Education · 4 August 2026
AI in Education
For teachers, school leaders and MATs
At askKira, we provide GDPR-compliant, secure AI built specifically for UK schools. Developed with over 100 education experts and aligned with DfE, Ofsted and EEF guidance, askKira helps teachers, school leaders and MATs work smarter, reduce workload and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
This week's roundup brings you the latest AI developments that matter for UK education.
School Data Protection & GDPR
ICO Publishes New Framework Schools Must Understand Now
The Information Commissioner's Office has released a new complaints-handling framework with direct implications for schools. Critically, a volume threshold of twelve complaints from the same organisation within one month can now trigger an ICO review, even if each complaint appears minor individually. Schools where parental relations are strained should take note and review their data protection complaints culture before September.
Why it matters: UK schools have no opt-out from collecting pupil and family data, meaning any motivated complainant could strategically use this threshold against your school before the new academic year begins.
Read the source on LinkedIn →EdTech Firms Used Pupil Data Without Telling Schools, ICO Audit Finds
An ICO audit of 28 EdTech providers found that nearly three-quarters could not prove their additional use of children's data was fair. Many providers also failed to disclose in written contracts that pupil data was being used beyond its stated purpose, prompting ministers to plan new sector guidance.
Why it matters: UK school leaders and DSLs must urgently review contracts with all EdTech suppliers to confirm data usage terms are explicitly stated in writing before staff and pupils return in September.
Read the source on SCHOOLSWEEK →Hackers Steal Sensitive Data from the Department for Education
A cyber-attack by a group called ExfilSquad targeted the DfE's helpdesk and Turing portals, exposing over 740,000 records including names, contact details and job titles of school leaders, university staff, government officials and parents. The attackers are reportedly demanding a ransom to prevent full public release of the dataset.
Why it matters: UK school leaders and MAT executives whose details are held by DfE portals may be directly affected, and this incident underlines why staff must treat any unsolicited contact claiming to be from government with extreme caution.
Read the source on SCHOOLSWEEK →AI Tutoring & Classroom Tech
Google Exits Government AI Tutoring Programme for UK Schools
Google is no longer working with the government to develop AI tutoring tools for schools, according to a report from Schools Week. The development raises questions about the sustainability of relying on large commercial technology partnerships to deliver personalised learning at scale, particularly as debates continue across Europe about the role of screens and AI in classrooms.
Why it matters: UK school leaders evaluating AI tutoring solutions should seek tools built with long-term educational accountability in mind rather than products dependent on shifting commercial priorities.
Read the source on Schools Week →AI in Student Assessment
Near-Universal AI Use Among Students Demands Institutional Leadership Response
New data from the HEPI-Kortext 2026 survey of over 1,000 UK undergraduates shows 94% now use generative AI to help prepare assessed work, up from 53% in 2024. Alongside this, 77% of students internationally report receiving no formal AI training, and 41% identify academic integrity as a leading concern. The report argues this is no longer a conduct issue but an institutional leadership and learning-design challenge.
Why it matters: Secondary schools feeding into higher education must begin building genuine AI literacy now, so that pupils arrive at university with the critical evaluation skills that current students demonstrably lack.
Read the source on LinkedIn →