Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership

Learning Science Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

Shane 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

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The Science of Leading | A Conversation with Meg Lee

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:53:18 GMT

What if the principles that help students learn could also transform how you lead? This episode explores the powerful concept of the "science of leading" with Meg Lee, co-founder of Learning Science Partners and an internationally recognised advocate for evidence-informed teaching and professional learning. Meg explains why our leadership moves often fail when we act on "brittle knowledge," just enough understanding to be dangerous, instead of fostering the deep, flexible understanding needed to navigate complex organisations. This is a critical conversation for any leader feeling the tension between urgent action and sustainable implementation.

You'll learn how core principles from cognitive science, such as cognitive load, prior knowledge, and effortful thinking, directly apply to leading schools and systems. Meg, a 30-year public education leader, author of Mindsets for Parents, and US ambassador for researchED, shares practical strategies, including how to simplify your school's focus, make small incremental moves in the same direction, and build a shared language for change that honours your team's experience. If you want to move beyond initiative fatigue and lead change that lasts, this episode provides the evidence-informed framework you need.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Connect with Meg Lee

Episode Partners

Education Leaders Intensive

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Education Leaders LIVE | March Reflections

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:39:50 GMT

Shane and Chris are back for this month's Education Leaders Live, recording from Shanghai and Newcastle respectively, to unpack some of the biggest themes from recent episodes.

The conversation kicks off with the backstory behind Education Leaders itself. How it started as a hobby podcast called Travel Ed, what redundancy taught Shane about building a business, and why the "build it and they shall come" approach is terrible advice for anyone thinking about going independent.

From there, they get into Dr Chris Baker's brilliant work on poor proxies for leadership. What does it actually look like to lead well? Is visibility the same as effectiveness? And why did a child once assume Chris Baker was the new headmaster based entirely on his trench coat?

They also dig into the CPD problem. Shane shares results from a LinkedIn survey where only 1 out of roughly 100 school leaders said external workshops had genuine impact. That leads to a proper debate about where responsibility sits when training doesn't stick, and what providers should be doing differently.

Plus: the guilt of not looking busy, why teachers have the rolliest eyes of any profession, Chris's story about Rob Coe walking into his conference session, and what's coming up next on the podcast.

Episodes referenced in this conversation:

The Work Behind Education Leaders: shaneleaning.com/podcast/151
Poor Proxies for Leadership with Dr Chris Baker: shaneleaning.com/podcast/152
Parent-Driven School Storytelling with Selena Boyd: shaneleaning.com/podcast/148
What Actually Works in Teacher Development: shaneleaning.com/podcast/153

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Actually Works in Teacher Development

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

England spends £1 billion a year on teacher professional development, yet a poll of school leaders found that just 1% said it led to lasting change in practice. This episode examines why that gap exists, drawing on a landmark 2025 report from the Teacher Development Trust, which surveyed over a thousand teachers and leaders across England. The findings are stark, but the patterns, as Shane argues, are universal and if you lead a school anywhere in the world, the problems will feel familiar.

You'll learn about the significant perception gap between what leaders think CPD achieves and what teachers actually experience, why the formats schools rely on most (workshops, online modules) are the least effective, and what the evidence actually points to instead. Shane shares five practical steps leaders can take right now, from closing the feedback gap with staff to investing in coaching and peer observation. Perhaps most urgently, the data shows a direct link between poor professional development and teacher retention and what kind of CPD would genuinely make teachers more likely to stay.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

Rob Coe's work at Evidence-Based Education

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poor Proxies for Leadership | A Conversation with Chris Baker

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

How do we truly know if someone is a good leader? If your school relies on visible presence, constant busyness, or even a certain "look," you might be measuring the wrong things. In this thought-provoking episode, Shane is joined by experienced educator and leadership development specialist, Chris Baker, to explore the concept of 'poor proxies' for leadership. Inspired by Rob Coe's work on poor proxies for learning, Chris explains how schools often mistake correlated behaviours for the causal impact of effective leadership, potentially undermining leader well-being and organisational success.

You’ll learn to identify common poor proxies like visibility, busyness, and confidence, and discover a more impactful framework for evaluation centred on two questions: "How does this leader make people feel?" and "What does this leader enable people to do?" Chris provides a practical, immediate action plan, advising you to audit your school’s leadership frameworks, recruitment processes, and development programmes for hidden proxies. If you want to move beyond superficial metrics and cultivate leadership that genuinely empowers your team, this conversation is an essential starting point.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Connect with Chris Baker

Leadership Launchpads by Chris Baker

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Work Behind Education Leaders

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Episode 151 is a milestone worth pausing on, and Shane uses it to do something he probably should have done sooner: properly introduce himself. Many listeners know the podcast but have never heard the full story of how Education Leaders grew from a simple desire for better conversations into a three-part organisation spanning a community, a coaching academy, and international school consultancy. This episode is Shane's honest account of those early uncertain months, the moment something shifted, and why he kept going long before he had any of it figured out.

