At TransforMATive, we believe that AI literacy isn’t a future aspiration, it’s a present necessity. As multi-academy trusts navigate the complexities of digital transformation, equipping staff and pupils with the skills to understand and engage with artificial intelligence is fast becoming essential. We support MATs to move beyond simply adopting AI tools, helping them embed AI literacy into their curriculum, CPD programmes, and strategic planning, ensuring their communities are confident, informed, and ready to lead in an AI-driven world.

Rethinking teaching and learning in the age of artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant concept, it’s already embedded in classrooms, shaping the curriculum, and redefining what it means to be digitally literate. But as AI capabilities continue to evolve, we must ask: are we equipping learners, and educators, not just to use AI, but to understand and critically engage with it?

A compelling new paper by Kong and colleagues sets out a clear case: AI literacy should be a fundamental component of contemporary education; not just for pupils, but for teachers, school leaders, and those shaping strategy across the system.

What Do We Mean by AI Literacy—And Why Is It So Important?

AI literacy goes far beyond knowing how to use tools like ChatGPT. It’s about developing a mindset. A blend of knowledge, skills, and ethical awareness that allows people to use AI responsibly, creatively, and with confidence.

According to Kong et al., AI literacy must sit alongside digital and media literacy in the curriculum. Not everyone needs to be a computer scientist, but every learner should be able to:

• Understand what AI is and where it shows up in everyday life
• Question its impact on fairness, bias, and inclusion
• Use AI tools to solve real-world problems and support innovation

A Force for Inclusion and Lifelong Learning

AI has the potential to personalise learning in powerful ways tailoring support, pace, and content to individual needs. But unless we teach AI literacy alongside this, we risk deepening existing inequalities.

Kong and colleagues advocate for equity-informed AI education ensuring all pupils have access to the knowledge and tools to thrive in an AI-driven world, not just the digitally advantaged.

Done well, this isn’t just about skills for today, it’s about preparing young people for a lifetime of learning and work in an AI-enhanced society.

What Can We Do in Schools and Trusts?

The message from Kong et al. is clear: AI is already reshaping the world around us. Education can either keep pace or risk being left behind. By prioritising AI literacy, we empower pupils to not only navigate an AI-rich world—but to shape it.

The question isn’t should we teach AI literacy? it’s how soon can we embed it meaningfully into teaching and learning?

https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2024.2332744

Certainly! Here’s a UK English closing paragraph with a professional and encouraging call to action:

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As the role of AI in education continues to grow, now is the time to ensure your trust is not just keeping up, but leading the way. Whether you’re looking to develop a trust-wide approach to AI literacy, up-skill your workforce, or embed AI into your strategic vision, TransforMATive is here to help. If you’d like to explore how we can support your journey, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’d love to connect.

Exceed Academies Trust, in partnership with TransforMATive, hosted our first AI in education conference on the 28th February 2025 at the University of Leeds. The conference was an opportunity for Exceed to share our AI journey and to help other schools and trusts start theirs or to take their next step on the journey. As an outward facing trust with a strong moral purpose to contribute to system wide improvements in education, we committed to not only sharing our journey but also publishing a wealth of resources and tools to support the wider sector.

The event held at the University of Leeds brought together educators, innovators, and system leaders from across the sector for an inspiring day of discovery, challenge, and opportunity.

TransforMATive believe that sharing what works—and what doesn’t—is critical. And this event did exactly that. We heard from schools at the very start of their journey and from those already embedding AI into daily practice with impact. There was a powerful sense of collective purpose: to better understand how artificial intelligence can support Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and transform education for staff and students alike.

The interactive nature of the event stood out. Attendees got hands-on with VR and AR headsets, explored new product demonstrations, and even had the chance to engage with neuroimaging technologies such as EEG—showcasing how deep cognitive insights could help personalise learning experiences.

With teacher workload at an all-time high, one of the central questions was: How can AI support those at the front line? Whether through intelligent automation, smarter lesson planning tools, or marking assistance, we saw examples of technology being used not to replace educators, but to amplify their impact and reclaim time for what matters most.

Our sponsors played a vital role in bringing this vision to life. They showcased cutting-edge tools and features, providing a tangible sense of what’s possible right now—and what’s just around the corner.

Above all, what made the day special was the willingness of participants to share, to challenge assumptions, and to reimagine what education could look like in an AI-augmented world.

We’re proud to be part of this movement—and even prouder to help connect the dots for MATs navigating this change. AI is not a distant future; it’s already reshaping how we think about teaching, learning, and leadership.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

At TransforMATive, we believe that moving from good to great isn’t just a slogan—it’s a deliberate strategy. As Jim Collins reminds us, “greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice.” And for us, that choice is shaped by disciplined people, disciplined thought, and disciplined action.

For Multi-Academy Trusts, this journey isn’t a solo venture. It’s fuelled by long-term vision, robust governance, and the thoughtful enablement of technology—including the emerging power of AI. When these elements align, we see more than organisational growth; we see communities thrive and children flourish.

It was a privilege to join Samira Sadeghi from the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) for her keynote on this very theme. Her reflections brought clarity to the leadership required for transformation—and reinforced the importance of bold, strategic decision-making in education. A heartfelt thank you to Samira for her insight, and to Lorrayne Hughes OBE and the Cumbria Education Trust team for the generous invitation and warm hospitality.

And most importantly, thank you to the pupils whose performances brought such energy and inspiration to the day. Their passion reminds us exactly why this work matters.

From vision to action, from systems to culture, the path from good to great is not a straight line. But it is a shared journey—and one we’re proud to walk with courage, clarity, and care.