Part 1 – National guidance, safeguards & the right mindset
AI in primary PE isn’t about replacing teachers or PE specialists. Used well, it’s simply a planning assistant, helping you organise ideas, reduce time spent drafting, and free up headspace for what really matters.
That time gained matters. Because high-quality teaching, strong relationships, and inclusive physical activity don’t come from paperwork, they come from confident staff and pupils who feel supported.
We see AI work best when it’s used thoughtfully, safely, and with clear professional boundaries. This first blog focuses on national guidance, safeguards, and the mindset that helps schools use AI to support PE - without adding pressure or risk.
Two audiences, one challenge: time
AI can support different roles in different ways. Understanding how you’ll use it is the key to getting value quickly. Early adopters in schools report saving up to a third of their planning time, while actually increasing creativity and confidence. For busy primary schools, time saving makes a real difference.
For PE leads
Alongside planning, you're also juggling:
- Whole-school PE and physical activity strategy
- PE & Sport Premium planning and impact reporting
- SLT expectations and inspections
- Clubs, competitions and festivals
- Staff support and confidence-building
AI can support PE Leads with:
- Drafting long-term and medium-term plans
- Summarising PE & Sport Premium impact
- Supporting policy updates and action plans
- Turning notes into clear reports for governors or SLT
- Generating ideas to support staff confidence and consistency
For class teachers
Class teachers are working under very different pressures. Alongside PE, they’re managing:
- Full timetables and curriculum coverage
- Marking and assessment
- Reports and parent communication
- Subject leadership or additional responsibilities
AI can support teachers with:
- Lesson planning
- Adaptive teaching and inclusion ideas
- Quick warm-ups, cool-downs and activity variations
- Cross-curricular links
- Confidence when teaching outside their specialism
The goal for both roles is the same: less time drafting, more time teaching and supporting pupils.
National Guidance: what schools need to know
In June 2025, the Department for Education (DfE) published updated guidance on the use of AI in education. The message is clear and reassuring:
AI supports professional judgement - it does not replace it.
Key principles include:
- AI can be used for planning, drafting and idea generation
- Teachers remain responsible for decisions and final content
- Safeguarding, data protection and bias must always be considered
Read it here.
Alongside the guidance, the DfE has also released free training modules to help schools build confidence and consistency when using AI: DfE AI training and support materials for education settings
These resources are particularly useful for PE Leads supporting whole-school approaches and staff confidence.
What this means for PE and physical activity
Whether you’re leading PE or delivering it, the same safeguards apply:
❌ Don’t upload pupil names, photos, videos or diagnoses
✅ Use general descriptions (e.g. “pupils who tire quickly”)
✅ Cross-check ideas against your school policies, risk assessments and curriculum
✅ Use AI to widen access and inclusion, not narrow it
The right mindset: safe, supportive, professional
AI works best when used thoughtfully. We recommend these principles:
- AI drafts – you decide
Always review, adapt and personalise outputs.
- Start low-risk
Planning, ideas, structure and wording - not assessment or judgement.
- Protect privacy
No personal data, ever.
- Think inclusion first
Ask AI for multiple roles and success measures so every pupil can take part.
- Link time saved to impact
Use efficiencies to improve confidence, daily movement and enjoyment.
Quick wins: try this today
Both PE Leads and teachers can get started in under 10 minutes:
- PE Lead:
“Summarise these PE Premium impact notes into a 200-word governor report. Clear, professional tone.”
- Class Teacher:
“Create 5 warm-up ideas, with a Viking theme, for Year 4 PE, indoor hall, mixed ability, no equipment.”
What’s next?
Next week in part 2, we will share a copy-and-paste lesson-planning prompts that support both:
- PE Leads planning at a whole-school level, and
- Teachers adapting sessions confidently for their classes.