Educator’s Corner

Kai Vacher
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The Educator’s Corner podcast offers engaging conversations with educators from all over the world about the issues, challenges and opportunities we are facing in our schools and our communities. Creating, innovating and redesigning education that prepares our students to be best for the rapidly changing world requires courageous, empathetic and humble leadership. Together we will have conversations where we stay curious for a little longer about what matters in preparing our young people to live fulfilling lives.

  1. Sep 9

    What Parents Really Look for in a School: Insider Insights from Selina Boyd

    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 Director at The Good Schools Guide, joins us to examine this question. Drawing on 40+ years of independent school reviews,  Selina explores what parents are really looking for when choosing a school, why senior leadership visibility is vital, how hybrid and online learning options are shifting, and why exporting British educational quality matters far more than exporting a brand name. Tune in to discover: What parents mean when they say they want a school where their child can "flourish" Why reports and exam results only tell a fraction of a school's story The critical role of headteacher visibility and authentic parent engagement Why online and hybrid schooling are undergoing a perception shift About Our Guest  Selina Boyd is the International Director at The Good Schools Guide, a trusted, independent voice that has helped parents navigate school choices for over 40 years. Selina works directly with families, school leaders, and international education networks to help parents understand the spirit, character, and lived reality of schools across the globe. In this episode, Selina and Kai weigh in on: 02:45 How schools feature in the Good Schools Guide (and why you can't buy your way in) 06:02 What does a "good school" look like from a parent's perspective? 12:13 "Spidey senses" vs. qualitative research: Accurately evaluating school culture 16:48 The limitations of inspection reports and exam results 20:30 How senior leaders can effectively demonstrate school quality 25:07 Why online and hybrid education is a shift, not just a trend 33:25 The accreditation gap in international education 37:03 Exporting British quality vs. exporting British brand names 44:37 How school leaders can effectively engage parents Resources The Good Schools Guide ISC Research International School Reports High Performance Learning (Prof. Deborah Eyre) KaiPod News Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a monthly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here. Related episodes Episode 29 — Beyond School Improvement | In Conversation with Professor Deborah Eyre Episode 24 — Inside the UK's Fastest Growing School | In Conversation with Hugh Viney Episode 11 — 4 Simple Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools | In Conversation with Mark Leppard Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact

  2. Aug 27

    What Makes a Good Headteacher? How to Nurture Aspiring Leaders & Retain Your Best Staff With John Woodberry

    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. But is this a realistic, sustainable response to the teacher recruitment crisis? In this episode, Kai talks to John Woodberry, joint Founder and Director of Red Dragon Education. Together, they explore practical strategies for preparing for headship, developing internal talent, overcoming hurdles in leadership transitions, and boosting teacher retention. Tune in to discover: How aspiring leaders can navigate the jump to headship Strategies for surviving and thriving during the first 100 days of headship Why "growing your own" teachers and leaders is essential for staff retention The financial and cultural benefits of upskilling local staff  Why professional growth is a tide that lifts the entire profession About Our Guest  John Woodberry is an international educator and joint founder of Red Dragon Education, an organisation that supports teachers and school leaders globally in gaining formal qualifications, including IPGCEs and QTS pathways. Having spent years working in international school setups in Shanghai, John now partners with bilingual and international schools across Southeast Asia and beyond to help them retain, train, and develop teaching talent. In this episode, John and Kai weigh in on: 00:00 A 44 million teacher deficit 06:51 Knowing when you're ready for school leadership 10:51 Why school context and vision matter more than prestige 14:11 Navigating the first 100 days of leadership 19:20 Overcoming the isolation of headship through global networks 23:59 How growing your own teachers supports retention 26:04 Practical steps to fund and implement IPGCE and QTS 30:36 How upskilling existing staff saves thousands in fees 33:17 How to take the first step toward internal teacher development Resources Red Dragon Education COBIS (Council of British International Schools) Recruitment Research UNESCO Global Teacher Shortage Report KaiPod News Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a monthly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here. Related episodes Episode 29 — Beyond School Improvement | In Conversation with Professor Deborah Eyre Episode 18 — How to Develop Empathy as a Teacher or School Leader | In Conversation with Ed Kirwan Episode 11 — 4 Simple Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools | In Conversation with Mark Leppard Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact

  3. Trailer

    Welcome to Educator’s Corner

    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 going between episodes by subscribing to KaiPod News here.

  4. Jun 25 ·  Bonus

    Why Schools Must Now Market to Teachers | Bonus clip

    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 top talent. They have to sell their story in a medium that appeals to young professionals. Love this clip? Catch the full episode. Dive deeper into salary negotiations, family package trends, and how top schools are navigating the 44-million teacher shortfall. 👉 Watch/Listen to the Full Episode Here: https://youtu.be/cu6fRZd637I Experts featured: Leisa Grace Wilson (Editorial Director, Teach Middle East Magazine) Laura Rigney (Director of School Services, Teacher Horizons) Mark Leppard MBE (Headmaster, British School Al Khubairat) #TeacherRecruitment #InternationalSchools #EducationLeadership #SchoolMarketing #EdChat #GenZTeachers

  5. May 28

    Q&A: What Does Quality Hybrid Schooling Look Like?

