Artificial intelligence is already part of our working lives. Staff and students across the Foundation are using a range of AI tools—often informally, and sometimes without clear guidance. While this reflects curiosity and innovation, it also introduces risk and contributes to further digital disunification.
That’s why we’re taking a structured, organisation-wide approach to AI—one that focuses on making its use both safe and effective.
Over the past year, we’ve made strong progress on the safe side. The Copilot Readiness Assessment is complete, and the Copilot Guardrails project is well underway. This work is helping us define how staff should save and share files, manage permissions, and use Microsoft Copilot securely. These changes take time and will continue to be rolled out gradually.
But safety alone isn’t enough—and we cannot afford to wait.
That’s why we’re now launching the AI Action Group (AIAG)—a team dedicated to making AI effective. The group will focus on identifying and testing how Microsoft Copilot, the Foundation’s preferred AI tool, can genuinely help staff save time, reduce workload, and improve outcomes.
The AIAG is led by Ather Abbas (FDN), Director of Digital, Data and Transformation, who also sits on the Foundation’s Executive Committee.
“Creating the AI Action Group is a vital step in ensuring that artificial intelligence is introduced in a way that genuinely benefits staff. By focusing on real problems and testing practical solutions before scaling, we’re taking a thoughtful, evidence-based approach—one that puts staff experience at the centre. This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about making sure AI, starting with Microsoft Copilot, helps reduce workload, simplify tasks, and give time back to teachers, leaders, and support teams across the Foundation.” — Ather Abbas (FDN), Director of Digital, Data and Transformation
Who’s Involved?
- Roanna Pierce, Deputy Head, Aston
- Kam Lally, Assistant Head, Aston
- Andrew Russell (AST), Head of Computer Science, Aston
- Tom Munoz-Britton, Assistant Head, CHB
- Zoe Tromans, Assistant Head, CHG
- Amir Kafai, Assistant Head, HGS
- Adam Kilcullen, Head of IT Operations, HGS
- Martin Lea, Director of Teaching and Learning, KES and KEHS
These Foundation Leaders of AI will also be working closely with AI champions in schools to ensure the group’s work reflects the real needs and experiences of staff across the Foundation.
What Will the Group Do?
The AIAG will follow a structured, evidence-based approach inspired by the Education Endowment Foundation’s implementation framework. Their work includes:
- Training on Microsoft Copilot for 365
- Identifying common challenges Copilot could help solve
- Prioritising and testing practical use cases in schools
- Building business cases for scaling up what works
This work will run in parallel with the ongoing safety improvements. We’re not waiting for perfection—we’re moving forward with care, collaboration, and a clear focus on what works for staff.
What Does This Mean for You?
Every school will be part of this journey. Whether through sharing ideas, accessing resources, or engaging with your local AI champion, you’ll have opportunities to shape how AI is used in your context. The AIAG is here to ensure that AI isn’t just safe—it’s effective, too.
