UNITED KINGDOM, LONDON, 2nd November 2026

More than seven in ten UK children who use AI for schoolwork admit handing in AI-generated work as their own

New research highlights a gap between children’s use of AI for homework and the teaching they receive at school on how to use it responsibly.


  • The UK has the highest weekly rate among the six countries surveyed, with 58% of children surveyed who use AI for schoolwork saying they hand in AI-generated work as their own at least once a week

  • 94% of UK teachers surveyed are aware of pupils handing in AI-generated work as their own, with 66% saying it happens at least once a week

  • 72% of UK children surveyed use AI for schoolwork, yet only 28% say they have had a structured lesson on how to use it at school


London, 2 November 2026 – More than seven in ten (73%) UK children surveyed who use AI for schoolwork say they have handed in AI-generated work as their own, above the European average of 68%, according to GoStudent’s annual Future of Education Report 2026, published today.


The report draws on research among 3,001 parents, their 3,001 children aged 8 to 16 and 300 teachers across six European countries. It explores children’s experiences of education, wellbeing and AI, including how they use AI for schoolwork and the guidance they receive.


AI is already widely used by pupils and teachers. Almost three-quarters (72%) of UK children surveyed use AI for schoolwork, while 88% of UK teachers use it in their own work. Yet formal teaching on AI remains limited. Only 28% of UK children surveyed say they have had a structured lesson on how to use it at school, and more than a third (36%) say they have never been formally taught how to use it.


For many pupils, handing in AI-generated work is a regular occurrence. Almost six in ten (58%) UK children surveyed who use AI for schoolwork say they do so at least once a week, the highest proportion of the six countries surveyed.


Parents and teachers are also aware of the issue. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of UK parents surveyed whose children use AI for schoolwork say their child has handed in AI-generated work as their own. Among teachers surveyed, 94% say they are aware of pupils doing this, with 66% saying it happens at least once a week.


The findings also raise questions about the potential impact on pupils’ independent skills. More than four in ten (44%) UK teachers surveyed are not confident that most of their pupils could write a full essay from scratch without AI.


UK parents are the only national group surveyed more likely to say schools, rather than parents, should take the lead in teaching children to use AI responsibly.


Felix Ohswald, CEO and Co-Founder of GoStudent, said: “AI can help children understand difficult concepts and practise challenging exam topics with tailored questions. The key is teaching them to use it critically to strengthen their understanding, rather than do their homework for them.


“Learning also means asking questions, discussing ideas and working through mistakes. AI can be a valuable part of that process, but children still need the guidance to develop their own understanding and think independently.”


The report is published amid wider concern about AI misuse in formal assessment. Ofqual’s Chief Regulator wrote to exam boards this year about the misuse of AI in coursework, warning that while detected cases remain relatively low, teachers and school leaders are concerned about the real extent of the problem.


Notes to editors


Methodology


The GoStudent Future of Education Report 2026 is based on research conducted by Censuswide.


Parents and children:


The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 3001 Parents (23+) and children between 8-16 years old across the UK, Austria, Spain, Italy, Germany and France. The data was collected between 26.06.2026 - 13.07.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. Censuswide adheres to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.


Teachers


The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 300 Teachers of children between (8-16 years old) across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. The data was collected between 06.07.2026 - 23.07.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. Censuswide adheres to the MRS Code of Conduct and ESOMAR principles.


Country-level figures not included in the published report are drawn from the full survey data. Full data tables are available on request.


Ofqual’s letter to awarding organisations (March 2026)