Shane looks at the disconnect between leadership theory and practice in educational leadership qualifications, sharing insights from his conversations with leaders who've completed these programs. He identifies five common failures in leadership development courses and offers practical alternatives that actually lead to growth.

In this episode, I speak with David Ingram, Founding Head of College at Dulwich College Shanghai Puxi about:

• How his experience as a police constable in County Durham shaped his approach to education and student wellbeing

• The importance of establishing "trusted adults" for every student and how to systematically ensure this happens

• Building a comprehensive wellbeing framework that addresses academic, social, emotional, mental and physical dimensions

• Moving from seeing wellbeing as a "strategic priority" to a long-term "strategic commitment"

• A nuanced approach to smartphones in schools that balances innovation with appropriate boundaries

In this episode, Shane gets coached on leadership interview techniques by Orla Dempsey, an expert in helping teachers secure leadership positions. Throughout their conversation, Orla shares practical frameworks and strategies that help transform interview anxiety into confidence.

My guest today is David Harkin, CEO and Founder of 8billionideas, which has impacted over 500,000 students in 26 countries. David is a two-time TEDx speaker, author of 'The Ripple Effect', and was ranked 8th globally by ISC Research for his contributions to the education sector in 2022. Before entering education, David was an IBM executive and was the youngest globally to receive their CEO award.

In this special episode, Shane Leaning discusses his new best-selling book "Change Starts Here: What if Everything Your School Needed Was Right in Front of You?", co-authored with Efram Learner. Shane shares why they wrote the book, its core philosophy, and how it can help school leaders drive meaningful change by looking inward to their communities rather than constantly seeking external solutions.

In this episode, I speak with Christina Hidek, an expert in parent engagement, about the vital role of parent communities in schools. We explore the numerous benefits of empowered parent groups and how schools can build strong, collaborative relationships with parents.

In this bite-sized leadership episode, Shane explores why education seems to move in cycles, with approaches and methodologies appearing to come back around under new names:

Shane speaks 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.

Shane explores the nine levels of delegation developed by the late Tim Brighouse, a renowned British educationalist. This framework provides a clear spectrum from essentially no delegation to complete handover of responsibility.

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.

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 of traditional assessment methods and offering insights into more meaningful approaches to understanding student learning.

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 change becomes part of your school's DNA.

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 such as sleep, diet, exercise, and sobriety in maintaining healthy testosterone levels. He provides practical advice for improving men's health and wellbeing, ultimately advocating for a more nuanced understanding of male mental health issues.

"Plans are worthless, but planning is everything" - Eisenhower's wisdom applies perfectly to school change. In this episode of the organisational change series, Shane explores the crucial delivery phase where planning meets reality.

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 professional learning and the privilege of working with fellow educators to drive meaningful change in the education system.

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.

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 and behaviors.

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.

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.

Shane explores the 'develop' stage of the change process, where schools need to think big before narrowing down solutions. Through real examples and practical frameworks, learn why temporarily suspending practical constraints might lead to better solutions for your school.