You'll hear how the Education Leaders Intensive came together, what drives the self-study courses launching soon, and why Shane co-founded The Work Collaborative, a not-for-profit built on one clear conviction: schools need to restore confidence in their own judgement. Shane explains what he keeps seeing in schools around the world, the cycle of well-intentioned consultants and initiatives that never quite stick because internal capacity was never built alongside them. If you're curious about the world behind the microphone, or simply want to understand what Shane and his collaborators are actually building, this is the episode to start with.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

Hartmut Rosa's 'Uncontrollability of Culture

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Education Leaders LIVE | February Reflections

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:16:35 GMT

Teachers spend years learning to coach people. Ask questions, not give answers. Build trust before expecting vulnerability. Hold space. Stay quiet when staying quiet is the hardest thing.

Then they get promoted. And most of it disappears.

Chris Scorer — school leader, data specialist, and co-host of Education Leaders Live — said it plainly this month: "You'd never walk into a classroom and tell kids to do something just because you're telling them to. Yet leadership very often does exactly that."

If you've ever watched that gap open up — between what you know good leadership looks like and what actually happens under pressure — you're in the right place. You're not the only one who's seen it.

This is Education Leaders Live, the monthly companion show to the Education Leaders podcast. Each month, host Shane Leaning and Chris Scorer sit down with the listeners who show up live to unpack the best conversations from the feed. This month they hit a milestone — Episode 150 — and three conversations that kept pulling at the same uncomfortable question.

Why coaching programmes fail If you've ever launched a coaching initiative in a school and watched it quietly dissolve, Gene Tevonetti's research will probably explain why. After working with hundreds of schools, he found it's almost never the method that fails. It's one unresolved question that nobody answered at the start: what gets shared, what stays private, and who actually agreed on that before the coaching began? Confidentiality isn't just a detail. It's the foundation — and most schools pour it last.

Why smart leaders make terrible decisions You're not irrational. You're human. Shane walked through five cognitive biases that show up constantly in school leadership — anchoring, availability, the endowment effect, groupthink, and optimism bias. Chris brought an unexpected angle: Richard Thaler built behavioural economics to help people understand how we actually make decisions, not the tidy rational-actor fiction economists had been selling for decades. Then it came out he'd run workshops for Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk on how to use that same understanding to manipulate people through their websites. Chris was genuinely heartbroken. He contrasted it with Tim Berners-Lee, who simply gave the internet to the world with no IP, no commercial conditions, nothing. "With great power comes great responsibility," Shane said. It might be the most honest five seconds of the month.

The future of British international schools (Episode 150 milestone) Simon Probert introduced an idea that's quietly reshaping how the best international schools think: rooted cosmopolitanism. There's a difference between raising students to be "global citizens" — a well-meaning idea that can leave young people belonging to nowhere — and students who are deeply anchored in their own culture and genuinely open to the world. As demographics shift in international school cities like Shanghai, this stops being philosophical. What is your school actually for? Do all your stakeholders agree? And if they don't, whose job is it to sort that out?

Chris also had his "Chris Solves the World" moment. One practical step that any international school could take tomorrow. It involves language. Worth staying for.

You can join Shane and Chris live every last Thursday of the month at educationleaders.live, on LinkedIn, or on YouTube — 6pm Shanghai / 10am UK. Bring your thoughts, your pushback, and your own stories from the field. That's what this show is built for.

If this is your world, we'd genuinely love to have you in the room.

👇 Which of these three conversations is living in your head right now? Let us know.

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future of British Schools Abroad | A Conversation with Simon Probert

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 20:00:00 GMT

What does it mean to lead a ‘British’ school in an international context today? If your school promotes ‘global citizenship’ but struggles to feel truly grounded in its local community, this conversation is essential. Shane is joined by headteacher and author Simon Probert, who argues that the future success of our sector depends on moving beyond a ‘rootless’ global identity. He introduces the powerful concept of ‘rooted cosmopolitanism,' building a school identity that is deeply connected to its local place and culture while maintaining its global outlook.

You’ll learn why the term ‘global citizen’ can be problematic and loaded with privilege, and how to intentionally localise your curriculum, traditions, and community practices. The episode provides practical strategies for fostering genuine belonging, implementing effective co-leadership models between international and local leaders, and designing inclusive staff cultures that bridge cultural divides.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Simon's LinkedIn

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Stuart Hall's writings on culture and identity

Episode Partners

Shane Leaning's Education Leaders Intensive

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Communication Masterclass | How to Paraphrase

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

You explained it clearly, they nodded, and two weeks later three people did three completely different things. This episode tackles one of the most common and costly communication breakdowns in school leadership: assuming that because you said it, it landed. Shane draws on research from Cornell and Stanford, including the "tappers and listeners" study, to explain why even experienced leaders consistently overestimate how clearly their message has been received, and why just knowing about these biases isn't enough to fix them.

