Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership

In this essential episode for school leaders, Shane explores primary education leadership with Emma Turner, a primary education expert with over 25 years of experience in school leadership development. Emma challenges the common practice of applying secondary-focused approaches to primary settings, sharing practical school leadership strategies that respect how young children actually learn. This conversation offers valuable education leadership training for international school leaders who want to improve their understanding of age-appropriate pedagogy and effective transition processes between educational phases. Emma discusses why primary education often defaults to "secondary light" approaches and shares innovative school improvement strategies that create "academically seductive" learning environments. From managing the flexibility of primary school days to building better understanding between phases, this episode provides actionable education leadership skills for heads, principals, and teacher leadership development coordinators. Whether you're leading organisational change in schools or developing school leadership programmes, Emma's insights on the "brackish water" approach to transitions and cross-phase collaboration will enhance your school culture change initiatives.Connect with EmmaPodcast: "Mind the Gap" with Tom Sherrington - youtube.com/c/MindtheGapwithTomEmmaBooks: amazon.com/stores/author/B0839NHR9PLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emma-l-turner Episode PartnersTeacher Development TrustInternational Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this brutally honest conversation, Michael Iannini pulls back the curtain on what it's really like to leave the safety of education employment and strike out as an independent consultant. From worrying about whether you can afford that plane ticket to learning the hard way that repackaging other people's content doesn't work, Michael shares the lessons that most people won't tell you about going independent. We explore the realities of working with schools as clients, why coming in with all the answers is the wrong approach, and how Michael learned to challenge assumptions even when it might cost him the project. He shares his journey from delivering polished but ineffective programmes to finding his authentic voice through writing his book, and explains why advocacy for others became the key to creating real impact.LinksHidden in Plain Sight: Realizing the Full Potential of Middle Leaders - Michael's bookPD Academia - Michael's consulting websitePeerSphere - Peer learning communities for international school educators Episode PartnersTeacher Development TrustInternational Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful conversation, Stephanie Lill from Mindful Sparks completely reframes how we think about compassion in schools. Far from being a "nice to have," compassion emerges as an essential leadership skill that goes beyond kindness and empathy to create real, lasting change. Lilly breaks down the crucial distinctions: kindness is doing nice things, empathy is understanding someone's situation, but compassion is taking action to address the root causes of suffering. What makes this episode particularly valuable is Lilly's honest exploration of self-compassion, especially for those of us who worry that being too kind to ourselves might make us complacent. Through practical strategies like using post-it note reminders, checking in with our mind, emotions, and body, and knowing when to pause before making decisions, she shows how self-compassion actually creates the mental space we need to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. Her story about a school leader who chose vulnerability during an air pollution crisis demonstrates how authentic leadership can transform school culture in profound ways. LinksMindful Sparks - Mindfulness-based training for schoolsMindful Moments Podcast - Mindful Sparks' own podcast seriesConnect with Lilly on Instagram @mindful_sparks or LinkedIn Episode PartnersTeacher Development TrustInternational Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wonder why brilliant educational ideas don't always translate into classroom reality? In this conversation, Shane Leaning sits down with author Chris Youles to explore the messy truth about implementing change in schools and why sometimes it's easier to influence other people's schools than your own. Chris, Assistant Head Teacher and author of the brilliant Teaching Story Writing in Primary (Bloomsbury), shares his honest reflections on the gap between writing about best practice and actually making it happen. With characteristic candour, he admits that despite literally writing the book on teaching writing, he still struggles with implementation challenges in his own school. We dive into the psychology of professional development, explore why past CPD trauma affects how teachers receive new ideas, and discover Chris's brilliant concept of "death by a thousand blows" for sustainable change. This episode will resonate with anyone who's ever wondered why that amazing training session didn't quite stick, or why resistance to change persists even when everyone agrees the ideas are good. Chris offers practical insights into reframing change around student outcomes, the importance of consistency over perfection, and how small, frequent adjustments can create lasting transformation. Links:Chris Youles' Books:Teaching Story Writing in Primary: Curriculum-aligned, classroom-ready resources and strategies (Bloomsbury, 2024)Sentence Models for Creative Writing: A practical resource for teaching writing (John Catt Educational, 2023)Writing Systems and Approaches:Jane Considine's "The Write Stuff" system - Transforming the teaching of writingThe Write Stuff book by Jane ConsidineReading Resources:Christopher Such's work on reading fluency and deep discussionPrimary Reading Simplified: A Practical Guide to Classroom Teaching and Whole-School Implementation by Christopher SuchThe Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading by Christopher Such Episode PartnersTeacher Development TrustInternational Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane Leaning chats with Ben Whitaker about his new book "The Ideas Guy" and why he thinks we're all capable of being idea generators. Ben's an education consultant who specialises in education leadership training and co-hosts the Edufuturists podcast, and he's got some fascinating takes on school leadership coaching. Rather than hunting for that perfect role model (spoiler alert: they don't exist), Ben's all about picking and mixing ideas from loads of different people - even the ones with questionable ethics. We explore everything from Sir Ken Robinson's unconventional paths to Brené Brown's thoughts on vulnerability as a leadership strength. Ben challenges the whole notion of trying to cram more stuff into education and makes a compelling case for school improvement strategies that focus on creating more space instead. If you're an international school leadership team looking for fresh school leadership tips, or just want to think differently about organisational change in schools, this conversation's going to get you thinking. Plus, Ben drops some wisdom about why curiosity gets trained out of us and how we can get it back.Resources mentioned in this episode:Ben Whitaker's book "The Ideas Guy"Edufuturists podcastSir Ken Robinson FoundationStephen Bartlett's "Diary of a CEO" podcast Episode PartnersTeacher Development TrustInternational Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katharine Birbalsingh, founder and headmistress of Michaela Community School in London, discusses her radical yet effective approach to educational leadership. She emphasizes the importance of clarity of vision and authentic conversations in fostering school culture. Katharine shares her intriguing ice cream cone analogy for school improvement and how saying 'no' to good ideas can yield extraordinary results. With insights on autonomy and navigating difficult conversations, she challenges listeners to rethink what true leadership entails.

