In this episode, Alex sits down with Al Kingsley MBE, author, CEO, and governance expert, to explore one of the most pressing questions in education today: what happens when schools let AI lead without oversight?

From building universities to shaping national education policy, Al brings decades of experience to unpack how schools can navigate the balance between innovation and integrity. Together, Alex and Al explore the rise of AI governance, the hidden risks of “efficiency,” and how to ensure technology serves learning—not the other way around.

Discover why schools must move beyond laminated AI policies, how to create meaningful guardrails for data and ethics, and what practical steps leaders can take to ensure transparency, accountability, and trust in their AI use.

Key Ideas
🧭 Weaponising AI: How control gets rebranded as “efficiency” and what that means for decision-making in schools.
⚖️ Guardrails, Not Handcuffs: Why safe AI use requires boundaries, explainability, and human oversight.
💡 From Policy to Practice: Turning compliance documents into living frameworks that evolve and improve.
🌐 Student Voice & Digital Citizenship: Why young people must become active participants—not passive users—of AI.
📊 The 8-Step Governance Framework: A practical roadmap for leaders ready to start responsibly.
🔁 Review & Renew: Why AI strategy should never be “set and forget.”

Best Moments💬 “If you want to weaponise AI, you simply rebrand control as efficiency.”
💬 “Guardrails don’t limit innovation—they protect it.”
💬 “A policy no one reads isn’t governance, it’s wallpaper.”
💬 “Students can’t challenge bias they don’t understand.”
💬 “AI governance starts with one question: why are we using this tool?”

About the Guest
Al Kingsley MBE is a respected education leader, author, and CEO. With over 30 years’ experience bridging business, governance, and edtech, he chairs multiple education boards and has helped shape school systems in the UK and beyond. His work focuses on building ethical, transparent, and sustainable AI practices that support learners, staff, and communities.

Connect and Contact🎙️ The International Classroom📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/theinternationalclassroom💻 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergray84/🌐 Website: https://deepprofessional.com

👤 Al Kingsley🌐 Website: https://alkingsley.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alkingsley/