Trent Ray from the Cyber Safety Project was a guest speaker at the 2025 Principal and Business Manager Days, where his sessions generated strong interest and engagement—particularly around the emerging role of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. In response to this interest, LEVNT has partnered with the Cyber Safety Project to deliver a targeted programme in 2026, focusing on AI, compliance, and risk management in educational settings.
During his presentations, Trent highlighted that while AI is increasingly recognised as a valuable tool to support teaching and learning, many schools are seeking greater clarity and guidance around its safe and effective use. In particular, there is a growing need to understand the controls, implementation processes, and potential risks associated with AI technologies. Trent emphasised that, although AI presents significant opportunities, these must be balanced with careful consideration of risk and compliance.
This focus underpins the 2026 programme for senior leaders across LEVNT schools. Spanning three terms, the programme brings together leaders from multiple schools for a series of three workshops. These sessions are designed to explore key risks, identify mitigation strategies, and support schools in developing clear processes for selecting, implementing, and managing AI tools. A key outcome is to ensure staff are appropriately upskilled and that existing practices are reviewed and strengthened.
In Term 2, Trent and Rebecca facilitated the first workshop, which was both highly engaging and thought-provoking. Schools were challenged to critically evaluate their current practices, consider issues such as data sovereignty, and investigate the range of AI tools currently being used within their teaching and learning programmes.
As part of this initiative, schools have also been offered the opportunity to participate in an online parent workshop, facilitated by the Cyber Safety Project. Scheduled for Term 3, this session aims to extend understanding and awareness of AI beyond the classroom and into the wider school community.
Through this programme, LEVNT aims to support schools in establishing robust procedures and processes that effectively mitigate the risks associated with AI, while enabling schools to confidently harness its benefits.
