Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership

In this episode, host Shane Leaning explores the question of whether the world can learn from China's education system. With over 1.4 billion people, China has one of the largest education systems in the world and has made impressive progress in expanding access and improving outcomes. Shane shares five areas that international educators can learn from China's approach to education, including traditional teaching methods, emphasizing hard work and perseverance, high levels of parental involvement, prioritizing professional development, and encouraging learning from other education systems. While these areas have their critics, they offer valuable insights into how educators can improve student outcomes.Stick around for the fifth area, which may be difficult to hear, but offers important lessons on continuous learning improvement. Whether you're an educator or policymaker, this episode offers valuable insights into how China's education system can inform education across cultures. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and leave a rating wherever you listen to help spread the word.Key Quotes:"While there's some diversity in teaching methods in China, traditional methods are still widely used. The focus on rote learning and memorization in China has been criticized by some, but it's also been credited with helping students develop strong foundational knowledge and skills.""China does encourage learning from other education systems in order to gain new insight and improve student outcomes in China... While China has a strong education system, it does recognize the value of learning from other countries and systems.""China prioritizes professional development to improve teaching practice... Teachers in China often teach fewer hours than their counterparts in other countries, and this allows them to spend more time on planning, marking, and professional development."Join 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, I speak to Julian Fisher, the co-founder of Venture Education, a market intelligence consultancy focusing on education in China. If you're an international education leader, you won't want to miss this fascinating discussion on the Chinese education system including the challenges of maintaining a strong school culture in a diverse and constantly changing environment. Here are some of the key takeaways from the episode: The Chinese school system is not uniform and varies from school to school, with some using more open teaching styles and group work. The best schools in China are arguably government schools where Chinese families prioritize their children attending good schools and universities in China, rather than international ones. The traditional model of international schools is seen by some with a somewhat neo-colonialist nature, and the transactional nature of the engagements. A school with a strong culture that lasts beyond any one leader or any one member of staff is crucial. Bilingual or international schools offer an advantage in terms of individual support for students. Chinese families have historically been brave and willing to explore opportunities, such as studying overseas. To learn more about Julian’s work and Venture Education, visit their website at https://www.ventureeducation.org/. Share the episode and spread the word if you found this episode useful. You can find me online on Twitter, LinkedIN and Instagram: @leaningshaneJoin 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.