Nearly half of UK teachers are now using generative AI. That’s up from around a third just a year ago.
Schools are experimenting with AI lesson planners, marking assistants, and resource generators. The government has put £4 million behind developing AI tools for education. And if you work in a school or college, you’ve probably had at least one conversation about whether AI is going to change everything.
It might. But screens haven’t replaced paper yet.
AI creates content. It doesn’t print it.
AI can generate a worksheet in seconds. It can adapt reading materials for different ability levels. It can suggest lesson activities and create quiz questions.
What it can’t do is put that worksheet on a student’s desk.
Every AI-generated resource still needs to exist somewhere. Students need to write on it, annotate it, file it, refer back to it. Teachers need to display materials on classroom walls. Schools need prospectuses for open days, exam papers for mock season, revision guides for Year 11.
AI speeds up the creation process. It doesn’t eliminate the need for physical materials.
Students learn differently on paper
There’s a reason teachers haven’t gone fully digital, even with all the technology available.
Students retain information better when they engage with physical materials. Writing by hand, making notes in margins, physically organising folders – these actions deepen learning in ways that screens don’t replicate.
For younger students, especially, the hands-on element matters. Primary children learn through touching, folding, cutting, building. You can’t replicate a papier-mâché volcano on a tablet.
And then there’s screen fatigue. Students and teachers are exhausted from constant screen time. Parents are worried about how long their children spend on devices. Physical materials offer a break from digital overload while keeping students engaged.
AI isn’t the finished product
AI tools are useful, but they’re far from perfect.
Teachers report spending significant time checking and correcting AI-generated content. The government’s own guidance is clear on this – AI “cannot replace the judgement and deep subject knowledge” of a teacher. Any content AI produces needs human oversight before it reaches students.
So while AI might speed up the initial drafting process, teachers still need to review, edit, and approve everything. The idea that AI simply “does the work” isn’t the full picture.
For schools, this means AI is a tool to support content creation, not a replacement for quality control. And it certainly doesn’t change the fact that approved content still needs to be printed, distributed, and used effectively.
First impressions count more than ever
Open days have never been more important. Prospectuses need to stand out.
A PDF download doesn’t have the same impact as a well-designed printed prospectus that parents can hold, flick through, and keep on the kitchen table.
Welcome packs for new starters show families that your school pays attention to detail. Professional marketing materials signal quality.
When you’re competing for students, the physical materials you put in parents’ hands make a difference.
What marketing managers in education need right now
If you’re responsible for marketing a school, college, or university, you’re probably juggling:
- Prospectuses and course guides for recruitment
- Open day materials and campus signage
- Welcome packs for new students
- Exam papers and revision materials
- Display materials for classrooms and corridors
- Event marketing for parents’ evenings, awards ceremonies, and graduation
- Branded merchandise for open days and freshers
AI might help you draft some of the copy faster. But you still need a print partner who understands education, responds quickly, and delivers quality without blowing your budget.
Why planning ahead pays off
The schools with the best materials aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets. They’re the ones who plan ahead, avoid rush orders, and work with print partners who understand education timelines.
So, where does that leave print?
AI is a useful starting point for drafting and generating ideas. But the printed materials that land on desks and in parents’ hands still need to be high-quality and well-produced.
Need help with your school’s print materials?
We work with schools, colleges, and universities across the UK, producing everything from prospectuses to signage to classroom resources. Drop us a message to talk through what you need.
