At Thames Christian School in London, Madeleine Champagnie is less worried about overuse of AI than about students not using it enough. She says students are not all rushing to cheat; many are scared of cognitive offloading and need persuasion to try AI.

Research shows increasing reliance on AI can substitute critical thinking, but timed exams without devices still test independent understanding. Some studies find AI boosts short‑term performance but removal leaves students worse off.

Educators like Steve Marshall‑Taylor at Brighton College adopt AI with guardrails, emphasizing pen‑and‑paper exams. A March report from the Australian Network for Quality Digital Education warns of “false mastery” but notes beneficial offloading of lower‑order tasks can foster deep learning.

Rose Luckin argues for rethinking assessment to verify understanding and build critical thinking. Tools such as CAi SEY and platforms from Nord Anglia and Efekta Education personalize tutoring, helping non‑native speakers and raising proficiency in Brazil and Rwanda.