AI Awareness Day: supporting AI literacy in schools
Schools across the country are helping students think critically, connect ideas and apply what they know. In an AI-driven world, these skills matter more than ever. With this in mind, AI Awareness Day gives schools a way to build AI literacy: “to know AI, question it, and use it wisely”.
Why AI literacy matters
AI is already part of everyday teaching and learning. In fact, our Pearson School & College Report 2026 shows, almost half of secondary students (49%) believe that AI has changed how they learn.
While AI use is growing…
- 45% of secondary students say they use AI as part of their everyday learning or studying.
- Only 12% of schoolteachers state they don’t use AI in their role.
- 56% of schoolteachers expect to see increased use of AI tools in the next five years.
Gaps are emerging…
- Only 8% of schoolteachers feel they’re currently preparing students to be ready for an AI-enabled future.
- 16% of schoolteachers feel confident teaching students about AI.
- 54% of secondary school and college educators report they have an institutional AI policy. (Assessment Evolved)
- 1 in 5 schoolteachers have had training on AI this academic year.
And in our research, students and educators alike share how AI literacy needs to be part of preparing students for what’s ahead:
To help students be future ready…
”I’d add to the timetable] AI… it’s the future”
– School Student
“More resources on best practice for teaching AI literacy and how to use it responsibly”
– Secondary Middle Leader
“AI use/teaching should not be limited to computer science lessons.”
– Secondary Classroom Teacher
Free resources from Pearson for building AI literacy
As part of supporting AI Awareness Day and teaching and learning every day, we’re sharing resources to help build AI literacy.
Whether you’re taking initial steps with AI at your school or are looking for more ideas to build on what you already do, our reports and guides are designed to help you explore what’s possible.
- Is what's happening with AI at your school the same elsewhere? And what would help teachers and students next?
Dive into the Pearson School & College Report 2026 findings to see how 14,000+ teachers, students and schools are using AI nowand what could make a difference in the future. - How do we shape formative assessments in the AI era?
Inspired by the views of 1,000+ educators and AI and assessment experts across the globe, Assessment Evolved showcases insights and actions for evolving formative assessment with GenAI to deepen learning, foster student agency and support AI literacy. - Could our practical guides support you to evolve formative assessments in your school?
Our support guides offer step-by-step strategies and examples to help teachers evolve formative assessment with GenAI and learning integrity in mind – from rethinking task design to guiding student engagement with GenAI.
Together, these resources can support your steps to build AI literacy on AI Awareness Day and beyond.