87% of 11–24 year-olds in England are already using AI — but our education system is still teaching for a world that no longer exists. Physical AI and smart machines demand a new generation of human-centred technologists.
A nationally representative survey of 4,021 young people aged 11–24 in England (Public First, August 2026) reveals a generation that has already adapted — on their own terms, without support.
"Unless education changes, AI will steadily hollow out the conditions under which human intelligence, agency and confidence are formed."
— Sir Anthony Seldon, Britain's Greatest Education Opportunity Ever, Public First 2026For FSM, inclusion is not an afterthought — it is the starting point. But the data shows AI adoption is already tracking existing inequalities in England, creating a new layer of disadvantage for those who are already left behind.
"55% of jobs currently held by young people are likely to change because of AI. Young people feel this keenly. And the response from education does not meet the scale of this challenge."
— Public First / The King's Trust modelling, 2026Teachers are already using AI daily — but they're navigating it alone, without training, without guidance, and without a whole-school plan. 4 in 5 teachers use AI for teaching tasks, yet the system offers them almost no structured support.
"The dominant model of longitudinal evidence-gathering in education, built for a world of slow, periodic measurement, is no longer fit for purpose in an environment where AI can test and adapt in near real-time."
— Sir Anthony Seldon, Britain's Greatest Education Opportunity Ever, 2026The UK scores a perfect 100 on AI policy capacity — but ranks 64th in public sector adoption, behind Bangladesh, Uganda and Bhutan. Our competitors are already embedding AI into national education infrastructure.
AI4ALL's Ignite programme demonstrates that with the right support, underrepresented young people don't just close the gap — they outpace everyone. 68% of AI4ALL graduates secure a tech internship or full-time role, versus just 30% nationally.
PM Andy Burnham's announcement (July 2026) that every secondary school in England will offer technical subjects including AI and manufacturing from Year 10 is welcome. But the challenge is implementation — the gap between ambition and classroom reality.
Technical subjects available from Year 10, connected to local employers and clear pathways to work
New pathways expected to be running in some areas by 2028 — V-levels post-16 from 2027
£4,500 bursary for families who would lose out financially if their child chose an apprenticeship
Builds on Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) — a model of balanced academic and technical learning
1 million+ young people NEET — the highest level in 12+ years — demand urgent and systemic action
"We've had a system built for too long around the university route… we need an education that gives all young people a clear path in life."
We believe every young person — especially those with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds — deserves to be a maker of Physical AI, not just a user of it. Our five-stage framework maps the journey from curiosity to contribution.
Every young person meets a robot, a cobot or an assistive AI device — in school, at a community event, at a Maker Day
Structured AI literacy: how models are trained, what they can and can't do, why bias matters, who builds them
Hands-on projects: building AI tools that solve real problems in their community — including accessibility challenges
Mentorship, industry links, internships — structured pathways from school into AI and Physical AI careers
Young people as AI champions in their schools and communities — carrying knowledge forward to peers and families
Robotics, cobots, and assistive devices as hands-on learning tools — connecting AI to bodies, not just screens
Students with disabilities as co-designers of assistive Physical AI — lived experience as technical expertise
CPD pathways for educators — transforming reluctant adapters into confident AI champions in their school communities
Mandatory AI literacy for every student from Key Stage 3 — covering how models are built, how they fail, and who they serve
Funded teacher CPD on AI literacy — every school to have at least one trained AI champion by 2027
Physical AI in schools — robots and assistive devices in every secondary school by 2028, linked to Burnham's technical education reforms
Equity-first rollout — prioritise schools in disadvantaged areas and students with SEND, closing the 13-point social grade AI gap
Lived-experience curriculum — disabled young people and their families as co-designers of AI education content, not just consumers
National Physical AI Skills Commission — mapping the workforce pipeline from education to Physical AI industry, with disability representation at every level
Every young person — especially those with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities — should have the chance to shape the AI-powered world they're inheriting. Join FSM and help make that real.
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