The answer is a simple three-step habit called paraphrasing: signal, restate, check. You'll learn why paraphrasing is fundamentally different from just repeating words back, how it surfaces misunderstandings in the moment rather than weeks later, and why it's especially valuable in international school settings where language and cultural norms add another layer of complexity. Shane also covers how to handle the slightly awkward moment when someone looks at you like you're going oddly slowly, and why naming what you're doing dissolves that resistance almost immediately. If you're ready to try one thing this week that will change how your conversations feel, press play.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parent-Driven School Storytelling | A Conversation with Selina Boyd

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Selina Boyd, international editor of The Good Schools Guide, reveals what actually matters when parents choose schools for their children. With over a decade reviewing international schools and more than 1,600 schools assessed worldwide, Selina explains why authentic leadership isn't about what leaders say about themselves, but what parents and students say about them. This conversation challenges school leaders to rethink how they communicate their school's story in an era where parents are savvy researchers who trust other parents more than polished marketing materials.

You'll learn the specific moments that signal whether students are genuinely thriving, from children running up to show their work to sixth formers who can articulate why they chose your school. Selina shares practical examples of authentic school storytelling, including how one international school used Instagram reels to connect with future students in a way that felt genuine rather than contrived. If you're trying to build trust with prospective families whilst navigating social media and modern parent expectations, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on letting others tell your school's story.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

The Good Schools Guide

Selina Boyd on LinkedIn

Episode Partners

Change Starts Here by Shane Leaning

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Smart Leaders Make Terrible Decisions

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

You hired the wrong person, killed a working programme, or ignored a massive risk whilst feeling completely rational the whole time. This episode unpacks five cognitive biases that sabotage school leadership decisions constantly: anchoring, availability bias, endowment effect, groupthink, and optimism bias. Shane shares real examples from his own leadership mistakes, including a disastrous hiring decision driven by a compelling opening story, and explains why these mental shortcuts that usually help us actually wreck leadership decisions.

You'll learn practical systems to catch yourself before these biases derail your next major decision. Shane walks through how to counter anchoring with "consider the opposite" thinking, why you need a decision journal to spot availability bias patterns, how to set up kill committees for initiatives you've personally championed, and why assigning a devil's advocate role fights groupthink. If you've ever wondered why smart leaders sometimes make terrible collective decisions, or why your optimistic timelines never match reality, this episode gives you the frameworks to make better choices and build trust with your team.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

Gene Tavernetti on LinkedIn

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE | January Reflections

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Chris Scorer and Shane Leaning got together to unpack some of the big themes from recent episodes, particularly that vulnerable solo episode Shane put out about self-doubt and imposter syndrome. The response to that one has been overwhelming, especially the private messages from leaders who haven't felt able to share their struggles publicly. Chris and Shane dug into why we've become so intolerant of failure in education, how accountability has overtaken development in our systems, and whether that's creating environments where leaders feel they have to hide their vulnerability rather than use it as a learning opportunity.

We also talked about Jet Wolper's brilliant episode on questioning the status quo and why we keep cutting the ends off ham. It challenged our developmental approach to change because sometimes, as Chris pointed out, you need to strip things back before you can build them up properly. Chris shared James Miller's gutsy move at Royal Grammar School Newcastle, where he simply got rid of anything that wasn't actually helping kids. We wrapped up talking about curiosity as an antidote to the winter blues and how being one step more curious this February might be exactly what we need.

Episodes mentioned:

Tam Proctor on school character and culture: shaneleaning.com/podcast/140
James Mannion on making change stick: shaneleaning.com/podcast/142
Jet Wolper on the tab tax and cutting the ends off ham: shaneleaning.com/podcast/144
Self-doubt and imposter syndrome (solo episode): shaneleaning.com/podcast/145

Join us live: educationleaders.live

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Coaching Programs Fail | A Conversation with Gene Tavernetti

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Instructional coaching should be a powerful engine for teacher development, yet so many school initiatives stall or backfire. Why? In this frank conversation, Dr. Gene Tavernetti joins Shane to dissect exactly where and how coaching programmes commonly fail. With over thirty years in education (as coach, teacher, counselor, administrator, and consultant), Gene pulls no punches on the systemic pitfalls, from treating coaching as a remedial tool to the crippling myth of total confidentiality. As author of Teach FAST and Maximizing the Impact of Coaching Cycles (John Catt Education) and co-founder of Total Educational Systems Support (TESS), Gene has spent nearly two decades training teachers and those who support them in providing the best instruction possible.

You'll learn why a mandatory, school-wide approach is often better than a voluntary one and how to strategically select your first teachers to coach to build credibility. Gene explains the critical difference between professional and personal relationships in coaching and why a shared, evidence-based focus is non-negotiable. Guided by his core belief that given the right environment and proper support, everyone can improve and succeed, Gene shares the practical, scar-tissue wisdom you need to avoid common mistakes and build a sustainable culture of improvement.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Jim Knight’s Instructional Coaching Group

Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion

Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

John Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model

Episode Partners

Adam Grant's "Think Again"

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Tackle Self-Doubt

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 19:57:28 GMT

You know that feeling when you wake up with a weight on your chest, convinced you don't belong and everyone's about to find out? Shane gets vulnerable about a recent morning just like that: when a piece of work that wasn't his absolute best sent him spiralling into shame. This solo episode tackles the difference between "I did something imperfect" and "I am not good enough," and why that distinction matters so much for school leaders who hold themselves to impossibly high standards.

