If your school runs on Google Workspace for Education, you may already have Google Gemini at no extra cost. The catch is that your IT admin has to switch it on, and there is also a paid tier. Here is what is free, what costs money, and what protections apply.
The short answer
Google has made the Gemini app available to Google Workspace for Education users at no extra cost, with education-grade data protections. When you use Gemini signed in with your school Google account, Google says your chats are not used to train its models and are not reviewed by humans. Your school's admin controls whether it is switched on and for which users.
Google also offers a paid tier — sold as Google AI Pro for Education — which adds deeper Gemini features inside Docs, Slides, Gmail and other Workspace apps, plus higher limits. Product names and bundles change often, so check Google for Education's current information.
Free vs paid Gemini for schools
| Option | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Gemini app with a school account | Included with Workspace for Education (admin must enable) | Chat assistant with education data protections |
| Google AI Pro for Education | Paid add-on per user | Gemini inside Workspace apps, higher limits and extra features |
| Personal Google account | Free, with paid upgrades | Consumer terms — not covered by your school's protections |
Our Gemini for UK schools guide covers the education features in more depth.
How to check you have it
- Sign in to Gemini with your school Google account.
- If you see a message that it is not available, your admin has not enabled it for your account group.
- Ask your IT provider to review it against your school's AI policy — see how school IT admins control AI tools.
Want a straight answer for your school?
Ask me anything about AI in your school — policy, tools, training or safeguarding. I reply personally, usually the same day.
What teachers use free Gemini for
- Drafting letters, newsletters and emails.
- Creating quizzes, questions and model answers.
- Adapting texts for different reading ages.
- Summarising long documents you paste in.
- Brainstorming lesson ideas and examples.
For most classroom teachers, the free version covers these well. The paid tier matters more for staff who spend their day in Gmail, Docs and Sheets.
Can my school see my Gemini chats?
Using your school account means your activity sits within your school's Google Workspace. We explain what administrators can and cannot see in can my school see my Gemini chats?
Gemini or Copilot?
The honest answer is: use the one that comes with the platform your school already runs. A Google school should start with Gemini; a Microsoft school should start with Copilot Chat — see is Copilot free for teachers? Mixing platforms creates data protection headaches without much benefit.
Prompts to try on day one
"Create a ten-question multiple choice quiz on [topic] for Year 8, with answers and a one-line explanation for each."
"Rewrite this letter to parents so it is warmer and shorter, in UK English: [letter]."
"Give me three ways to explain [concept] to Year 3 pupils, including one practical demonstration."
What your IT admin needs to decide
- Which staff groups get Gemini, and whether pupils do.
- Whether any age-based restrictions apply to pupil accounts.
- How Gemini activity is covered by retention settings.
- How it is listed in the school's AI policy.
Pupil access is a bigger decision than staff access — it needs your DSL involved and a check against the DfE's product safety expectations.
Training makes the difference
Schools that switch Gemini on without training often see very little use. A focused session on five real tasks — letters, quizzes, adapting texts, summarising and planning — is usually enough to get most staff started. See what to include in an AI INSET session.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gemini free for teachers?
Yes, for schools on Google Workspace for Education. The Gemini app is available at no extra cost with education data protections, but your school admin must enable it.
What is Google AI Pro for Education?
It is Google's paid add-on for education that brings deeper Gemini features into Workspace apps like Docs, Slides and Gmail, with higher limits. Check Google for Education for current details.
Does Google use school Gemini chats to train its AI?
Google says Gemini chats on Workspace for Education accounts are not used to train its models and are not reviewed by humans.
Why can't I access Gemini with my school account?
Your school's Google admin has not enabled it for your account group yet. Ask your IT provider.
Should a Google school use Gemini or ChatGPT?
Start with Gemini on school accounts, because it comes with education data protections and admin controls your school already manages.