Education Leaders | Evidence Informed School Leadership

When you announce a new initiative, do you ever get "that sigh" from your experienced teachers? You know the one - followed by "Isn't this just that thing we did back in 2005?" Today we're looking at the inevitable cycle of change in education and how to lead through it with integrity and purpose. In this bite-sized leadership episode, Shane explores why education seems to move in cycles, with app...

In this episode, I speak with Neil Renton, headteacher, and Julie Wellacott, HR professional, who are pioneering flexible working approaches in UK schools through their work as Flexible Working Ambassadors. Episode Highlights: What is flexible working? Giving teachers greater control over how much, when, and where they work How Neil's school has transformed to employ 50 teachers with some form of...

Have you ever found yourself drowning in tasks that others could do, but somehow you're still doing them yourself? Today, Shane Leaning shares a framework that completely transformed how he delegates - and might give you back hours of your week. In this episode, Shane explores the nine levels of delegation developed by the late Tim Brighouse, a renowned British educationalist. This framework provi...

In this special bonus episode, Shane Leaning and co-host Chris Scorer introduce the new Education Leaders community platform and discuss what makes a great educational community. The conversation explores the challenges of navigating online spaces for both educators and students, finding balance in a digitally saturated world, and creating meaningful connections among education professionals globa...

Shane welcomes globally renowned educator Ross McGill, known worldwide as Teacher Toolkit. Ross shares his groundbreaking approach to feedback and assessment, challenging traditional marking practices and offering practical alternatives that can transform how schools approach feedback while reducing teacher workload. Ross introduces a comprehensive framework of nine different feedback approaches (...

Grades give us comfort and numbers feel concrete. But what if our obsession with quantifying learning is actually getting in the way of understanding it? Today, we're rethinking assessment. Shane Leaning speaks with Amarbeer Singh Gill and Jennifer Curran from Ambition Institute about assessment in education. The conversation challenges our reliance on grades and numbers, exploring the limitations...

In this final episode of our organisational change series, Shane explores the often overlooked aspect of change management - sustainability. Drawing from the Work Collaborative model for organisational change and his upcoming book " Change Starts Here ," he explains why creating sustainable change is about more than just maintaining a specific initiative - it's about building a culture where chang...

Ryan Parke (The Men's Coach) shares his personal experience with the suicide of a friend and explores the complexities of male mental health. He discusses the common belief that men don't talk about their feelings, which he challenges. Ryan and I particularly delve into the role of testosterone in men's health, debunking myths about its effects and emphasising the importance of lifestyle factors s...

"Plans are worthless, but planning is everything" - Eisenhower's wisdom applies perfectly to school change. In this episode of the organizational change series, Shane explores the crucial delivery phase where planning meets reality. Key Points: The delivery stage comes after six previous stages in the change process Why the model is front-loaded with preparation rather than implementation How to c...

This conversation explores the role of teacher educators, their unique challenges, and the dynamics of career transitions within the education sector. Dr. Ciara O' Donnell discusses the identity transformation that occurs during secondment, the impact of educational policies on teacher retention, and the skills required to effectively educate teachers. Our discussion highlights the importance of p...

Shane Leaning explores the delicate balance of learning enough to implement change without falling into analysis paralysis. He emphasises the importance of identifying knowledge gaps, questioning assumptions, and leveraging both internal and external expertise. The conversation also highlights the significance of assessing confidence in delivering change and knowing when to take action. Shane prov...

In this episode, we dive deep into school culture with Joel Abel, author of Teacher First Management. Joel shares practical insights on how to build and maintain intentional school culture, introducing his culture feedback loop model that connects results, actions, and beliefs. We explore why simply mandating actions isn't enough and how to create experiences that genuinely shift teacher beliefs a...

In this episode, Shane Leaning explores five powerful strategies for educational leaders to break out of their professional bubbles and gain fresh perspectives. Recording from London during a week of professional connections, Shane shares insights on how to enrich your practice by looking beyond school walls. Key Points: Why staying within our professional bubbles can lead to stale thinking The di...

When some families see tutoring as non-negotiable and others as a last resort, how should international schools approach this complex topic? Sarah Capewell (founder of Aster Academy) and Arthur Moore (Professional Tutor of the Year 2024) unpack the challenges and opportunities around tutoring in international education. Key Discussion Points: Understanding tutoring as part of the broader education...

Think you've got that next big project all sorted in your head? Hold that thought because today we're going to explore why sometimes those best answers often come when we dare to dream just a little bit bigger. In this episode of the organisational change series, Shane explores the 'develop' stage of the change process, where schools need to think big before narrowing down solutions. Through real...

In this episode, organisational coach Shane Leaning sits down with AI in education expert Dan Fitzpatrick to explore practical ways school leaders can leverage AI tools to enhance their productivity and effectiveness. As we start the new year, this discussion offers timely insights for leaders looking to streamline their workload. Key Topics: - Recent updates in AI tools and platforms - Practical...

In this special Christmas Eve episode, host Shane Leaning reflects on a remarkable year of Global Ed Leaders, highlighting some of the most impactful conversations and milestones from 2024. Key Episode Highlights: Notable Conversations from 2024: Rachel Lofthouse on coaching in teacher development (Episodes 37 & 38) Arrann Hamilton discussing de-implementation with insights from John Hattie an...

In this episode of the organisational change series, Shane Leaning explores why alignment is crucial for successful change implementation in schools. Through practical examples and actionable strategies, he demonstrates how misalignment can derail even the most well-researched initiatives. Key Insights Many school initiatives fail not because of the change itself, but due to lack of alignment amon...

In this conversation, Claire Peet discusses the challenges women leaders face in international education. We explore how common leadership terms like 'imposter syndrome' and 'perfectionism' have become problematic labels that can be used against women leaders. Claire shares powerful insights about the double bind women face - being criticised both for adopting and rejecting traditional leadership...

I normally sit down for deep one-on-ones with education leaders, but this episode takes a different approach. At NESSIC's inaugural leadership conference, I captured something special - the birth of China's newest school network. Moving through the conference rooms with my microphone, I spoke with 20 school leaders about what drives them to build community beyond their campus walls. From heads of...

Grainne O'Reilly chats with Shane about the challenges and rewards of leading a startup school. She talks about the importance of embracing the unknowns and being open to asking for help. Grainne highlights the magic of a startup and the sense of ownership and excitement that every team member should feel. She also discusses the pattern of a post-Christmas dip in energy and offers advice on how le...

In this episode, Shane Leaning discusses the complexities of addressing challenges in educational settings. He talks through the importance of defining challenges clearly, reframing problems as opportunities, and balancing emotional responses with factual data. Shane shares insights on how to prioritise challenges effectively and encourages leaders to focus on the root causes of issues rather than...

In this conversation, Paul Ainsworth discusses his book 'No Silver Bullets 2.0: The Heart and Soul of School Improvement'. We explore the concept of silver bullets in education and the need for a more nuanced approach to school improvement. Paul shares his framework for school improvement, which includes evaluating with honesty, planning with empathy, executing with confidence, and reviewing with...

This week, I explore the "Connection" phase of organisational change. Episode Highlights The Change Series: Discover why connection is essential before diving into change. Understanding Challenges: Learn how building connections helps validate perceived challenges and explore them deeply. Building Trust and Readiness: Authentic connections foster psychological safety and organisational readiness—k...

Chris Scorer and Shane Leaning explore how schools can create a data landscape that aligns with their diverse objectives, especially in international schools. We discuss the reluctance of data leads to embrace full transparency due to regulatory concerns, the educational journey parents and teachers must undertake to understand data, and practical strategies for integrating data into daily teachin...