You'll learn the crucial difference between shame and guilt (and why one protects you whilst the other keeps you stuck), how to separate the stories you're making up from actual data, and why your character matters more than your competence in any single moment. Shane shares frameworks from Brené Brown, Adam Grant, and Stephen Covey, but also gets honest about why sometimes you can't think your way out, sometimes you just need to feel it. If you've ever felt like an imposter or struggled after work that wasn't perfect, this episode will remind you that you're not alone.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Stephen Covey's "The Speed of Trust"

Episode Partners

Sisi School Management Platform

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tab Tax on Teachers | A Conversation with Jett Wolper

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:06:09 GMT

Why do schools continue using systems they hate? Jett Wolper from Sisi challenges the assumption that broken school systems are inevitable. Most educational technology wasn't designed for teachers, it was built for the people who purchase it, creating a 20-year legacy of platforms that work on paper but fail in practice. From timetabling that consumes enormous amounts of leadership time to communication scattered across WhatsApp, email, and multiple other platforms, these inefficiencies aren't just frustrating, they're directly contributing to teacher burnout and even affecting school admissions and finances.

You'll learn why a story about ham perfectly explains most school systems, how duplicate data entry steals time from students, and why the best technology should be invisible. Jett shares practical steps for identifying which systems are draining your time, explains why centralising communication can transform a school overnight, and reveals Sisi’s vision for eliminating administrative tasks entirely. If you're exhausted by platforms that require three-month training courses or tired of juggling dozens of browser tabs just to get through your day, this conversation offers a genuinely different approach to how schools can operate.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Sisi on LinkedIn

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mastering Direct and Indirect Communication

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 20:00:00 GMT

What if being direct isn't the same as being clear? Shane challenges a core assumption in leadership advice: that directness equals clarity. Drawing on Edward Hall's work on high and low context cultures and a recent conversation with Eunice Okpotu about psychological safety, Shane introduces a quadrant framework that separates directness from clarity. He's seen UK heads who are incredibly direct yet leave staff confused, and Chinese leaders who never directly confront anyone yet maintain crystal-clear standards across their schools.

You'll learn the four quadrants of communication (direct and clear, direct and unclear, indirect and unclear, and indirect and clear), when to use each approach, and why indirect clarity is an overlooked leadership tool. Shane explains why indirect communication can preserve face whilst maintaining standards, when directness is essential (performance issues, safety concerns, legal requirements), and how the most effective leaders are fluent in both modes. If you've ever been frustrated by indirect communication or wondered why your direct feedback isn't landing, this framework will change how you think about leadership communication.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Edward Hall's work on high and low context cultures

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Make Change Stick | A Conversation with Dr James Mannion

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Dr James Mannion has noticed something telling when working with school leaders: ask them what proportion of change initiatives actually improved anything. Most estimate 10-20%, but when pressed about sustainable change with real evidence, that figure drops to nearly zero. Dr James Mannion, author of a comprehensive programme on implementation science, explains why this failure rate persists despite everyone knowing about it and more importantly, how schools can break the cycle. James reveals two deep-rooted issues: leaders aren't taught change management, and we default to top-down approaches that violate people's fundamental need for autonomy.

You'll learn why healthcare takes 17 years to achieve just 14% uptake of proven practices, how to build slice teams that bring genuine representation to decision-making, and the power of five-minute interviews for surfacing concerns without fear of repercussion. Shane and James discuss the difference between implementation science and improvement science, why sceptics make valuable team members, and how to create ground rules that prevent groupthink. If you're tired of watching initiatives fail despite good intentions, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for change that actually sticks.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your Top Picks: Most Listened Episodes

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 20:00:00 GMT

As 2025 comes to a close, Shane reflects on the year by counting down the five most listened to episodes of Education Leaders. The podcast has grown significantly, doubling in size just in the last six months and reaching around 150 episodes total. Whether you've been following along all year or you're brand new to the show, this episode gives you a curated guide to the conversations that resonated most with school leaders worldwide.

You'll hear about episodes covering everything from mastering your interview game to understanding why teachers resist great ideas, from curriculum change implementation to the unique challenges of teacher educators. Shane shares why each episode connected with listeners, what makes them valuable, and which specific insights from Katherine Birbalsingh, Dr Ciara O'Donnell, Christopher Youles, Ben Whitaker and Orla Dempsey stood out. If you're looking for the most impactful conversations from the year or want to catch up on episodes you might have missed, this countdown will guide you to exactly what busy school leaders found most useful.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School Character and Culture First | A Conversation with Tamara Yuill Proctor

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 01:58:33 GMT

When Dr. Tamara Yuill Proctor began researching curriculum integration at secondary level, she quickly discovered that successful change wasn't really about curriculum at all. It was about understanding the character and culture of the school first: the people, their capacity, the school's history, and what the community actually needs. In this conversation, Tam shares findings from her doctoral research into how schools create meaningful change, focusing on a New Zealand school that hadn't changed its timetable in 25 years yet managed to transform its approach to learning.

