Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership

Shane Leaning | School Leadership & Organisational Development Coach

Strategic school leadership insights for education leaders who want to drive meaningful change and build thriving school communities. What if the most powerful leadership strategies were hiding in plain sight? Education Leaders uncovers the evidence-based approaches that separate truly effective school leaders from the rest. Through compelling interviews and strategic deep-dives, organisational coach Shane Leaning reveals the real challenges facing today's education leaders, and the practical solutions that actually work. Every other Tuesday, discover how renowned educators and thought leaders tackle school improvement, staff development, and cultural transformation. You'll learn actionable strategies you can implement immediately to build confidence in your leadership and create lasting impact in your school community. On alternate weeks, Shane delivers focused episodes that address the leadership challenges you face daily: managing diverse teams, driving innovation, building organisational identity, and implementing sustainable change. Each episode offers clear, research-backed frameworks for developing your leadership capacity. Whether you're a department head questioning your next move, an assistant principal navigating complexities of a big team, or a superintendent driving district-wide change, Education Leaders provides the strategic insights you need to lead with confidence. Consistently ranked #1 schools podcast in Education category across multiple regions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Have You Got a Moment?

    3 HR AGO

    Have You Got a Moment?

    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: Previous episode: “How To Lead Without Being Needed” (Brett Griffin conversation) Greg McKeown — Essentialism (book / author referenced) Michael Bungay Stanier — The Coaching Habit (book / author referenced)   Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min
  2. Teaching Leadership Through Curriculum | A Conversation with Maureen Chapman & James Simons

    3 NOV

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

    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.   LinksCor Creative Partners Leaders of the Class Maureen Chapman on LinkedIn James Simons on LinkedIn Wilson et al. (2014) “Just Think” — why people avoid sitting with their thoughts Episode PartnersTeacher Development Trust International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  3. LIVE | October Reflections

    31 OCT · BONUS

    LIVE | October Reflections

    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 hereHow to Lead Without Being Needed with Brett Griffin - Listen hereFrom Formative Assessment to Formative Action with Valentina David - Listen hereBeating 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 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min
  4. How Leaders Beat Cognitive Overload

    27 OCT

    How Leaders Beat Cognitive Overload

    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.   Click here to learn more about Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme   Episode PartnersTeacher Development Trust International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  5. From Formative Assessment to Formative Action | A Conversation with Valentina Devid

    20 OCT

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

    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: Formative Action: From Instrument to Design — book page (The Formative Action School) 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 Teacher Development Trust International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  6. How to Lead Without Being Needed | A Conversation with Brett Griffin

    13 OCT

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

    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:Brett Griffin on LinkedInPupil Progress website  Episode PartnersTeacher Development Trust International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  7. A Solution-Focused Approach to Leadership | A Conversation with Vicky Essebag & Tara Gretton

    7 OCT

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

    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 opportunitiesSF in Organizations (SFIO) - Resources and examples of solution-focused practice in educationJournal of Solution Focused Practices - Latest research and conversations about solution-focused approaches  Vicky Essebag: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vickyessebagWebsite: relationspaces.comTara Gretton: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tara-gretton-b3088b18Website: solutionrevolution.co.uk  Episode PartnersTeacher Development Trust International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    36 min
  8. Leading School Mental Health Confidently | A Conversation with George Peterkin

    29 SEPT

    Leading School Mental Health Confidently | A Conversation with George Peterkin

    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 LinkedInLearn more about Mind Your HealthFind out about the Senior Mental Health Lead training    Episode PartnersTeacher Development Trust International Curriculum Association 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
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5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Strategic school leadership insights for education leaders who want to drive meaningful change and build thriving school communities. What if the most powerful leadership strategies were hiding in plain sight? Education Leaders uncovers the evidence-based approaches that separate truly effective school leaders from the rest. Through compelling interviews and strategic deep-dives, organisational coach Shane Leaning reveals the real challenges facing today's education leaders, and the practical solutions that actually work. Every other Tuesday, discover how renowned educators and thought leaders tackle school improvement, staff development, and cultural transformation. You'll learn actionable strategies you can implement immediately to build confidence in your leadership and create lasting impact in your school community. On alternate weeks, Shane delivers focused episodes that address the leadership challenges you face daily: managing diverse teams, driving innovation, building organisational identity, and implementing sustainable change. Each episode offers clear, research-backed frameworks for developing your leadership capacity. Whether you're a department head questioning your next move, an assistant principal navigating complexities of a big team, or a superintendent driving district-wide change, Education Leaders provides the strategic insights you need to lead with confidence. Consistently ranked #1 schools podcast in Education category across multiple regions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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