Shane Leaning speaks with Paul Halford about his new book "My Educated Life: Lessons from Leading Schools." Paul explores why change in schools is fundamentally a subjective experience, explaining how even the most logical strategic plans can fail when they encounter the reality of people's personal lives and emotional responses. Using a football coaching analogy from his youth, he demonstrates how successful change requires leaders who build trust, allow for honest communication about difficulties, and create safe spaces for dissent and feedback. The conversation delves into the tension between maintaining legitimacy as a school and pushing boundaries for innovation, using examples like A.S. Neill's radical Summerhill School and the nomadic Think Global School. Paul emphasises that school success is built on relationships characterised by trust, hope, and care, citing research showing that high-trust schools have significantly better success rates when implementing new programmes. He provides practical strategies including monthly one-to-one meetings with staff, annual culture surveys, and creating collaborative approaches to change implementation, while warning that the biggest leadership mistake is allowing trust to erode through poor communication and failure to understand staff experiences. Links Mentioned:My Educated Life: Lessons from Leading Schools by Paul HalfordThe New Meaning of Educational Change by Michael FullanUNESCO Futures of Education Report  Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shane challenges the common assumption that all teachers must be primarily motivated by their love of children. Drawing from research and personal reflection at the Festival of Education, he explores the diverse motivations that actually drive educators - from technical craft enthusiasts to social justice warriors to stability seekers. Using the 2007 Watt and Richardson "FIT-Choice Scale" study, Shane identifies six different types of motivated teachers and explains why understanding these differences is crucial for effective school leadership. The episode explores how different teacher motivations impact recruitment, retention, and strategic staff deployment. Shane argues that recognising this diversity allows leaders to better support their teams, align opportunities with individual motivations, and move beyond the simplistic myth that good teachers are only driven by love of children. The discussion includes practical implications for how schools can leverage the natural diversity of motivations within their teams to create more effective and sustainable change. Action ChallengeHave a conversation with one teacher this week. Ask them what really motivates them - not what should motivate them, but what actually does. Listen carefully and consider how you might align future opportunities with their genuine motivations.Books Mentioned"Putting Staff First: A Blueprint for Revitalising Our Schools" by John Tomsett and Jonny Uttley"Change Starts Here: What if Everything Your School Needed Was Right in Front of You?" by Shane Leaning and Efraim Lerner Study: Watt, H. M. G., & Richardson, P. W. (2007). Motivational Factors Influencing Teaching as a Career Choice: Development and Validation of the FIT-Choice Scale. The Journal of Experimental Education, 75(3), 167-202. Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Shane Leaning sits down with John Taylor, Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation at Cranleigh School and one of the principal architects of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). They explore how a small pilot programme exploring science ethics has evolved into a globally recognised qualification with over 50,000 students annually. John shares insights into project-based learning at scale, how universities now offer grade discounts for EPQ students, and why this qualification is particularly valuable for international schools and multilingual learners. Shane and John discuss the practical challenges of supporting teachers in transitioning from content delivery to mentorship roles, how to assess diverse project outcomes fairly, and John's concept of "minovation" - incremental innovation that creates lasting educational change. This conversation offers valuable insights for school leaders considering project-based learning initiatives and demonstrates how inquiry-based approaches can work effectively within existing qualification systems whilst developing critical thinking skills and student autonomy. Links to Learn More:Pearson Edexcel Extended Project QualificationCranleigh SchoolJohn Taylor on LinkedInUCAS EPQ Qualification Information Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Shane sits down with Drew Perkins, President Director of ThoughtStretcher Education and host of the ThoughtStretchers Education Podcast. Drew brings a refreshing perspective on how we can navigate the often polarised world of education discourse, from the direct instruction versus inquiry debate to the broader challenge of maintaining nuanced thinking in our schools. Drew shares his approach to engaging in online education conversations with curiosity rather than certainty, and explains his concept of "reality-based communities" grounded in what he calls enlightenment liberal principles. Whether you're a school leader trying to cut through the noise or an educator looking to model better dialogue, this conversation offers practical wisdom for staying grounded whilst remaining open to learning.Resources MentionedThoughtStretchers Education Podcast - Drew's weekly education podcastPaul Kirschner Panel Discussion: "The Knowledge Revival, Curriculum For Deep Thinking" - Recent episode exploring direct instruction vs inquiry learningJonathan Rauch's "Kindly Inquisitors" - Book on knowledge and free speechJonathan Rauch's "The Constitution of Knowledge" - Exploring how we determine truth in modern societyThoughtStretcher Education - Drew's organisation websiteThoughtStretchers Community - Educational discussion community Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.