You'll learn why every change initiative Tam has led takes exactly six months for teachers to build the relational trust needed to collaborate effectively, how to balance being adaptable with staying mission-focused, and why "pockets of change" work better than whole-school transformation. Tam explains the critical role of middle leaders as conduits between vision and classroom practice, shares practical advice on giving teachers space to be frustrated during change, and reveals why clear learning outcomes matter more than rigid plans. If you're leading any kind of school change - whether curriculum redesign, new systems, or pedagogical shifts - this episode will help you understand why the human elements matter most.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE | December Reflections

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 03:15:01 GMT

Welcome to our December edition of Education Leaders LIVE, where Chris Scorer and Shane Leaning reflect on the month's episodes. This time we reviewed three conversations that sparked some genuine debate between us. From firefighting versus long-term thinking, to whether HR should serve leadership or staff (we still don't agree), to the fundamentals of building trust quickly. We also had a surprisingly heated discussion about whether bookshelves should be organised by colour or subject matter. Chris's Christmas wish for all educators? Switch off your computers and actually rest.

This monthly live show is meant to be more than just Shane and Chris chatting. It's a conversation with you, our community. Join us on the last Thursday of every month at 6pm Shanghai time (10am UK) on LinkedIn Live, YouTube Live, or at educationleaders.live.

Episodes Discussed

How to Think Long Term When Everything's On Fire

https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/137

Ethical School Leadership | A Conversation with Dr. Yael Cass

https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/138

How to Build Leadership Trust

https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/139

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Build Leadership Trust Quickly

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Which breaks faster: trust in someone's competence or trust in their character? Shane explores Stephen Covey's framework that trust operates on two separate dimensions. Competence trust builds quickly through credentials, positions, and demonstrated capability, but character trust takes time to develop through consistent honesty and integrity. The crucial insight? While competence breaks slowly with each mistake being somewhat forgivable, character trust can shatter in a single moment. Shane shares a vulnerable story from his own leadership journey about a time he broke someone's trust and the lasting impact it had on that professional relationship.

You'll learn a practical three-part transparency framework that builds character trust quickly whilst you're still establishing competence. Shane explains how to share your thinking process when uncertain, admit what you don't know whilst committing to find out, and explain your decisions even when they're unpopular. This approach doesn't just build trust faster, it protects you from appearing incompetent, reduces your cognitive load as a leader, and models the honest behaviour you want from your team. If you've ever worried about looking weak by admitting uncertainty, this episode will change how you approach leadership communication.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Education Leaders Intensive - 10-week leadership programme

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

Dr Yael Cass and NexGen Talent Group

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ethical School Leadership | A Conversation with Dr Yael Cass

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Compliance feels safer than ethics. You can tick the boxes, point to the policies, and stay in your head without engaging the emotional discomfort. But what if that's exactly the problem? In this episode, Dr Yael Cass introduces the concept of "compliance plus," a thoughtful, human-centred approach that brings intention and reflection into the systems schools rely on. Yael explains why international schools often have confusing organisational structures that look like "a bowl of spaghetti," why we still call operational professionals "support staff," and how the lack of clear systems triggers what she calls organisational sensemaking, where people start thinking about threats to themselves rather than collective goals.

You'll learn why job descriptions in most schools haven't been reviewed in years even though roles have completely evolved, how professional development decisions are often made based on visibility or personal rapport with leadership rather than clear criteria, and why giving HR real strategic authority could reduce the overwhelming administrative load on principals and heads of school. Yael shares practical steps: look for gaps between what's written and what's actually happening, audit one area like recruitment for alignment with your values, and send an anonymous survey asking whether your appraisal system actually supports people or just ticks boxes. This conversation challenges how you think about structure, fairness, and what it means to build a workplace where the people who serve your students can actually flourish.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Dr Yael Cass on LinkedIn

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

FCLT Global and Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Forum research

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Think Long-Term When Everything's on Fire

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Your budget's been slashed, three teachers have resigned, parents are complaining about the new timetable, and someone's asking about your five-year strategic plan. Sound familiar? This episode tackles the leadership trap that stops brilliant school leaders from making real progress: abandoning long-term thinking the moment a crisis hits. Shane explores why waiting for things to calm down before thinking strategically means you'll be waiting forever, and why firefighting mode becomes a dangerous default that creates more problems than it solves.

You'll learn the three anchors that keep strategic leaders grounded during chaos: identifying your non-negotiables (three to five things that don't change no matter what), asking one weekly question that maintains forward momentum, and conducting a monthly review that prevents short-term decisions from creating long-term disasters. Shane shares research showing that 75% of change initiatives fail not because ideas were poor, but because organisations revert to short-term thinking under pressure. If you're exhausted from constant crisis management but frustrated that nothing's actually changing in your school, this episode will show you how to lead strategically even when everything feels urgent.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

McKinsey 2017 study on long-term thinking

Boston Consulting Group research on organisational change

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

Trust Wide CPD Leaders Network

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE | November Reflections

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:22:13 GMT

This month's Education Leaders LIVE brings together the big themes from November's episodes. Chris and Shane dig into what trust actually looks like in schools, why the shift from scrutiny to development matters so much, and whether leaders at trust level can genuinely connect with classroom teachers. The conversation around Sam Gibbs' episode sparks a proper debate about loss aversion and what happens when teachers stop putting themselves out there because they're tired of being judged. There's also honest reflection on Jo Robinson's coaching insights and what it means to be proactive rather than reactive as a leader.

