Generation Ready: Building the Foundations for AI-Proficient Education in England's Schools

This report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change examines how England must urgently reform its education system to prepare students for an AI-driven world.

The research reveals significant gaps in England's current approach to AI education, with only one in five teachers reporting that their school teaches students about AI fundamentals. Meanwhile, pupils are increasingly using AI tools without proper guidance, often bypassing learning rather than enhancing it. The study finds concerning inequality emerging, with independent schools three times more likely than state schools to have comprehensive AI strategies.

• Three-tiered skill framework: Students need AI literacy (understanding and using AI), human-centered capabilities (critical thinking and communication), and technical AI skills for future careers
• Four-pillar reform plan: The government must act across curriculum reform, teacher training, family engagement, and digital infrastructure investment
• Global competitiveness at stake: Countries like Estonia, South Korea, and Singapore are rapidly integrating AI education as national priorities, risking England's economic position
• New disadvantage gap emerging: Without intervention, pupils with AI access and training will significantly outpace those without, deepening educational inequality

The report emphasizes that AI proficiency should become a universal entitlement, not a privilege for the few. It calls for embedding AI literacy throughout the curriculum, creating specialized teacher training programs, engaging parents as partners, and ensuring every school has reliable digital infrastructure to support AI-powered learning.