Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership

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 LeeLearning Science PartnersEpisode PartnersInternational Leaders ConferenceTeaching WalkthrusJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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:Education Leaders IntensiveEpisode PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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 BakerRob Coe's work at Evidence-Based EducationLeadership Launchpads by Chris BakerEpisode PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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:Education Leaders IntensiveThe Work CollaborativeEpisode PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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/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.

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 LinkedInHartmut Rosa's 'Uncontrollability of CultureThe UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)Stuart Hall's writings on culture and identityEpisode PartnersInternational Leaders ConferenceTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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:Shane Leaning's Education Leaders IntensiveEpisode PartnersInternational Leaders ConferenceTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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 GuideSelina Boyd on LinkedInEpisode PartnersInternational Leaders ConferenceTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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:Change Starts Here by Shane LeaningEpisode PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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/140James Mannion on making change stick: shaneleaning.com/podcast/142Jet Wolper on the tab tax and cutting the ends off ham: shaneleaning.com/podcast/144Self-doubt and imposter syndrome (solo episode): shaneleaning.com/podcast/145Join us live: educationleaders.liveJoin 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.

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:Gene Tavernetti on LinkedInJim Knight’s Instructional Coaching GroupDoug Lemov’s Teach Like a ChampionStephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleJohn Kotter’s 8-Step Change ModelEpisode PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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:Adam Grant's "Think Again"Stephen Covey's "The Speed of Trust"Episode PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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 School Management PlatformSisi on LinkedInJoin 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.

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 PartnersInternational Curriculum AssociationTeaching WalkthrusJoin 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.

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:Dr James Mannion's Making Change Stick programmeDr James Mannion's LinkedIn profileDr James Mannion's podcast Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:Master Your Leadership Interview Game | A Conversation with Orla DempseyHow To Learn From Everyone | A Conversation with Ben WhitakerWhy Teachers Resist your Great Ideas | A Conversation with Christopher YoulesWhen Teachers Teach Teachers | A Conversation with Dr. Ciara O'DonnellLeading With Conviction | A Conversation with Katharine BirbalsinghEducation Leaders Live bonus episodes with Chris Scorer Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:Tam on LinkedInUWC Changshu China Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 DiscussedHow to Think Long Term When Everything's On Fire https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/137Ethical School Leadership | A Conversation with Dr. Yael Cass https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/138How to Build Leadership Trust https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/139Join 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.

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: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen CoveyEducation Leaders Intensive - 10-week leadership programme  Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 and NexGen Talent GroupDr Yael Cass on LinkedInEpisode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:FCLT Global and Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Forum researchMcKinsey 2017 study on long-term thinkingBoston Consulting Group research on organisational change Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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:Teaching Leadership Through Curriculum with James Simons and Maureen ChapmanHave You Got A Moment?Coaching For School Leaders with Jo RobinsonHow to Trust Your Teachers with Sam GibbsJoin 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.