The discussion gets particularly real when they tackle the "have you got a moment" problem. Is it selfish to protect your focus time? How do you balance being available with actually getting strategic work done? Chris and Shane explore the tension between open-door policies and the reality that leaders need thinking space too. Plus, they revisit Maureen and James' work on student leadership and why we shouldn't treat leadership as something kids either have or don't.

Episodes discussed:

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Trust Your Teachers | A Conversation with Sam Gibbs

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 20:00:00 GMT

When Sam Gibbs asked, "Are we any further forward in honestly trusting the teaching profession?", she hit on something uncomfortable. In too many schools, we've slipped into what Sam calls toxic accountability. Sam, Director of Education at Greater Manchester Education Trust and co-author of The Trouble With English, argues that school leaders need to start from one simple assumption: teachers are professionals who want to do right by children. This conversation gets into why we've become unhealthily dependent on external products, how to use evidence without ignoring what teachers know works in their classrooms, and why that matters for actually changing practice.

You'll hear why buying a programme before identifying your real problem creates dependency, how Sam's trust builds internal expertise through "mindful practice", and what it means to create a culture where teachers actually think, reflect, collaborate, learn, and develop. Shane and Sam discuss how narrow definitions of excellence hinder schools, why a chat over the kettle can be more effective than another external training session, and how to work with consultants without relying on them indefinitely. If you're trying to build professional development that doesn't just disappear after the initial excitement, this conversation provides a starting point.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Sam Gibbs on LinkedIn

The Trouble With English and How to Address It (Routledge, 2022)

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

International Centre for Coaching in Education (ICCE)

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coaching For School Leaders | A Conversation with Joanne Robinson

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:00:00 GMT

When Jo Robinson joins Shane, they focus on a simple, urgent problem: too much of what passes for professional development in schools is one-off, inspirational, and then forgotten. Jo — Chief Programmes Officer at the International Centre for Coaching in Education — gives school leaders practical steps to move from occasional workshops to coaching-led development that actually improves teaching and retention.

You’ll learn concrete moves you can make straight away: how to replace single observation feedback with short coaching conversations, how to set small monitored goals that staff will actually keep, and how to gather a fuller picture of practice by triangulating evidence rather than relying on one visit. Shane and Jo discuss examples from international schools, the role of accredited coaching programmes for leaders, and simple templates you can adopt this term to protect staff time while growing expertise. Press play if you want a practical plan for making leadership development stick.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Joanne Robinson on LinkedIn

EEF Guidance: Effective Professional Development (practical evidence for PD design)

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

Previous episode: “How To Lead Without Being Needed” (Brett Griffin conversation)

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have You Got a Moment?

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 20:00:00 GMT

When someone says “have you got a moment?” your instinct might be to say yes — and then lose 20 minutes, your focus and whatever calm you had left. This solo episode shows you a practical, repeatable way to handle those knocks so you protect your attention and still serve your team. Shane introduces the five-second “doorway decision”, explains how essentialist thinking underpins the approach, and shows how to set a clear 15-minute container for short conversations so they’re focused and useful.

You’ll learn a three-step routine you can use the next time someone appears at your door: pause and assess (can you really give them what they need?), set the container (time, outcome, exit strategy) and stay curious rather than rushing to solve. Shane gives exact phrases (for example, “I’ve got 15 minutes now — let’s work out the next step; if we need more time we’ll book it”) and shows how to close with a clear summary, next action and follow-up — so impromptu chats become actionable. This episode uses real school examples (Rachel, a head of year) and short coaching tools you can practise this week.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Greg McKeown — Essentialism (book / author referenced)

Michael Bungay Stanier — The Coaching Habit (book / author referenced)

Episode Partners

International Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)

Maureen Chapman on LinkedIn

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching Leadership Through Curriculum | A Conversation with Maureen Chapman & James Simons

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:00:00 GMT

This episode introduces a practical, curriculum-centred approach to student leadership with Maureen Chapman and James Simons of Cor Creative Partners. They explain why leadership should be taught like any other skill (not left to “natural leaders”), share the memorable chocolate-milk classroom story that reveals how students hide emotions, and show how simple classroom routines and roles make leadership visible and teachable.

You’ll get clear, immediate methods to use in class: the Leader Profile (motivate, persevere, communicate, collaborate) and four group roles (motivator, project manager, facilitator, advocate); quick reflection + micro-goal routines you can scaffold; and a low-risk pilot strategy (small team doing a lot vs whole-school doing a little). Shane, Maureen and James also name a psychological finding about why reflection is hard for students (many prefer doing something to “just thinking”), and they give pragmatic fixes you can trial tomorrow.

Links

Cor Creative Partners

Leaders of the Class

James Simons on LinkedIn

Wilson et al. (2014) “Just Think” — why people avoid sitting with their thoughts

Episode Partners

Click here to learn more about Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

LIVE | October Reflections

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:00:00 GMT

This is our first Education Leaders Live recording, where I sat down with Chris Scorer to reflect on October's episodes. We talked about the difference between administration and leadership, why corridor conversations are actually the big wins, and how brilliant teachers often become exhausted leaders because they're cognitively fried by the basics. Chris shared some honest reflections about his own leadership journey and the things he wishes he'd done differently, particularly around prioritising relationships over processes.

We covered solution-focused leadership, the trap of being needed everywhere, getting formative assessment into real classroom action, and the ten leadership levers that can help you reclaim your thinking time. This isn't your typical podcast episode - it's unpolished, conversational, and recorded live with our community. Join us next month, last Thursday at 6pm Shanghai time / 10am London time at educationleaders.live.

Episodes Referenced

A Solution-Focused Approach to Leadership with Vicky Essabag and Tara Gretton - Listen here
How to Lead Without Being Needed with Brett Griffin - Listen here
From Formative Assessment to Formative Action with Valentina David - Listen here
Beating Cognitive Overload (solo episode) - Listen here

Learn More

Education Leaders Intensive - A leadership intensive program for school leaders who want to master the fundamentals. Learn more at educationleaders.co/intensive

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Leaders Beat Cognitive Overload

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:00:00 GMT

When brilliant teachers become exhausted leaders, it’s usually not because they lack ability — it’s because they’re cognitively overloaded by the basics. In this solo episode Shane explains what that overload looks like (the story of “Sarah” who dreads Monday evenings), why common leadership programmes often skip the fundamentals, and how cognitive load theory helps explain what’s going on. If you’re struggling to hold difficult conversations, run useful meetings, or make decisions without second-guessing, this episode focuses on a practical, sequenced fix rather than another strategic to-do list.

You’ll learn concrete strategies you can use tomorrow: how to systematise meeting types and agendas so they stop draining you; simple rehearsal routines and conversation frameworks to make difficult talks less anxious; and decision shortcuts (values + structured choices) that reduce daily friction. Shane outlines ten “leadership levers” (meetings, feedback, delegation, decision frameworks and more) and explains how making a few fundamentals automatic frees your head for real strategic work. Press play if you want immediate, small changes that quickly create more mental space for the leadership you actually want to do.

Episode Partners

Formative Action: From Instrument to Design — book page (The Formative Action School)

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Formative Assessment to Formative Action | A Conversation with Valentina Devid

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 20:10:00 GMT

This conversation dives into what formative action is, why Valentina Devid and colleagues reframed formative assessment as an action-oriented practice, and why that reframing matters for school leaders trying to get useful classroom evidence turned into immediate, high-impact teaching moves. Valentina walks through the five-step action-oriented investigation process (orient & predict; think & generate; interpret, communicate & decide; informed follow-up; verify, reflect & predict), gives concrete classroom examples (history teachers checking the five causes of the First World War using mini whiteboards), and warns about common “mutations” — for example, when formative work is dumped into a learning management system as a grade with zero weight and loses purpose.

You’ll learn practical, leader-level actions you can take this term: how to check whether teachers are acting on evidence (not just collecting it), how to coach teams to set a sharp investigative focus so one question gives clear next steps, and how to avoid the three common implementation traps Valentina names (tool-focus, data overload, and handing premature decision-power to beginners). They discuss specific routines you can request in lesson observations (orient & predict statements, mirror questions for verification). Shane and Valentina give examples of immediate follow-ups you can expect to see in a classroom after a formative action check. If you want a straightforward way to tighten assessment practice so it actually improves learning, press play.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

The Formative Action School (Toetsrevolutie) — main site

Hachette Learning — “Formative Action: From Instrument to Design” (publisher / buy)

OliCav — Oliver Caviglioli (visual designer of the model)

Inside the Black Box — Paul Black & Dylan Wiliam (PDF)

LLEARN Podcast (Valentina with René Kneyber & Flemming van de Graaf) — show page

Valentina Devid — LinkedIn profile

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Lead Without Being Needed | A Conversation with Brett Griffin

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 20:00:00 GMT

What happens when you take a school leader who's used to timetables, structure, and constant visibility, and drop them into the chaos of running a startup? Brett Griffin made that exact transition, moving from assistant principal to CEO of Pupil Progress, a tech company now used by over 700 schools globally. This conversation reveals something uncomfortable: the very structures that make schools function might be stopping your leaders from doing their best work. Brett shares why 80% of a teacher's day is pre-determined before they even start, and what that means for trust, autonomy, and deep work.

You'll learn why Brett used to hide in a secret office to get actual work done, why his old department achieved their best results the year after he left, and what the Lionel Messi analogy teaches us about teacher workload. Brett challenges the assumption that visibility always equals good leadership, and explains why being ruthless with focus (not adding more initiatives) might be the most important thing school leaders can do right now. If you're exhausted by trying to do everything at once, or wondering why your talented middle leaders aren't stepping up, this conversation will make you rethink how you're structuring work in your school.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Solution-Focused Approach to Leadership | A Conversation with Vicky Essebag & Tara Gretton

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 01:47:22 GMT

Struggling with staff meetings that spiral into problem talk? This episode explores solution-focused communication and how school leaders can transform their school culture by changing the questions they ask. Vicky Essebag and Tara Gretton share practical strategies for shifting from deficit-based conversations to hope-filled dialogue that actually moves your team forward. You'll discover why asking "what's wanted?" instead of "what's wrong?" creates the conditions for real change in your school community.