    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 shared, they tackle the practical, financial, and pedagogical realities of shifting towards a hybrid school model. From addressing the lingering "bad rap" of pandemic-era online learning to reimagining structural school design and slashing international recruitment costs, Kai and Mark explore how flexing into hybrid can maximise our most valuable resource: the time teachers spend interacting with students. Tune in to discover: Why modern online pedagogy is a leap ahead of "emergency Zoom" learning. How hybrid structures can drastically reduce school operation and staffing costs. The blueprint for designing collaborative school spaces that prioritise well-being. How schools can leverage VR and AI tutors to protect teacher contact time. What hybrid and online leaders must do to build trust in this new schooling model. About Our Guest A regular guest on the show, Mark Steed is the Director and Consultant at Steed Education, which specialises in educational consultancy support for Schools Groups, U.K. independent schools, and English-speaking international schools. Read more about Mark here. In this episode, Mark and Kai weigh in on: 01:02 Does the "bad reputation" of online learning stem from a lack of peer interaction? 04:01 Do online lessons during the school day require additional physical staffing? 06:31 What do practical subjects like Art & Design look like in a hybrid model? 11:12 How do you decide what deserves face-to-face time vs. what goes online? 16:20 The shift to "One-to-Many" super-teachers and the rise of AI tutoring 19:36 How can hybrid designs intentionally nurture well-being and belonging? 22:15 Solutions for UK schools battling VAT pressures and low-uptake A-level courses 27:54 What quality assurance kitemarks will build trust in hybrid models? 32:41 What can we learn from Higher Education’s hybrid struggles? 37:30 Why are we trapped in subject blocks and closing schools for half the year? 41:22 Invitation to Reimagining Secondary Schooling 2027 London Conference Resources Reimagining Secondary Schooling 2026 Report — Steed Education What do higher education students want from online learning? (2023) — McKinsey KaiPod News Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a monthly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here. Save the Date Join Mark and Kai in person at the Reimagining Secondary Schooling conference 🗓️Tuesday 19 January 2027 📍Pearson Education, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL ℹ️ Register your interest here Related episodes: Episode 24 - Inside the UK's fastest growing school (with Hugh Viney) Episode 26 - Why 50% of Secondary School Students Have Stopped Trying (with Jenny Anderson) Episode 30 - Reimagining Secondary Schooling for a Changing World (with Mark Steed) Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact Report Research by Lauren Martin at Simply Copy With thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this episode: Christina Astin, Simon Luxford-Moore, Suzanne Rodgers, Neelam Aamir, Elizabeth Asenso-Agyemang, Rufus Sanders, Trevor Rowell, and Peter Derby-Crook.

  6. May 7

    Live Special: Reimagining Secondary Schooling for a Changing World

    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 more sophisticated, hybrid model of education? In this special live episode, Kai Vacher is joined by educational consultant Mark Steed. Together, they reflect on their recent Reimagining Secondary Schooling conference and discuss why hybrid learning is not just a crisis response or a trend, but a fundamental shift in how we approach teaching and learning. Tune in to discover: Why hybrid is a credible response to the attendance and recruitment crises How decoupling learning from childcare can lead to better school design Why online teaching is a skill set that requires its own training How remote teaching is enabling schools to recruit talent from around the world About Our Guest Mark Steed is the Director and Consultant at Steed Education, which specialises in educational consultancy support for Schools Groups, U.K. independent schools, and English-speaking international schools. Read more about Mark here. In this episode, Mark and Kai weigh in on: 01:51 Mark’s 20-year journey into educational technology and disruptive models 04:56 Takeaways from the Reimagining Secondary Schooling 2026 conference 06:07 Why hybrid schooling is here to stay: Factors driving school redesign 08:32 Why online learning still has a bad reputation and how we can fix it 10:08 The difference between "Home Learning" and "Hybrid Schooling" 13:41 Case Study: The 6-year evolution of blended learning at British School Salalah 15:05 Why teacher training must include online pedagogy as an annual requirement 21:54 Dealing with "Rainy Day" school closures through hybrid readiness 24:54 How to respond to the rise of the "Digital Nomad" teacher 30:26 Why schools must invest in R&D now to survive. Resources Reimagining Secondary Schooling 2026 Report — Steed Education Ian Yorston on the future of education — Steed Education, YouTubeSelina Boyd on the future of education — Steed Education, YouTube KaiPod News Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a monthly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here. Save the Date Join Mark and Kai in person at the Reimagining Secondary Schooling conference 🗓️ Tuesday 19 January 2027 📍 Pearson Education, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL ℹ️ Register your interest here Related episodes: Episode 21 - Heading Towards Hybrid? With Mark Steed Episode 24 - Inside the UK's fastest growing school (with Hugh Viney) Episode 26 - Why 50% of Secondary School Students Have Stopped Trying (with Jenny Anderson) Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact Report Research by Lauren Martin at Simply Copy

