As AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot rapidly become more common in schools, their potential to ease staff workload, personalise learning, and streamline data use is clear. Unlocking this potential depends on a relatively simple but critical skill: prompt writing.
Well-structured prompts make the difference between AI being a time-saving teaching assistant or a source of risk and misinformation.
In this article, we explore why prompt engineering is more than a classroom technique. It’s a strategic capability school leaders and data managers need to work together to understand, harness, and guide.
- The strategic case for prompt engineering
- What is prompt engineering and why does it matter?
- How prompt strategy can drive school improvement
- Building a prompt engineering strategy
- Examples of prompt use across a school
- iSAMS supports AI-ready schools
The strategic case for prompt engineering
AI in education is no longer a “nice to have.” The Department for Education’s latest guidance on generative AI in education highlights both the opportunities and risks. While AI can support administrative efficiency and personalised learning, it also raises challenges around:
- Curriculum relevance
- Data protection and privacy
- Accuracy and bias
- Safeguarding and academic integrity
Getting each of these elements right means empowering staff with the skills to use AI responsibly, and prompt engineering is key. It directly influences:
- The quality of AI-generated lesson content
- The safety of AI-assisted interactions with students
- The reliability of AI-based reporting, feedback, and admin support
What is prompt engineering and why does it matter?
Prompt engineering is the practice of crafting effective inputs that yield the most accurate results from AI tools. In the same way that a search engine needs clear keywords, AI tools need structured prompts to deliver realistic, useful outputs.
For example:
“Create a Year 9 biology revision sheet on photosynthesis”
is significantly more effective than:
“Make a science worksheet.”
When prompts are too simple or vague, Generative AI solutions often provide results that are factually incorrect, too complex or simple for the relevant audience, not aligned with curriculum standards, or are potentially inappropriate. Each of these poses a risk in the education sector.
As a school leader, better understanding prompt engineering ensures that you can fully evaluate the use of AI tools throughout your school, particularly among your staff. Ultimately, you’re better armed with the information you need to identify training requirements, reduce safeguarding and compliance risks, all while effectively planning for the upcoming scaling integration of AI solutions.
How prompt strategy can drive school improvement
Effective AI prompt writing supports your core school goals in multiple ways:
- Workload reduction: Teachers are already using AI for planning, report writing, or resource development. However, they need structured prompts to really save time. Supporting staff in prompt writing reduces cognitive load and boosts efficiency in classroom planning.
- Safeguarding and compliance: Vague prompts can result in inaccurate or inappropriate content being shared with students. Encouraging structured, context-rich prompts reduces that risk and supports GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) data compliance by avoiding unnecessary data exposure.
- Curriculum consistency: Prompts that reference specific exam boards or frameworks ensure AI-generated resources align with your school’s standards. This helps maintain consistency across departments and supports student development.
- Assessment integrity: It’s a matter of fact that students are increasingly using generative AI tools for homework and revision today. Schools with clear guidance on ethical AI use, including how to write prompts and evaluate AI results, and communicates that guidance with students are better positioned to uphold learning integrity and thereby academic achievement.
Building a prompt engineering strategy
Prompt engineering is a vital part of any school’s AI strategy. Here are a few key areas to consider when building out your AI guidance for your entire school community.
Policy development
Include prompt standards in your school’s AI use policy. Specify:
- How AI tools should and shouldn’t be used
- What constitutes an acceptable prompt
- Review processes for outputs
Professional development
Offer work-based learning and training focused on:
- Writing effective prompts
- Reviewing AI outputs for bias and accuracy
- Understanding ethical implications
You don’t need every teacher to become a data analysis expert, but every teacher should be able to guide AI use safely and efficiently in their classroom - and for themselves.
Student literacy
Outside of schools, students are getting guidance on technology and internet use from a variety of sources. This lack of consistency and accurate information can become a risk to their education. Students need structured guidance on using AI tools. Consider integrating prompt-writing exercises into digital literacy or computing lessons. AI integrated into IT teaching could help students use AI responsibly and harness their critical thinking.
Monitoring and evaluation
It’s important to ask key questions about your AI approach once implemented. Consistently evaluate the following as AI usage expands:
- Are staff getting consistent results from AI tools?
- Are outputs age-appropriate, accurate, and aligned with teaching goals?
- Is any sensitive data being shared with third-party AI tools?
Encourage departments to collect examples of effective and ineffective prompts to share best practice. Working together ensures there’s a collective effort towards safe and effective AI use.
Examples of prompt use across a school 
iSAMS supports AI-ready schools
It goes without saying that Generative AI is transforming education, but effective and informed leadership matters more than technology. Tools are only as good as the people using them, and prompt engineering is a key enabler of both safe and effective AI adoption.
By understanding, promoting, and supporting structured prompt writing:
- You empower staff to use AI more efficiently,
- You protect your school’s integrity and standards,
- You future-proof your school’s digital strategy.
This isn’t just about teaching staff how to use AI. It’s about equipping your whole school community to think critically, work ethically, and lead confidently in an evolving AI-first environment.
At iSAMS, we work to build technology that is intuitive for all school users, while maintaining consistent development to meet each school’s specific needs. The Independent sector has unique requirements, and our modular school management software offers the flexibility to build a bespoke solution.
Interested in learning more about what iSAMS software has to offer? Watch a demo below: