John Jones

John is the Assistant Head Teacher, Innovation and Director of RGSW International at the RGS Worcester Family of Schools

AI Literacy is the foundation from which staff, pupils, parents & governors can be empowered to understand and use AI effectively and responsibly.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant future—it is already reshaping education, from the way teachers plan lessons to how students engage with learning materials. Schools that embrace AI effectively will be better positioned to enhance learning, reduce workload, and prepare students for a fast-changing world. Those that ignore it risk falling behind.

In this session, we will explore a whole-school strategy for integrating AI in a meaningful, structured, and ethical manner. Drawing on real-world case studies and data from RGS Worcester, we will break down how schools can develop AI literacy across all stakeholders—leaders, teachers, students, and parents—while maintaining a healthy scepticism about its limitations. We will also include live examples of AI usage across the themes.

Key Themes Covered:

🔹 Strategic Approach

Why schools need an AI strategy—and the risks of not having one

How AI adoption can support recruitment, retention, and future-proofing education

🔹 AI Literacy for All

The importance of ensuring all staff and students understand AI’s capabilities and limitations

Key misconceptions and how to address them (e.g., AI is not a database; AI-generated content isn’t always factual)

🔹 Curriculum & Assessment

How AI is changing traditional assessment methods

Rethinking the purpose of written assignments and homework in an AI-driven world

🔹 Equity & Access

How AI can create an "AI gap" between students and schools with differing levels of access

The role of schools in ensuring fair and ethical AI use

🔹 Staff Development & Training

Strategies for upskilling staff to integrate AI into their workflows

RGS Worcester’s approach: CPD, AI working groups, and faculty discussions

🔹 Ethical Considerations

The challenges of bias, misinformation, and ethical decision-making in AI-driven education

What it means to be a critical user of AI tools

🔹 Research & Evaluation

Why AI adoption must be accompanied by ongoing review and evidence-based decision-making

Lessons learned from AI implementation at RGS Worcester

🔹 Collaboration & Future Planning

How schools can work together to shape responsible AI adoption

The importance of partnerships, peer learning, and collective action in the AI era

Session Outcomes:

1️⃣ A Practical AI Implementation Framework – Attendees will gain a structured, whole-school approach to AI adoption, covering AI literacy, staff development, curriculum adaptation, and ethical considerations. They will leave with clear steps to introduce and scale AI responsibly within their schools.

2️⃣ Ready-to-Use AI Literacy Strategies – Participants will receive concrete strategies to develop AI literacy among staff and students, ensuring all stakeholders become critical users of AI rather than passive adopters. This includes examples of CPD models, classroom applications, and methods to foster a healthy scepticism while maximising AI’s benefits.