Al Kingsley

Al Kingsley

With nearly two decades of school governance experience across Infant, Primary, Secondary, All Through and Alternative Provision schools and academies, distilled into an easy-to-read format, My School Governance Handbook aims to make the complex world of school governance simple and accessible to all. This handbook will take you step by step through the basics of school governance, what the role entails and what you need to know. It explains how schools and multi academy trusts are structured, the key areas of school life you need to understand, relevant questions to ask and finally, includes a handy dictionary to help you navigate your way through all those pesky education acronyms. Including ideas and guidance from other experienced governors across the UK, 'My School Governance Handbook' is the perfect companion for any school governor or trustee. Key Quotes from the book: "Effective school governance is about working collaboratively and strategically to ensure that every student receives a high-quality education." "Governing boards have a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of their schools, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that the needs of all students are met." "Good governance is not just about complying with regulations and policies, but about developing a culture of accountability and transparency." "Communication is key in effective school governance, and governing boards must ensure that they are communicating effectively with all stakeholders." "Schools must ensure that they are meeting the needs of all students, including those with disabilities, in accordance with legal requirements and best practice." "Managing budgets and finances can be a complex and challenging aspect of school governance, but it is essential to ensure that resources are allocated effectively." "Effective school governance requires a commitment to continuous improvement, with governing boards regularly reviewing and evaluating their own performance." "School safety is a top priority for all schools, and governing boards must ensure that they have robust policies and procedures in place to keep students and staff safe." "Governing boards must be aware of the impact of politics on education and must ensure that they are making decisions based on what is best for students, rather than political agendas." "Student discipline is an important aspect of school governance, and governing boards must ensure that their schools have clear policies and procedures in place to promote positive behavior and manage behavior that falls outside of acceptable norms." What do we think? "My School Governance Handbook" by Al Kingsley is a must-have book for anyone who is involved in running a school. It gives you a complete and useful guide to the legal and regulatory frameworks as well as the day-to-day challenges of school governance. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to improve their understanding and effectiveness in this important field.

Al Kingsley

With 30+ years' experience developing and using EdTech products, distilled down into an easy-to-read format, My Secret EdTech Diary aims to get you thinking about the past, present and future role of educational technology and how it influences and shapes our education system. My Secret EdTech Diary reflects on the history of EdTech, lessons learned pre and post-Covid, best practice suggestions, how to select the right solutions and the questions you need to consider before pursuing your digital ambitions. With unique insights from an Educators' and Vendors' perspective, advice for budding EduPreneurs, guidance for schools considering how to co-produce technology solutions with vendors and how to make the right choices, Al aims to shine a light on Educational Technology through the widest possible lens. With links to research, insights from trusted peers, quick ready-reckoner checklists, questions you need to be asking, alongside voices aligned from the sector, this book aims to get you up to speed and thinking big picture EdTech. What do we think? ‘My Secret #Edtech Diary explains the history of EdTech, and the great potential that is the future. It is an easy-to-read book, with lots of practical ideas to use in schools, and many time and money saving tips.   The book is divided into six sections, it guides you through ‘Unpicking Edtech’, ‘ Lessons learned with Edtech’, ‘Edtech from a vendor’s perspective’, ‘Planning ahead with your digital strategy’, ‘Voices Aligned’ and ‘Places to learn from - my top 10’s’ Kingsley sets the scene with an introduction to the Unpicking EdTech and brings it into context of today’s climate, which the book addresses remote learning. I really love the ‘Voices Aligned’ which asks key voices in the education world key questions like; ‘To me, EdTech means …’ and ‘What should EdTech vendors be doing to support schools?’ The answers are very insightful. “This is an interesting book which has lots of thoughtful and valuable information for school leaders from a range of different sources. If you are interested in everything about EdTech, then this is the book for you."