References

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The Use of AI Policy template sits within a body of statute, statutory guidance and sector standards. These are the sources it draws on, listed in the order they appear in the template’s opening section. Each link opens the official document in a new tab.

1. Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026Statutory safeguarding guidance for schools and colleges in England: the baseline from 1 September 2026, addressing AI within its four areas of online risk.
2. The UK GDPR, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025The core data-protection regime governing the processing of personal data.
3. The Data Protection Act 2018, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025The UK’s implementing data-protection statute, read alongside the UK GDPR.
4. ICO guidance on AIThe Information Commissioner’s guidance on artificial intelligence and data protection.
5. The ICO AI and data protection risk toolkitA practical toolkit for identifying and managing data-protection risk across an AI project’s lifecycle.
6. The ICO Children’s CodeThe age-appropriate design code for online services likely to be accessed by children.
7. The DfE position on generative AI in educationThe Department for Education’s policy position on the use of generative AI in schools and colleges.
8. The DfE generative AI product safety standards (January 2026)The Department’s expectations for the safety of generative AI products used in education settings.
9. JCQ AI Use in Assessments (Revision 2)Joint Council for Qualifications guidance on AI use where qualifications are involved, including malpractice and marking.
10. The DfE filtering and monitoring standardThe core standard for filtering and monitoring arrangements in schools and colleges.
11. The DfE cyber security standardThe core standard for cyber security in schools and colleges.
12. The DfE digital leadership and governance standardThe standard for digital leadership and governance, including a senior digital lead and governor oversight.
13. The Online Safety Act 2023The statute establishing online-safety duties for user-to-user and search services.
14. The Ofcom Protection of Children code of practiceOfcom’s codes setting out measures to protect children online under the Online Safety Act.
15. The Prevent duty guidance (2023)Statutory guidance on the Prevent duty for specified authorities in England and Wales.
16. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026The statutory framework for multi-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
17. The Academy Trust Handbook 2026The financial and governance framework for academy trusts, relevant to procurement and oversight.

The wider legal framework

The template also carries an appendix setting out the full range of legislation behind the policy, including the criminal law behind its safeguarding section. Those instruments are:

1. Crime and Policing Act 2026Creates the offence of making, adapting, supplying or offering nudification tools. Royal Assent 29 April 2026; commencement is staged.
2. Sexual Offences Act 2003The intimate image offences, which from 6 February 2026 include creating, or requesting the creation of, purported intimate images.
3. Protection of Children Act 1978 and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009Together make indecent and prohibited images of children criminal in all forms, including pseudo-photographs and AI-generated imagery.
4. Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015Places the Prevent duty on schools and colleges; the Prevent duty guidance is issued under it.
5. Protection of Freedoms Act 2012Requires written parental consent before processing a child’s biometric information, with an alternative for those who refuse.
6. Freedom of Information Act 2000AI prompts, outputs and interaction logs held by the organisation are potentially disclosable.
7. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988The framework for the third-party rights engaged when material is entered into, or produced by, an AI tool.
8. UK Safer Internet Centre: appropriate filtering and monitoring definitionsThe definitions the annual filtering and monitoring review is checked against.

Would you rather see what each source governs, and where it lands on this site? The guidance map sets that out.