At Bett UK 2026, Polly Morgan, CEO of iDEA, chaired a student panel in The Arena featuring students from The Wavell School and Highlands School.

Their message was refreshingly clear. Young people do not want schools to ignore AI, fear it or ban it without explanation. They want to understand it. More importantly, they want to help shape the conversation around it.

Students want clarity, not confusion

One of the strongest themes from the discussion was the inconsistency surrounding AI use in schools. Rules vary widely between institutions and, in many cases, students are unclear about where the line sits between acceptable support and academic misconduct. That uncertainty creates anxiety, especially when the consequences of getting it wrong can feel significant.

Students are asking for clearer guidance around when AI can be used, how it should be used and what responsible use looks like across different subjects.

AI is already changing the way students learn

The panel also highlighted something educators already suspect: students are actively using AI in thoughtful and practical ways. From generating revision questions and checking essays against mark schemes to explaining difficult concepts and building practice resources, AI is increasingly becoming part of everyday learning. For many learners, AI is not replacing education. It is providing support when teachers are busy, helping explain concepts differently and offering instant feedback when they need it most.

The question for schools is no longer whether students are using AI. It is whether students are being taught how to use it effectively.

The new digital divide is confidence

One of the most powerful insights from the session was that inequality is no longer just about access to technology. It is increasingly about confidence and capability. Some students are discovering high quality AI tools through research, school support and peer networks. Others are relying on trial and error or social media recommendations.

Without structured guidance, the gap between digitally confident students and those left to figure it out alone will only continue to grow. AI literacy is quickly becoming one of the defining skills of the future.

Schools cannot prepare students for the future by ignoring AI

The students on the panel were realistic about the future of work. They already see AI embedded across business, research and daily life. Rather than resisting change, they argued that education should evolve alongside it. Importantly, their message was not that AI should replace teachers, creativity or independent thinking. Instead, they called for balanced and responsible integration that helps students understand both the opportunities and the limitations of the technology.

AI literacy must include ethics and critical thinking

The discussion also revealed a growing awareness among young people about misinformation, unreliable outputs and harmful uses of AI. Students recognised the importance of checking sources, questioning responses and understanding that AI is not always accurate. That matters because future-ready education is not simply about teaching students how to use AI tools. It is about developing the judgement, digital literacy and critical thinking needed to use them responsibly.

The takeaway for educators

The student panel delivered an important reminder for the education sector that young people are not expecting adults to have all the answers overnight. What they want is honesty, guidance and the opportunity to learn alongside the technology that will shape their futures. The schools that respond best to AI will not be the ones trying to ban it out of existence. They will be the ones helping students use it thoughtfully, ethically and creatively, while keeping curiosity, confidence and human connection at the heart of learning.

For those wanting to find out more about what students want from AI, Bett and iDEA have also published the Next Generation of AI report - download today for even more AI insights from students. 

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