Mearns Castle High School in East Renfrewshire is believed to be the first school in the UK to appoint a dedicated principal teacher of AI literacy. Jamie Laycock, a former principal teacher of biology, has taken on the role, which aims to help pupils and staff understand the opportunities and dangers of artificial intelligence.
Mr Laycock's mission is to ensure pupils can question, challenge, and use AI responsibly. Lessons will cover identifying fake images, understanding AI 'hallucinations' where information is made up, and recognising the risks of 'anthropomorphisation' where chatbots are treated like trusted friends.
Pupils will also learn about AI's tendency to flatter users and its biases. The lessons will be tailored to different age groups, with younger pupils focusing on foundational knowledge and critical thinking before moving to practical AI uses. All S1 and S2 pupils will receive AI literacy lessons, while older year groups will cover the subject through citizenship and personal education classes. An elective course will also be available for senior pupils.
The creation of the role follows a report from Edinburgh University earlier this year, which concluded that Scottish schools have not had sufficient time or capacity to prepare for the rapid rise of AI. Head teacher Stuart Clark stated that acting on AI is not the same as advocating for it, emphasising the importance of educating young people on its implications to avoid mistakes made with social media.
The Scottish government published national guidelines on AI in March this year, highlighting the importance of ethical use and not over-relying on it in educational settings. Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said it is encouraging to see schools exploring how to support AI literacy, stressing the importance of learners and educators understanding both the opportunities and challenges.