We dive deep into how solution-focused approaches can help school leaders build stronger relationships with staff, students, and parents. Learn about the power of noticing small wins, creating fresh starts each day, and why those quick corridor conversations matter more than you think. Whether you're dealing with challenging parent meetings, staff frustrations, or student behaviour concerns, this conversation offers a different way forward that focuses on strengths, capabilities, and collective vision rather than endless troubleshooting.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA) - North American organization offering professional learning opportunities
SF in Organizations (SFIO) - Resources and examples of solution-focused practice in education
Journal of Solution Focused Practices - Latest research and conversations about solution-focused approaches

Vicky Essebag:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vickyessebag
Website: relationspaces.com

Tara Gretton:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-gretton-b3088b18
Website: solutionrevolution.co.uk

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leading School Mental Health Confidently | A Conversation with George Peterkin

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT

This conversation with George Peterkin challenges how we think about mental health in schools. George introduces the three pillars framework: prevention, intervention, and postvention. While most schools have the first two fairly well established, postvention (what happens after an intervention) is often neglected. George shares practical examples of what postvention looks like, from simple check-ins to structured return-to-school support, and explains why it matters just as much as the other pillars.

George also makes a compelling case for starting any mental health strategy with student voice. Rather than jumping straight into solutions or copying what other schools are doing, he suggests getting feedback from your students, staff, and parents first. We discuss the role of Senior Mental Health Leads, why comparison really is the thief of joy when it comes to school strategy, and how the small things done consistently often have more impact than big, extravagant initiatives. If you're a school leader trying to figure out where to start with wellbeing, this episode gives you a clear roadmap.

Links & Resources:

Connect with George on LinkedIn
Learn more about Mind Your Health
Find out about the Senior Mental Health Lead training

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What Every PD Leader Should Know | A Conversation with Bethan Hindley

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Professional development is happening in schools everywhere, but is it actually working? In this episode, Bethan Hindley from the Teacher Development Trust tackles one of the biggest challenges facing school leaders today: fragmented CPD. Despite all the training sessions, workshops, and courses, many schools struggle to see real impact because their professional development lacks a clear, joined-up approach. Teachers are working hard and learning individually, but they're not moving towards common goals that meet their specific school's needs.

Bethan shares practical strategies for transforming your school's approach to professional development, starting with getting crystal clear on your strategic priorities and ensuring these threads run consistently through all your PD activities. We explore why professional development is the biggest lever we have for improving student outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, and discuss the exciting new Asia cohort of TDT's Associate Qualification that Shane is co-delivering specifically for international school leaders.

Links Mentioned

Teacher Development Trust - The charity supporting schools to get the most out of their professional development
Associate Qualification in CPD Leadership - TDT's flagship programme for PD leaders
Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) - Research on professional development as the biggest lever for student outcomes
Unleashing Great Teaching - Book by David Weston and Bridget Clay

Episode Partners

EEF Professional Development Guidance

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Stop Wasting Your PD Budget

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Ever left a fantastic professional development session feeling completely energised, only to find yourself back to square one a month later? Shane tackles this all-too-familiar scenario in this solo episode, coining it "One Hit Wonder PD" or "Drive-By PD."

Shane explores why even the most brilliant, engaging PD days often fail to create lasting change in schools. The problem isn't the quality of the training; it's what happens (or doesn't happen) after the applause dies down and real school life kicks back in.

Drawing on research from the Education Endowment Foundation, Shane reveals an uncomfortable truth: most of the responsibility for making professional development stick lies with school leaders themselves. He challenges listeners to focus on just one area this year and provides practical strategies for ensuring PD actually transforms practice rather than just creating good memories.

The episode offers a straightforward framework for leaders who want to make their professional development investment count: do the groundwork before training begins, plan the follow-up before the session even happens, and resist the temptation to juggle multiple initiatives. Sometimes going deep on one focus area creates far more impact than spreading efforts across numerous projects.

Links Mentioned

Education Endowment Foundation - 14 Mechanisms for Effective Professional Development

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Teaching Primary Children Where They Are | A Conversation with Emma Turner

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT

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 Emma

Podcast: "Mind the Gap" with Tom Sherrington - youtube.com/c/MindtheGapwithTomEmma
Books: amazon.com/stores/author/B0839NHR9P
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emma-l-turner

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Build a Consultancy | A Conversation with Michael Iannini

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 20:00:00 GMT

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.

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-Compassion for Overwhelmed School Leaders | A Conversation with Stephanie Lill

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 20:00:00 GMT

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.

Links

Mindful Sparks - Mindfulness-based training for schools
Mindful Moments Podcast - Mindful Sparks' own podcast series
Connect with Lilly on Instagram @mindful_sparks or LinkedIn

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Teachers Resist your Great Ideas | A Conversation with Christopher Youles

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 20:00:00 GMT

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.

Episode Partners

Join Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensive

You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Learn From Everyone | A Conversation with Ben Whitaker

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:55:12 GMT

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:

Episode Partners