Supporting Independent Study with Google Gemini

As your child progresses through Year 9, GCSEs and Sixth Form, developing independent study habits is essential. To support this, the school provides access to Gemini, Google’s artificial intelligence assistant. We have established a clear set of “Do’s and Don’ts” for students in school. We ask that you reinforce these same guidelines at home to ensure Gemini is used safely, ethically, and effectively.

Your child is accessing Gemini through a Google Workspace for Education license. This is different from the public version and provides crucial protections for parents to be aware of:

• Data Privacy: Student data is not used to train Google’s AI models.
• No Human Review: Unlike the free public version, chats are not reviewed by humans for quality assurance.
• Safety Filters: Strict content filters are in place to maintain an educational environment.

DO:

• Be Specific with Prompts: Encourage your child to give context. A generic prompt gives a generic answer. They should include the Exam Board, Year Group, Subject, and Specification (e.g., “I am a Year 9 student studying AQA Geography…”
• Use Gemini for Brainstorming: If they are staring at a blank page, AI is the perfect unblocking tool.
  Example: “Give me 5 ideas for a historical fiction story set during the American Revolution.”
• Use the Guided Learning Tool: Instead of asking for the answer, use Gemini to guide the learning process.
• Cross-Reference Information: AI can make mistakes. After getting information from Gemini, students must check it against their specification, textbook, or trusted websites.

DON’T:

• Direct Copy-Pasting: Plagiarism is a serious academic offence and can lead to disqualification from
  Exam Boards. Gemini is for understanding, not for producing the final submission.
• Share Personally Identifiable Information: Never enter names, addresses, or passwords into the chat.
• Use Inappropriate Language: Interactions must remain respectful and academic.
• Assume 100% Accuracy: AI models are known to “hallucinate” (generate confident but incorrect information). Always think critically about the output.

The “Guided Learning Tool” approach turns Gemini into a tutor rather than a search engine. Below are specific workflows you can use at home to support revision.

1. The Guided Learning Approach
Best for: Mathematics, Science, and overcoming “stuck” moments.

Instead of giving the answer, we want Gemini to coach the student. Click on Tools and then select the Guided Learning option.

Recommended Prompt:

“I am a Year 9 student studying [Insert Subject]. I
am attempting a question on [Insert Topic] for the
[Insert Exam Board] specification.”

By using the Guided Learning tool, the student will be able to actively engage in learning as Gemini will ask questions requiring participation to deepen their understanding.

You can find out more here.

2. Creating Precision Study Guides
Best for: Structuring revision before a mock exam.

By using the “Be Specific” rule, students can generate resources that align exactly with their curriculum.

Recommended Prompt:

“I am studying for a History test on [Insert Topic, e.g., The Cold War].

Create a revision guide suitable for a Year 9 student. Include:

1. Key definitions based on the [Insert Exam Board] specification.
2. A timeline of major events.
3. Three ‘command word’ practice questions (e.g., ‘Explain’, ‘Describe’).”

3. Brainstorming & Idea Generation
Best for: Creative writing or projects.

Recommended Prompt:

“I need to write a persuasive speech about climate change. Give me 5 unique
metaphors I could use to describe the impact of pollution, and suggest 3 rhetorical
questions that would engage an audience of my peers.”

Academic integrity is paramount. Academic integrity means submitting work that reflects the student’s own understanding and effort. Misuse of AI – specifically plagiarism or submitting AI-generated work as one’s own – is treated as a serious breach of the school’s behaviour and academic integrity policy.

• Acceptable: Using AI to explain a concept, check grammar, or brainstorm ideas.
• Unacceptable (Plagiarism): Asking AI to write an essay, paragraph, or answer, and submitting it as your own work.

Key Stage 3 & 4 (Years 7–11):
• 1st Offence: 1 Hour Detention.
• 2nd Offence: 1 Day in Internal Exclusion Room (IER).
• 3rd Offence: Lodge (Further disciplinary action).

Key Stage 5 (Years 12–13):
• 1st Offence: 1 Day in Internal Exclusion Room (IER) & Requirement to Redo Work.
• Further Offences: Meetings with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), further days in IER, and potential withdrawal from the course.

Exam Board Warning: For GCSE and A-Level coursework, AI misuse constitutes malpractice. This can lead to disqualification from the qualification by the Exam Board, a consequence outside of the school’s control.