The public education system we know today has been around for over 150 years and has been compulsory since the early 1970’s The education system aims to prepare children for the world of work, whether that is to become a professional or following a chosen career path. The education system was introduced during the industrial era of Britain when we were preparing future generations for the world of work, careers and professions. But does this world still exist today?

A very British education

The current education system in the United Kingdom (UK) is well-structured and offers a broad range of learning opportunities, from early years through to higher education. The system is known for its emphasis on academic excellence, as well as vocational training ranging from early years to post 16 learning. Despite this, the core structure is still pretty much the same. Kids are taught in a standardised, one-size-fits-all way. And like most systems that are centrally controlled, it often ends up being inefficient and complex. In addition, the basic setup hasn't changed much. You still have 20 to 30 kids, all about the same age, packed into a classroom with one teacher.

Children today are being educated by a system that is struggling to keep pace with the rapidly moving AI and automation. While some schools and their curriculum have started integrating AI related topics, coding and digital literacy, the majority of school still focus and give weight to traditional subjects and teaching methods that may not equip children with the skills they need for an AI driven future.

The Education Reform Act was introduced in 1988, which introduced a National Curriculum. The curriculum split into key stages, with a focus on subjects like English, Math, and Science, while newer fields like coding or AI are only beginning to make small appearances in some parts of the curriculum, often as part of the Computing curriculum, but mainly in secondary schools (1).

According to a secondary school teacher, who teaches at an academy within the Midlands area, things are changing swiftly:

“My school is already incorporating AI into lessons. We have AI headsets whereby we can take students for a walk in Shakespearean England (so as we teach, they are literally walking through Shakespearean England seeing how people dressed, how the streets look etc). That's an example for English, but every department uses the AI headset in their own way.

We also have CHAT GPT, which we use for lesson planning - however, for a subjective subject like mine, I would only use it to make worksheets for quick quizzes, etc- I would never use it for my teaching. As an English teacher, I feel it is crucial to be able to teach texts with passion, opinions, interpretations, and most importantly, love. AI is impersonal.

I do believe the Education System itself needs a massive shake-up because we have a generation who no longer just believe what is in the textbooks - for example, history. We are still only taught a very whitewashed history of the world whereas this new generation is seeing live streamed news via social media/ tiktok. So we have a generation of students whose eyes are open to incorrect information and want to re-write their own history.

This is something which my department (English) is very pro. We have an ethos in our department of introduction of modern texts (in our weekly Reading for Pleasure lessons) which relate to a current day generation. Written by current authors with a big push on Ethnic Minority authors due to the demographic of our school. Also, to cater for white working class students who may come from homes with quite far right mindsets- we believe stories and narratives from other cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds will break barriers for them and open them to conversations and worlds that they may never have experienced/or ever get to experience.”

However, speaking with lower primary school teachers, who have have expressed that their timetables are fully consumed by the current National Curriculum, leaving little room for creativity, particularly when it comes to integrating AI. Modern education systems tend to focus heavily on core subjects like maths, science, and literature, often at the expense of emerging fields like technology, AI, and other current global issues. The rapid pace of technological advancements means that students are often graduating without a solid understanding of topics that will be crucial in their future careers.

While digital literacy is now part of the curriculum for children aged 7 and upwards, is that truly sufficient to prepare them for the demands of the modern world? Moreover, teachers are often left without the necessary training or resources to effectively incorporate AI and other technological tools into their classrooms. Without adequate professional development, staff are unable to fully embrace these technologies, even with the best of intentions.

The Future of Education

Overall, the UK is trying to move towards a more technology-driven, skills-based education system, with a focus on preparing students for the demands of the future workforce. However, it’s clear that these changes will take time and will require ongoing investment in teacher training, infrastructure, and policy adjustments to address equity and accessibility challenges. All these changes will take time and money(2).

Furthermore, entrepreneur Daniel Priestley (4) argues that we need to shift children’s focus away from traditional career paths and towards entrepreneurship. He believes that schools are still preparing children for a world rooted in the industrial era, which no longer reflects the needs of today’s digital economy. As parents, we have the power to bridge the gap and prepare your child for a digital future—one where AI, entrepreneurship, and algorithmic literacy will be essential life skills.

How Parents Can Fill the Gaps

While the education system is evolving, parents can take small but powerful steps to prepare their children for a world where AI, creativity, and entrepreneurship are key. A great resource is the “Parenting for a Digital world” blog hosted by LSE - we highly recommend you check it out.

By being proactive at home, we can ensure that their children don’t just learn about AI from a technical perspective but also develop the critical thinking skills needed to understand and navigate the societal and ethical challenges that come with these technologies. Furthermore, it is important to expose them to AI concepts early on (3) . Introduce children to age-appropriate books, games, or activities that involve AI concepts. For example, "smart" toys, interactive apps, or beginner-level robotics kits can make learning about AI fun and engaging. You can also watch documentaries or read articles that help them understand how AI impacts the real world. Teaching children about is all about creating an environment where learning about AI and other modern digital devices are both accessible and fun. Here are some suggestions:

📚 Books to Spark Curiosity

🔹 Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas – A playful introduction to coding and problem-solving for young children.
🔹 Kid Start-Up: How YOU Can Be an Entrepreneur by Mark Cuban – A great beginner’s guide for young entrepreneurs.
🔹 The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires – A fantastic picture book that encourages creativity, perseverance, and innovation.

🔹 The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli (for older children & teens)

🔹 Raising Humans in a Digital World by Diana Graber- Offers practical, positive advice on how to handle your and your kids’ digital lives.

🤖 Beginner Robotics & AI Kits

🔹 LEGO Mindstorms & LEGO Spike Prime – Fun, hands-on kits that teach kids how to build and program robots.
🔹 Osmo Genius Kit – Combines physical play with digital learning, including problem-solving and coding.
🔹 Kano Computer Kit – A build-your-own computer kit that teaches kids about hardware and coding.

🎥 Documentaries & Videos

📌 "The Social Dilemma" (Netflix) – A great conversation starter on how AI and social media impact society.
📌 "Code: Debugging the Gender Gap" (Amazon Prime) – Inspiring for young girls interested in tech.
📌 TED-Ed’s "How AI Learns" (YouTube) – A simple explanation of how AI systems work.
📌 BBC Bitesize: AI & The Future of Work – Short, engaging clips about AI and its impact on careers.

📢Advocate for Future-Ready Education

The UK is reviewing its digital literacy curriculum for 2024/25, making this the perfect time for parents to push for change. Here’s how we can make an impact:
📢 Engage with teachers – Ask about how AI, media literacy, and entrepreneurship are being integrated into lessons.
📢 Seek out extracurricular programs – Look for digital literacy, coding, and startup workshops in your area.
📢 Support national media literacy initiatives – Encourage schools to participate in Media Literacy Week, where students can learn about critical thinking, AI bias, and social media influence.

References
(1) Education Reform Act

(2) Gov.UK- Teachers to get more trustworthy AI tech, helping them mark homework and save time.

(3) Future Parenting: Preparing Your Kids For A World of AI

(4) Daniel Priestley: Schools need to change activity

Useful links

“Parenting for a Digital world” blog hosted by LSE

https://www.primarytech.co.uk/preparing-students-for-the-future-teaching-ai-in-schools/

Gov.uk Policy Paper, Generative artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Updated 22 January