Preparing Students for an AI-Enabled Future

How BIS Abu Dhabi keeps students safe, thoughtful, and confident in an AI‑enabled world.

Why Responsible AI Matters

We want parents to feel confident that artificial intelligence is used safely, responsibly, and thoughtfully across our school. As AI becomes part of everyday life, families naturally ask how schools protect children, guide their learning, and ensure their wellbeing online.

This aligns with wider trends: research shows that around two‑thirds of parents (65%) believe schools should explicitly teach responsible AI use. At the same time, families worry about inappropriate content, biased information, and how quickly AI tools are evolving. These are the same questions we hear from our community, which is why responsible AI education is a central priority at BIS Abu Dhabi.

We also recognise that technology must be balanced with strong human thinking skills. Recent Nord Anglia research with Boston College shows that when students learn metacognitive habits, pausing, questioning, evaluating, they become more confident, independent, and resilient. These habits help children think for themselves, even when digital tools offer fast answers.

“Teaching students to think about their thinking is one of the most important skills we can give them in an AI‑enabled world. Metacognition - pausing, questioning, evaluating - helps young people become discerning, curious, and responsible users of technology. When students know how to frame good questions, challenge information, and reflect on their choices, they don’t just use AI more safely; they grow as independent thinkers in every part of their lives. These human skills are what ensure that AI enhances learning without ever replacing the judgement, curiosity, or critical reasoning of our students.”

- Principal, BIS Abu Dhabi

A School‑Wide Commitment to Safe and Ethical AI

Our approach to AI use is grounded in safety, integrity, and the belief that technology should enhance learning, not replace thinking or diminish human oversight.

We have established a dedicated AI Action Group made up of teachers, safeguarding leaders, digital learning specialists, and senior leadership. This team reviews each AI tool before it reaches a classroom, looking closely at:

• Data privacy: how student information is stored, protected, and used
• Bias and accuracy: whether responses are reliable, appropriate, and balanced
• Age suitability: ensuring each tool meets our safeguarding standards
• Teacher oversight: guaranteeing AI supports learning rather than automating it

No AI tool is approved unless it aligns fully with our values and our duty of care.

Building Students’ Skills for Safe and Smart AI Use

Reviewing tools is only one part of the process. Just as important is teaching students how to use AI responsibly, thoughtfully, and creatively.

Responsible AI use is embedded into our digital literacy and pastoral curriculum. Students learn to:

• Question AI‑generated information
• Identify potential bias
• Maintain academic honesty
• Protect their personal information
• Understand how AI works and where its limitations lie

This builds directly on our whole‑school focus on metacognition. In Nord Anglia’s two‑year global research study, students who regularly used thinking routines such as See, Think, Wonder showed up to 40% growth in critical thinking, curiosity, and collaboration. These routines encourage learners to slow down, reflect, and make decisions thoughtfully, exactly the habits they need when interacting with AI.

Teachers also receive regular training so they can confidently guide students and model responsible practice.

Human Oversight and Parent Partnership

At BIS Abu Dhabi, human judgement remains central to learning. Teachers stay in full control of lessons, even when AI tools are used. Students must always demonstrate their own ideas, reasoning, and understanding; AI‑generated output is never accepted in place of authentic work.

AI cannot and will not replace teacher expertise, feedback, or the human connections that shape meaningful learning.

Our focus on metacognition reinforces this. Nord Anglia research found that 85% of students felt more confident navigating uncertainty after learning thinking routines, a vital skill when working with AI tools that can sometimes be inaccurate or incomplete.

We also prioritise open communication with families. We share guidance, host parent workshops, and offer opportunities for questions about AI use in school. Parents consistently tell us they want transparency and reassurance, and we are committed to providing both.

Preparing Students for an AI-Enabled Future

Our vision is clear: to prepare students for a future where AI is part of everyday life while ensuring they use it safely, ethically, and intelligently. By combining robust safeguards with the deliberate teaching of metacognitive skills, BIS Abu Dhabi is building a digital future where every student can thrive - confident, informed, and protected.