Teachers Sound Alarm Over AI's Impact on Pupil Thinking Skills
A recent poll conducted by the National Education Union has uncovered significant concerns among educators regarding the use of artificial intelligence in tutoring. According to the survey, nearly half of teachers in England oppose AI tutoring for pupils, warning that it is eroding essential cognitive abilities.
Decline in Core Academic Skills Reported
The survey, which involved 9,000 state school teachers, found that two-thirds of secondary school educators have observed a noticeable decline in core skills among students. These include critical thinking, creativity, writing proficiency, and problem-solving capabilities. One teacher commented, "Students are losing core skills – thinking, creativity, writing, even how to have a conversation." Another added, "AI is destroying what 'learning' – problem-solving, critical thinking and collaborative effort – is."
Voice-to-text technology was specifically highlighted as a factor contributing to this decline. A third anonymous respondent noted, "Children no longer feel the need to spell as voice-to-text replaces knowledge." This shift away from traditional learning methods has raised alarms about the long-term educational outcomes for pupils.
Government Plans for AI Tutoring Face Opposition
In January, the government announced ambitious plans to develop AI tutoring tools aimed at providing one-to-one learning support for up to 450,000 disadvantaged pupils. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated, "AI tutoring tools have the potential to transform access to tailored support for young people, taking tutoring from a privilege of the lucky few, to every child who needs it – so all children can achieve and thrive."
However, the NEU poll reveals that 49% of teachers oppose this initiative, with only 14% in agreement. Many educators fear that AI tutors will be used to cut costs and undermine the value of human teaching skills. One respondent argued, "Students who need tutors often need more than academic support. AI will not give them that." Another emphasized, "Disadvantaged students need human interaction for tutoring rather than AI so that social skills can be enhanced and social isolation reduced."
Teachers' Reliance on AI Creates Contradiction
Despite their scepticism about student use of AI, teachers themselves are increasingly relying on the technology for their professional duties. The survey shows that 76% of educators now use AI for day-to-day work, a significant increase from 53% last year. Primary uses include:
- Creating resources (61%)
- Planning lessons (41%)
- Administrative tasks (38%)
Only 7% reported using AI tools for marking assignments.
This reliance comes amid a lack of formal policies in many schools. The poll found that 49% of schools have no policies governing AI use by staff or students, and 66% lack specific policies for student use. One teacher remarked, "Staff are not trained to use it properly, but are using it and it's producing sub-standard slop." Another called for better regulation, stating, "If used correctly, AI can be a valuable educational tool; regulation and guidance is needed, and training and policies should be in place in every school for staff and students."
Union and Government Responses
Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the NEU, expressed deep concerns about the findings. He said, "Students must be able to think for themselves. This is at the heart of learning, but our survey shows a reliance on AI is having an effect on students' ability to think critically. The profession is far from convinced that AI tutors are a magic bullet for closing opportunity gaps for disadvantaged students. The government is taking a risk in rolling out AI tutoring before its impacts are properly understood."
In response, a government spokesperson defended the initiative, stating, "Our mission is to break the link between background and success, and the introduction of AI tutoring tools can help make that a reality – expanding the tailored support that is often only available to a privileged few to every child who needs it. No technology should replace the foundations of core knowledge and disciplinary thinking that prepares pupils for later life. But we also have to prepare children for a digitally enabled world. That's why our schools white paper sets out a clear plan to ensure AI is used safely, critically and responsibly – so every young person can achieve and thrive."
The debate highlights the tension between technological advancement and traditional educational values, with teachers urging caution as AI becomes more integrated into the classroom.
