Nearly three-quarters of British children who use artificial intelligence at school admit passing off AI-generated work as their own, according to new research. Around 73% failed to acknowledge AI's role in their work, but just 28% had received a structured lesson at school on how to use the technology properly, according to GoStudent's Future of Education Report 2026.
Widespread Use of AI in Schoolwork
Around six in ten pupils (58%) who use AI for schoolwork say they hand it in as their own at least once a week, the highest proportion of the six European countries surveyed. British parents are also aware of the issue, with 64% saying their child had handed in AI-generated work which they claim to have produced themselves.
A staggering 94% of teachers said they were aware that pupils were doing this, with 66% saying it happens at least once a week.
Concerns Over Independent Skills
The research also raises questions about the potential impact on pupils' independent skills, with 44% of teachers not confident that most of their pupils could write a full essay from scratch without AI.
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."
Regulatory Concerns
The report is published as concern grows about AI misuse in formal assessments. Ofqual's chief regulator wrote to exam boards this year about the problem in coursework, warning that while detected cases remain relatively low, there is concern about the real extent of the problem.
The full GoStudent Future of Education Report 2026 is available online.
