and trust
This Safer Internet Day, the focus is on empowerment, not fear. Exploring how AI can be used for good, while giving learners the tools to question, challenge and reflect on what they see and use.
That includes open conversations about:
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Chatbots and generative AI
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Voice assistants and recommendation systems
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Ownership of work and originality
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Human judgement versus automated output
Equally important is supporting parents, carers and guardians, helping them talk about AI at home and model safe, responsible behaviour with new technology.
From Curiosity to Intentional Use in Education
As with any technology, AI delivers value when it is applied deliberately, not reactively.
In education, the most effective use cases focus on augmentation rather than replacement:
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Supporting staff workload and wellbeing
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Improving accessibility and inclusion
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Enhancing planning, feedback and communication
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Reducing administrative burden so educators can focus on learners
Where AI struggles is in environments without clear objectives, governance or accountability. In those cases, it can accelerate risk rather than reduce it.
Strong leadership means recognising that AI supports professional judgement, it does not replace it.
Managing Risk Is Part of Responsible AI Use
AI introduces real considerations for education leaders:
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Data protection and GDPR
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Safeguarding and appropriate access
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Bias, accuracy and explainability
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Academic integrity and assessment design
These are not reasons to avoid AI, they are reasons to govern it properly.
Clear policies, staff training, age-appropriate use and human oversight are not barriers to innovation. They are what allow AI to be used safely, ethically and at scale.
Where Microsoft 365 Copilot Fits In
Within education institutions, one of the key challenges is ensuring AI tools are secure, compliant and aligned with existing systems.
Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed to work within the Microsoft environment that many schools and colleges already rely on. Rather than being a separate or unmanaged AI tool, Copilot is embedded directly into applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams.
This means:
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Data stays within your Microsoft 365 tenant
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Existing permissions and access controls are respected
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Security, compliance and privacy protections are built in
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Staff benefit from AI assistance without introducing shadow IT
Used appropriately, Copilot can support educators with planning, summarisation, communication and administrative tasks, freeing up time and cognitive load while keeping control firmly with the institution.
Preparing Education for AI, Not Just Introducing It
Responsible AI adoption starts long before tools are switched on.
At Academia, we help education leaders become AI-ready by focusing on:
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Clarity of purpose and use cases
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Data protection, governance and security
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Staff confidence, training and guidance
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Sustainable, ethical and policy-aligned deployment
Our role is not to push technology for its own sake, but to help institutions cut through the noise, understand real impact and make informed choices that support learning outcomes.
A Timely Opportunity for Wider Organisations
Alongside education, organisations charities are also exploring AI. Microsoft is currently offering Microsoft 365 Copilot Business at a reduced rate for eligible organisations, making secure AI more accessible for small and medium-sized teams.
While this offer is not education-specific, it reflects a wider shift toward responsible, governed AI, rather than unmanaged experimentation, a principle that applies across all sectors.
Safer Internet Day 2026: Focusing on What Matters
Safer Internet Day is a reminder that technology choices shape behaviour, culture and outcomes.
For education, smart tech and safe choices mean:
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Teaching critical thinking alongside digital skills
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Embedding ethics, safeguarding and responsibility into AI use
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Supporting staff, students and families with clarity not confusion
AI is here to stay. The institutions that benefit most will not be those that rush, but those that move deliberately, align technology with purpose and invest in capability.
If you’d like to explore what responsible AI could look like in your institution, our team is here to help.
Get in touch at solutions@smartdesc.co.uk to start the conversation.
