AI Ready: Leading AI in Schools With Confidence, Safety, and Purpose
The definitive school-leadership playbook for the age of artificial intelligence.
AI Ready is a practical leadership guide for school principals, headteachers, trust CEOs, superintendents, governors, and trustees navigating AI strategy, AI governance, AI safety, AI procurement, and AI implementation in schools. Co-authored by Dan Fitzpatrick and Al Kingsley MBE, it equips school leaders to build a one-page AI strategy, govern it safely, and implement it with confidence — without the jargon, the hype, or the fear.
What AI Ready Covers
AI Ready covers the three things every school leader actually needs:
1. AI Strategy & Governance
How to build an AI strategy for schools that fits on a single page, govern it properly through transparent decision-making, and keep your board, governors, and trustees confident — not anxious. Includes how to align AI priorities with school values, set policy, and communicate your approach to parents and the wider community.
2. AI Safety & Procurement in Schools
The specific questions to ask any AI vendor before you sign anything. AI Ready translates data protection, safeguarding, algorithmic bias, equity, and vendor accountability into plain English — so principals, headteachers, and governors can make confident, informed AI procurement decisions that protect students and staff.
3. AI Implementation That Sticks
How school leaders move AI from pilot to practice: honest evaluation, exit ramps, and the courage to stop what isn't working. Real-world case studies from schools and trusts adopting AI responsibly, plus reflective questions and curated resources at the end of every chapter.
Every Chapter Follows a Consistent Six-Section Format
- Philosophical grounding in the why
- The research and evidence base
- Real-world case studies from schools and trusts
- An honest conversation between both authors
- Practical tips and reflective questions
- Curated takeaway resources
Designed for the leader who reads cover-to-cover, and equally for the one who dips in under time pressure.
What Leading Voices Are Saying
"Al Kingsley is uniquely qualified to address the most pressing issues facing our schools today." — Sugata Mitra
"Dan Fitzpatrick offers a practical path forward for those ready to rethink and reshape education." — Daniel Priestley
About the Authors
Dan Fitzpatrick — Founder of The AI Educator
- Author of four #1 bestselling books on AI in education
- Forbes weekly contributor
- Has advised governments around the world on AI and education
- Regular contributor to CNN, Sky News, BBC, and ITV
Al Kingsley MBE — Group CEO, NetSupport
- Five published books on education and EdTech
- Awarded an MBE by His Majesty the King in the 2025 New Year Honours for services to education
- Group CEO of NetSupport, an international software company with 22 million+ users
- Chair of Hampton Academies Trust · Forbes Technology Council member
- Chair of the BESA EdTech Group · Fellow of the RSA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AI Ready book about?
AI Ready: Leading AI in Schools With Confidence, Safety, and Purpose is a practical leadership guide co-authored by Dan Fitzpatrick and Al Kingsley MBE. It covers the three things every school leader needs: developing an AI strategy, implementing AI governance and safety frameworks, and driving AI implementation that actually sticks.
Who is AI Ready written for?
AI Ready is written for school leaders and education decision-makers at every level: classroom teachers, middle leaders, senior leaders, principals and headteachers, trust CEOs, superintendents, and governors and trustees responsible for oversight. It is equally relevant for EdTech professionals advising schools on AI adoption.
How should school leaders develop an AI strategy?
AI Ready walks school leaders through building an AI strategy that fits on one page — clear, purposeful, and easy to communicate. It covers aligning AI priorities with school values, governing AI decisions transparently, keeping governors and boards confident, and communicating the approach to parents and the wider community.
What does good AI governance look like in schools?
Good AI governance in schools involves clear policies on acceptable use, data protection, safeguarding, equity, and accountability. AI Ready guides leaders and governors through building an AI governance framework: defining roles and responsibilities, setting transparent boundaries for AI tools, evaluating vendor claims critically, and establishing oversight mechanisms that keep students safe.
How can schools approach AI safety and procurement?
AI Ready gives school leaders the specific questions to ask any AI vendor before signing a contract — covering data protection, safeguarding, algorithmic bias, equity, and vendor accountability. The book explains AI safety in plain English so principals, headteachers, governors, and trust leaders can make confident, informed procurement decisions.
What is the difference between AI strategy and AI governance in schools?
An AI strategy defines where a school is heading with AI: its vision, priorities, and roadmap. AI governance defines how the school makes decisions about AI: the policies, oversight structures, accountability mechanisms, and safeguards that ensure AI is used safely, ethically, and equitably.
Join the AI Ready Waitlist
Be the first to get AI Ready. Join the free waitlist to be notified the moment the book launches and receive early access to exclusive content from Dan Fitzpatrick and Al Kingsley MBE.