  7. Feb 12

    Beyond School Improvement | In Conversation with Professor Deborah Eyre

    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-based compliance model to a trust-based system of world-class excellence. Tune into this episode to discover: Why the current school inspection model takes the joy out of education How to move from "Good" to "World Class" for every single learner The power of aligned autonomy in professional development Why the UK suffers from educational short-termism and how to fix it About Our Guest Professor Deborah Eyre is a global education leader, researcher, and the founder of High Performance Learning (HPL). A pioneer in the field of gifted and talented education, Deborah has spent her career helping schools worldwide move beyond median competence to achieve genuine excellence. Her latest work marks the 10th anniversary of HPL, offering a roadmap for schools to redesign their approach to focus on quality and capability instead of compliance. In this episode, Deborah and Kai weigh in on: 02:46 Why school improvement has had its day 08:36 How school inspection turns professionals into technicians 11:22 What happens when the Ofsted grade trumps a school’s vision 15:46 How to guarantee success for all, not just the few 21:54 A case study in HPL: Wales International School 24:53 Education with students, not to them 28:49 Building a trust-based accountability framework 38:09 The problem of political short-termism in education 43:49 First steps for leaders: Moving toward aligned autonomy 46:16 Why we must never underestimate a child Resources High Performance Learning: How to Become a World Class School (10th Anniversary Edition) — Professor Deborah Eyre High Performance Learning — Founded by Prof Deborah Eyre  The Centre for Education Action Research — Founded by Simon O’Connor Does School Kill Creativity? (2007) — Sir Ken Robinson, TED A New Approach to Look Beyond Academic Learning (2021) —Andreas Schleicher, OECD Oman Across the Ages Museum What is Social Mobility (2025) — The Sutton Trust KaiPod News Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a monthly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here. Related episodes: Episode 23 — Is Kindness the Key to Effective Leadership (with Joanna Povall) Episode 12 — Beyond Ofsted, Curriculum Reform and AI (with Lord Jim Knight) Episode 11 — 4 Simple Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools (with Mark Leppard) Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact Recorded at Story Ninety-Four, Oxford

  8. Jan 8

    Recruiting In a Teacher’s Market: How Top Schools Attract Top Talent

    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 Horizons), and Mark Leppard MBE (British School Al Khubairat) to dissect the global teacher recruitment crisis.  Together, this power panel explores: The changing dynamics of salary negotiationThe rise of the Gen Z teacher who demands flexibilityThe potential of hybrid learning for hard-to-fill positionsThe importance of safer recruitment in a desperate market About Our Guests  Leisa Grace Wilson is the Editorial Director for Teach Middle East Magazine, schoolfinder.ae and host of the Teach Middle East podcast, known for connecting and empowering educators across the region.  Laura Rigney is the Director of School Services at Teacher Horizons. A former maths teacher, she has spent over eight years recruiting teachers and leaders for schools worldwide.  Mark Leppard MBE is the Headmaster at the British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. A veteran education leader in the Middle East, Mark offers a top-tier school's perspective on maintaining quality amidst teacher shortages. In this episode, experts weigh in on: 03:58 Is it really a teacher’s market?  05:16 The view from a top-tier international school  07:45 What today’s candidates are negotiating (and getting)  11:02 Salary disparities and the stepping stone trend  14:29 What Gen Z teachers look for in schools  17:03 Why salary transparency breeds trust  19:36 Are family packages shrinking?  22:55 The dealbreakers: Age caps, visas, and compliance  25:25 Remote teachers for hard-to-fill roles  30:21 Raising the bar on safer recruitment  37:41 The rise of the TikTok Teacher  40:29 Tips for teachers looking to make a career move  Resources British International Schools Safeguarding Coalition  How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top - McKinsey & Company (2007) Overseas regulatory reform updates - COBIS KaiPod News Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a fortnightly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here. Related episodes: Episode 19 — Beyond the Myths: Your Guide to International Teaching (with Laura Rigney) Episode 16 — Your guide to teaching in the UAE (with Leisa Grace Wilson) Episode 11 — 4 Simple Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools (with Mark Leppard) Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact

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Trailer

About

The Educator’s Corner podcast offers engaging conversations with educators from all over the world about the issues, challenges and opportunities we are facing in our schools and our communities. Creating, innovating and redesigning education that prepares our students to be best for the rapidly changing world requires courageous, empathetic and humble leadership. Together we will have conversations where we stay curious for a little longer about what matters in preparing our young people to live fulfilling lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Kai Vacher
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kai Vacher
  • Show Website
    Educator’s Corner

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