The 2026-27 teacher declaration, line by line.
From 1 September 2026, teachers sign a new statement for each student’s coursework. JCQ, the group that writes the shared rules for the main exam boards, added two lines about AI and help. Here’s what each one asks of you.
Line 1: you took all reasonable steps
“all reasonable steps were taken, including steps to mitigate the risk of AI misuse”
What this means: you did all you reasonably could to stop students passing off AI work as their own. AI tools, like ChatGPT, can write or change text for you.
The rules now ask schools for four things: tell students the AI rules, train staff, write down any help given, and have a fair way to deal with worries about AI.
Line 2: any help was written down
“any help given to the candidate has been recorded”
What this means: if you gave a student help beyond general advice, it’s written down. That help is then taken into account when the work is marked.
Signing online
“Electronic signatures are acceptable.”
You can sign the statement in an app. You don’t need a printed copy.
Sources
- JCQ Instructions for conducting coursework 2026-27, Appendix 1
- JCQ Instructions for conducting non-examination assessments 2026-27
- JCQ AI Use in Assessments, September 2026
We review this guide each September, when the JCQ documents change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.