NLCS’s AI journey: Learning together in a changing world

At NLCS, we're enthusiastic about exploring artificial intelligence (AI) education, navigating both the opportunities and challenges this technology presents. As the digital world evolves rapidly, we're committed to preparing our students to engage with AI in ways that are safe, ethical, and responsible. And so, our AI journey began.

In 2023, a group of interested and intrigued staff members came together to explore how AI could be thoughtfully integrated into our school's curriculum. This AI working group examined the technology's potential impact on education, laying the groundwork for our AI policy, formalised in the summer of 2024. Rather than imposing rigid rules, we focused on creating guiding principles. With AI developing at such a rapid pace, we wanted a flexible approach that could adapt as the landscape changes. Central to our approach was transparency, encouraging everyone, from staff to students, to openly discuss when AI is being used in their tasks.

However, we felt that simply having a policy wasn't enough. We wanted to equip our students with the skills and mindset to navigate AI confidently and ethically. That's when the idea for the AI Driving Licence™ emerged. It was inspired by a thoughtful conversation, where we reflected on the mix of emotions we feel when watching teenagers take to the road. The parallels between learning to drive and learning to engage with AI were striking. Both require careful guidance, awareness of potential risks, and responsibility.

From this insight, we developed a programme that aims to mirror the format of driving lessons: clear, structured, and designed to promote safe practices. Our AI Driving Licence™ is a pilot course that helps students understand the workings of AI, its ethical challenges, and the real-world applications that are influencing our future. At the end of the programme, students earn their AI Licence—an acknowledgment that they have developed the skills to navigate the digital landscape responsibly.

Like many educators, we've observed how technology has transformed our world over recent decades. We wanted to create a supportive environment where our students could develop confidence with these new tools from the beginning, rather than trying to catch up later.

The programme has sparked curiosity among our students, who are now approaching AI with greater confidence. As Rae, one of our Year 11 students, shared: "The AI Driving Licence™ has helped me understand the real-world applications and ethical issues of artificial intelligence. I'm now able to apply this knowledge to my own use of AI, which is particularly valuable as technology becomes increasingly important in our daily lives."

We recognised that our approach needed to include our staff as well. We introduced a one-year in-house accreditation programme for teachers and support staff, which includes a workshop each term and a self-study portfolio of activities, readings, and reflections. This ensures that staff members are equipped to guide students effectively, creating a collaborative learning environment where we're all developing our understanding together.

As we continue our work, we're focused on cultivating critical thinking, ethical awareness, and creative approaches to technology. We believe that by learning together—students, teachers, and the wider community—we can better understand both the potential and limitations of these powerful new tools, preparing our students to engage thoughtfully with the technologies that will shape their future.

Via the NLCS Ideas Hub LinkedIn account, we regularly share our work on this, including both our successes and the valuable lessons we've learned along the way. If you would like to hear more, please get in touch by emailing [email protected]