Back to School: only 8 per cent of pupils raise their hands in class; two out of three ask the AI for explanations

Pupils have returned to school under pressure from their workload, tests and performance anxiety. But when they don’t understand something, they don’t seek help from adults: two out of three pupils turn to AI or Google, whilst just 8 per cent raise their hands and ask their teacher for clarification. This is the picture that emerges from three instant polls on ‘Back to School 2026’ that Studenti, the leading media brand in digital education, conducted amongst its community (receiving around 1,500 responses) to understand how study habits are changing, the sources young people turn to for help, and their concerns about returning to school.

The data also shows that, rather than being seen as a shortcut, AI is perceived by young people as a tool that can help them understand things better. To understand this, let’s look first at AI and Google. Adults take a back seat. When faced with a difficult topic, two in three young people (66.6 per cent) immediately turn to artificial intelligence or Google. Human support takes a back seat: 12.8 per cent ask a trusted adult or a private tutor for help, whilst 12.6 per cent discuss the matter with their classmates. Barely 8 per cent ask their teacher for clarification during a lesson. This figure shows just how much digital tools have now become part of everyday study life; AI and Google are always available and offer immediate answers.

The figures reveal a contradiction: the younger generations feel the weight of adults’ expectations regarding school, but when they need help, they tend to turn elsewhere. Going back to school? It is the pressure that weighs most heavily on them.

For pupils, the main challenge of going back to school is academic pressure. Over 50 per cent cite the workload of homework, tests and performance anxiety as the most stressful aspect of returning to school. This is followed, at 26.6 per cent, by the return to the school routine, involving early mornings and less free time. Concerns about socialising with classmates are more modest, cited by 12.4 per cent, as are concerns about teachers’ assessments, at 10.5 per cent. Returning to school is therefore experienced primarily as a challenge linked to academic performance. AI and critical thinking: for almost one in two pupils, it helps them understand better. Over 45 per cent of students say that AI helps them understand concepts better, 21.2 per cent appreciate it mainly because it saves time, and 9.5 per cent use it to organise their study more effectively. Only 6.1 per cent acknowledge that it can sometimes lead them to think less, and just 2.5 per cent say they use it mainly to get ready-made answers. By contrast, 15.3 per cent do not use AI for their studies. AI therefore emerges primarily as a tool to aid understanding; however, the ability to use it critically and thoughtfully remains key.

Alongside its editorial content, Studenti is expanding the practical tools available to its community. Gaia, the AI tutor already available on the website, is being developed further within Studenti+, the free personal area accessible via registration and login, with new features designed to support pupils in their learning and revision. With Studenti+, young people can turn notes and teaching materials into summaries and concept maps, create quizzes and flashcards, find answers to their queries and organise content by subject. A space dedicated to school that harnesses the potential of artificial intelligence without taking the place of the student, promoting more organised learning and a mindful use of AI guided by critical thinking. To mark the start of the new school year, Studenti is also revamping its Instagram presence, with the aim of engaging primarily with a community of over-18s and supporting them from secondary school through to choosing a course of study, right up to entering the world of work. Gen Z news, educational and career guidance, issues affecting the younger generation, mental wellbeing, society and stories that deserve to be told.
Among the new short-form video formats will be ‘School Alert’, with Esmeralda Moretti, a daily round-up dedicated to the main news from the world of education and student life, and ‘Orienteering’, with Noemi David, a weekly programme exploring the opinions and sentiments of over-18s on school, guidance, society, generational trends and current affairs.