Educator’s Corner

In the UK, 14% of young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). This is among the highest rates in Europe. The media often stigmatises these people as lazy, entitled and lacking motivation. But give them a chance to be heard, and they will reveal that there are far more nuanced reasons why there are so many young NEETs.   In this episode, Kai speaks with Shuab Ga...

How do you know when you’re ready to lead a school? What does an effective leadership transition look like during those first few months? And how do new school leaders manage the unique isolation of a role where the buck stops with them? In this episode, Kai talks to Natasha Hilton, Principal of Nord Anglia International School in New York. Fresh into her very first headship, Natasha shares her ho...

What makes a good school? From a leader’s perspective it may be outstanding inspection reports and exam results. But now that parents can generate a list of comparable schools in seconds, these quality signals aren’t enough. Parents want to know what life at the school is really like and whether it fully meets their children’s needs. But what does that mean in practice? Selina Boyd, International...

What makes a good school leader? How do you know when you’re ready for headship? And how can schools develop their existing talent to grow their own future leaders? With UNESCO predicting a global shortage of 44 million teachers by 2030, schools around the world are seeking new ways to fill vacancies. One increasingly popular approach is to invest in internal staff development and trainee pathways...

Welcome to Educator’s Corner —the podcast connecting you with inspiring educators from around the globe. In a world of quick answers, we take the time to stay curious just a little longer. Join us for thoughtful conversations on the biggest issues, challenges, and opportunities shaping our schools and communities today. Perfect for your commute, cook time, or daily walk. Keep the conversation goin...

If the global teacher shortage means candidates hold all the cards, why are schools still recruiting like it’s 2010? In this bonus clip from episode 28 of the Educator's Corner podcast, Kai Vacher and his panel of experts turn the recruitment model upside down. If teachers are building powerful personal brands and becoming influencers, schools can no longer rely on their reputation to attract...

What does effective online pedagogy involve? How can hybrid schools deliver quality education in practical subjects like Art and Design? What key lessons can we learn from Higher Education when designing hybrid schools? Following the previous live episode on the Reimagining Secondary Schooling for a Changing World , Kai Vacher and Mark Steed return for a Question Time special. Taking questions you...

Hybrid schooling is more than just an emergency fix for a rainy day. For many educators and families, online learning still carries the heavy baggage of the pandemic. It was seen as a means of survival rather than a promising new model. But as regional conflicts and extreme weather events force schools to close at short notice, is it time to move beyond the "emergency zoom" and embrace a...

For nearly half a century, the school improvement model has been the gold standard for educational quality. But in a fast-changing, complex world, is a checklist for general competence enough to prepare students for the future? In this episode, Kai sits down with Professor Deborah Eyre to challenge the traditional inspection paradigm. Together, they explore how schools can shift from a deficit-bas...

UNESCO estimates that by 2030, we will need an additional 44 million teachers globally. With teacher recruitment challenges reported in state, private and international schools worldwide, the balance of power is shifting.  How can schools attract and retain quality staff in such a challenging market?  In this episode, Kai welcomes Leisa Grace Wilson (Teach Middle East), Laura Rigney (Teacher Horiz...

With over 240 million students and 1.5 million schools, India’s education system is arguably the most diverse globally. Shaped by its population, governance, culture, and openness to external models, it is an example of pluralism in action. So what does learning look like across such a vast landscape? In this episode, Kai begins an exploration of the Indian education system with fellow podcaster A...

Why are so many young people disengaged from learning — and what can parents and educators do about it? That’s the question that journalist Jenny Anderson seeks to answer in her book, The Disengaged Teen. Alongside co-author Rebecca Winthrop, Jenny unpicks why so many teenagers have switched off from school and presents evidence-based strategies to help reignite their love of learning.  In this ep...

Stress, staffing pressures, and rising student needs mean schools can’t leave mental health to chance. But how do you move from creating policies to embedding awareness across a whole team? In this episode, Kai talks to George Peterkin, a qualified teacher, accredited therapeutic counsellor, and founder of Mind Your Health. George has been delivering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training at Brit...

