Short answer: yes — GDPR governs AI use, it doesn't prohibit it. UK GDPR is technology-neutral: it doesn't ban schools from using AI any more than it bans email. What it regulates is the processing of personal data, which is why the simplest compliant position for a primary school is also the safest one: no pupil personal data goes into public AI tools, full stop.
Why "keep pupil data out" solves most of it
If nothing identifying a child ever enters an AI tool, the heaviest GDPR questions — lawful basis, international transfers, data used for model training — simply don't arise for day-to-day staff use. Drafting a generic letter, planning a lesson, or building a word bank involves no personal data at all. Our full AI and GDPR guide covers the do's and don'ts with examples.
Where you do need proper process
Procuring a tool that will process pupil data — an AI-assisted MIS feature, a marking platform — is a different matter and needs a DPIA, a Data Processing Agreement and your DPO's input before signature. Our procurement checklist lists the questions to ask vendors in writing.