A survey of more than 9,000 secondary school teachers in England found growing concern about the impact of artificial intelligence on students. Many teachers reported that pupils are losing key thinking skills due to increased reliance on AI.

According to the findings, about two-thirds of secondary teachers said students’ critical thinking abilities have worsened. In contrast, fewer primary school teachers reported the same issue.

Teachers also observed declines in other areas. These include writing, creativity, and conversation skills. Therefore, concerns extend beyond just academic performance.

“Students are losing core skills – thinking, creativity, writing, even conversation.”

📊 Rising AI Use in Classrooms

At the same time, AI usage among teachers has increased significantly. Around 76% of teachers now use AI tools in their daily work. This marks a rise from 53% the previous year.

Teachers mainly use AI for:

• Creating teaching resources
• Lesson planning
• Administrative tasks

However, only a small number use it for marking work. Therefore, AI currently supports teaching rather than replacing it. Meanwhile, students are also using AI more frequently. As a result, reliance on these tools continues to grow across schools.

⚠️ Lack of Clear Rules and Policies

Despite increased usage, many schools do not have clear guidelines. Nearly half of teachers said their schools lack AI policies for staff or students. In addition, about two-thirds reported no rules for student use.

This lack of regulation has raised concerns. Teachers warn that without proper oversight, AI could affect how students learn basic skills.

Therefore, many educators are calling for clearer frameworks. These would help ensure AI supports learning instead of replacing it.

🧠 Concerns Over Learning and Skill Development

Teachers highlighted specific issues linked to AI use. Some said students rely on tools like voice-to-text, which reduces the need to learn spelling.

Others warned that students may depend too much on AI for answers. Consequently, they may not develop problem-solving skills independently.

At the same time, the survey reflects broader concerns about learning habits. Teachers believe that thinking and reasoning remain central to education.

Students should be able to think independently as part of learning.

🏫 Debate Over AI in Education Policy

The findings come as the UK government plans to introduce AI tutoring tools. These tools aim to support up to 450,000 disadvantaged pupils.

However, many teachers oppose this plan. Nearly half expressed concerns about relying on AI for education.

Educators also worry that AI could reduce human interaction in classrooms. Therefore, they stress the need for balanced use of technology.

🌍 Ongoing Discussion on AI’s Role

Overall, the survey highlights a growing debate about AI in schools. While AI offers benefits, it also raises concerns about long-term learning outcomes.

Teachers continue to call for better regulation, training, and guidance. Therefore, policymakers face increasing pressure to address these issues.

As AI adoption grows, the education system must adapt carefully. Meanwhile, the focus remains on protecting essential learning skills.