With 1.28 million students persistently absent from school in the UK, it’s clear that the traditional classroom isn’t the right fit for everyone. But what does that mean for the future of education? For many families, the answer lies online.  In this episode, Kai talks to Hugh Viney, founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy. Starting with just four students in 2021, Minerva now supports over 1,2...

What are the qualities of a good school leader? Many people point to traits like confidence, decisiveness and resilience. But could kindness be the real key to bringing the best out in your team? In this episode, Kai talks to Joanna Povall , Principal of Wales International School in Abu Dhabi, to explore why kindness is the sharpest tool a leader has.  They discuss: What it means to lead with kin...

What does it mean to find your ikigai, and why might that be the key to saving our planet? In this episode, Kai talks to Jeroen van de Waal, founder of OrcaNation, the BlueBeat Group and The Reef Company. Following a lively keynote session at British School Muscat, Jeroen reflects on his journey from corporate CEO to ocean conservationist and how he's on a mission to reconnect 8 billion people wit...

Could hybrid schools be the answer? Mark Steed returns to the Educator’s Corner podcast to continue the conversation on remote teaching, flexible models, and reimagining the future of schooling. Following their packed session at the COBIS Conference in London, Kai and Mark pick up where they left off. In this episode, they explore how innovative teaching models could help address two major challen...

Could going remote really be the solution to the teacher recruitment crisis? Recent survey findings from Teacher Horizons suggest online teaching is here to stay, but not everyone agrees.  Director and Consultant at Steed Education, Mark Steed, rejoins the Educator's Corner podcast to discuss whether remote teaching really is a viable solution to the current teacher shortage.  Join us as we discus...

Laura Rigney, Director of School Services at Teacher Horizons, joins Kai to dispel common myths about teaching internationally. Discover the realities of career opportunities, salary expectations, and the diverse experiences available in international schools. In this episode: 02:39 Myth 1: International teachers are misfits, missionaries, or mercenaries. 06:46 Myth 2: You can't do your ECT year a...

Empathy has been named one of the most important leadership skills. But what does empathy mean? Can it be taught? If so, how can teachers and aspiring leaders develop empathy? In this inspiring conversation, Ed Kirwan, founder and CEO of Empathy Studios and Empathy Week, explains how empathy can break down barriers, boost student engagement, improve behaviour and allow everyone to thrive.  Ed shar...

England's primary school students rank fourth globally in reading proficiency. And yet, reading for pleasure is at its lowest level since 2005. Meanwhile, fewer young people are choosing to study English literature at A Level, and around 50% of UK adults do not read regularly. In this episode, Daisy Christodoulou, Director of Education at No More Marking, sheds light on the reasons behind this...

Is teaching in the United Arab Emirates all about brunches, beaches, and tax-free salaries? In this episode, we delve into the reality of teaching in the UAE with the Editorial Director of Teach Middle East Magazine, Leisa Grace Wilson. Join us as we explore the opportunities and challenges of working in one of the fastest-growing international education hubs. We discuss the growing demand for int...

In this episode, we get curious about curriculum redesign and innovation with Will Goldsmith, Headteacher of Bedales School in the UK. Bedales, along with Latymer Upper School, made news headlines in September 2023 for ditching GCSE qualifications. Bedales' 10-year curriculum redesign involves replacing GCSEs with their own Bedales Assessed Courses (BACs) to better equip students for the next stag...

AI is currently dominating the conversation in education. But is it the most urgent priority? As fake news infiltrates our social media feeds and deepfakes become evermore convincing, young people need more than AI literacy to navigate the world. That’s a view shared by the OECD, WEF, McKinsey and today’s guest, Leo Thompson. As a teacher, school leader and Edsplorer, Leo is known for his work in...

Bill Gates recently predicted that AI will replace teachers within 10 years. But is he right? In this episode, we sit down with Priya Lakhani, CEO and founder of Century Tech, to explore what AI really means for the future of education. Join us as we discuss: - The biggest challenges and opportunities of using AI in education - 3 ethical considerations that every school AI policy should embrace -...