Episodes

  • Change Starts Here | A Conversation with Efraim Lerner

    Change Starts Here | A Conversation with Efraim Lerner
    Jun 30 2025

    What if everything your school needed was right in front of you? In this special extended conversation, Shane sits down with his co-author Efraim Lerner for an unfiltered chat about their upcoming book "Change Starts Here" and why they believe schools need to rediscover confidence in their own communities.

    Shane and Efraim dig into how schools have gradually outsourced their decision-making, creating dependency on quick fixes and outside solutions. They challenge the assumption that expertise must come from outside, arguing instead that schools create the most powerful change when they leverage the knowledge already within their walls - from teachers and students to parents and support staff.

    They talk through their question-driven approach to change, featuring 40 questions that help schools discover what they already have rather than telling them what they need. Why do most change initiatives collapse within three years? How can schools create "resonant" change that feels authentic to their community? And why must schools build internal confidence before they engage with external consultants? These are the questions driving their thinking.



    Resources & Links


    Order "Change Starts Here: What If Everything Your School Needed Was Right in Front of You?"

    • Amazon Pre-order Link
    • Publisher Website - Routledge
    • Waterstones Pre-order

    Work Collaborative

    • Website: workcollaborative.com

    Connect with Efraim Lerner

    • LinkedIn: Efraim Lerner

    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.
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • The Truth About Metacognition | A Conversation with Nathan Burns

    The Truth About Metacognition | A Conversation with Nathan Burns
    Jun 25 2025
    Shane sits down with Nathan Burns, widely known as "Mr Metacognition," to tackle one of education's most discussed yet frequently misunderstood concepts. Nathan brings refreshing honesty to the conversation, immediately acknowledging that metacognition is complicated and that existing definitions don't do a particularly good job of explaining what it actually is. Far from being the latest educational fad, Nathan traces metacognition back to John Flavell's work in the 1970s, highlighting how education often repackages established concepts as revolutionary new ideas. Nathan offers his own practical definition of metacognition as "the little voice inside your head that's guiding your planning and your evaluation." He breaks down metacognition into six foundational pillars: knowledge of task, knowledge of self, knowledge of strategies, plus the regulation processes of planning, monitoring, and evaluation. This framework provides concrete areas that schools can focus on rather than treating metacognition as an invisible, unmeasurable concept. Perhaps most valuably, Nathan provides clear guidance on when schools are actually ready for metacognition work. He's refreshingly direct that metacognition isn't a silver bullet and certainly isn't the right starting point for every school. As Nathan puts it, "if chairs are being thrown, then that's not the next step in that journey." Instead, metacognition works best in schools where strong teaching foundations already exist and leaders are ready for long-term improvement focused on incremental gains.Guest InformationNathan Burns, known as "Mr Metacognition," brings over half a decade of expertise in metacognitive theory and practice to schools across the UK and internationally. He's the author of two five-star reviewed books on metacognition published by Sage Publications and has contributed articles to leading education platforms including TES and SecEd. Nathan collaborates with major educational organisations like Oxford University Press and has built a reputation for making complex educational theory accessible and practical for classroom implementation. Resources and LinksEducation Endowment Foundation (EEF) Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning Guidance ReportNathan Burns' website and resourcesNathan Burns on Twitter/XNathan Burns on LinkedInJohn Flavell's foundational 1979 research "Metacognition and Cognitive Monitoring"Nathan's book "Inspiring Deep Learning with Metacognition"Nathan's book "Teaching Hacks: Fixing Everyday Classroom Issues with Metacognition" Episode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin 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.
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    35 mins
  • An Ecological Approach to Wellbeing | A Conversation with Lori Cohen

    An Ecological Approach to Wellbeing | A Conversation with Lori Cohen
    Jun 16 2025
    What if the secret to transforming your school culture wasn't another initiative, but learning to tend to it like a terrarium? In this episode, Shane talks to Lori Cohen about her revolutionary ecological approach to wellbeing in schools. Rather than treating wellbeing as just another programme, Lori introduces a powerful terrarium metaphor that shows how all elements of school culture work together as an interconnected ecosystem. Lori Cohen is an experienced school leader, instructional coach, and education consultant with over two decades in education. She's co-author of "Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders."Key TakeawaysWellbeing as Soil, Not Another PlantEducator wellbeing is the foundational soil from which all other school improvements growWithout healthy soil, nothing else can truly thriveRuptures Are Necessary for EvolutionChange requires some things to break down before they can be rebuilt strongerWhat needs to "die" so something better can emerge?The Fractal Approach to ChangeStart small and deep rather than broad and shallowFocus on one dimension rather than trying to fix everything at onceAllow successful patterns to naturally replicate and scaleThe Eight Dimensions of Collective WellbeingWage satisfaction and transparent compensationJob stability and role clarityWorkload management and equitable distributionAutonomy and self-efficacyInclusion in policymaking and decision-makingCommunity care and leadership modellingEmotional intelligence (individual and collective)Strong, supportive relationships that can be built, sustained, and repairedResources and LinksConnect with Lori:Lori Cohen on LinkedInIntegrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders by Lori Cohen and Elizabeth Denevi (Routledge)Additional Resources Mentioned:Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree brownMindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol DweckThinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel KahnemanEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin 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.
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    30 mins
  • Should Schools Teach Gaming? | A Conversation with Dr. Khizer Khaderi & Dr. Steffen Sommer

    Should Schools Teach Gaming? | A Conversation with Dr. Khizer Khaderi & Dr. Steffen Sommer
    Jun 9 2025
    When 89% of a population plays games and two-thirds are under 35, that's not a problem to solve - it's a medium to embrace. Today we explore a fascinating partnership between Stanford University's Human Perception Lab and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince School, where gaming isn't just motivation - it's pedagogy. Dr. Khizer Khaderi (Stanford University) & Dr. Steffen Sommer (Misk Schools, Saudi Arabia) challenge everything we think we know about digital natives, revealing how we're systematically "un-teaching" natural curiosity and forcing students to live in two worlds: digital at home, analogue at school. From Pokemon champions attending Ivy League universities to students learning astrophysics through gameplay, this conversation reveals why the future of education lies not in dragging students back to the 20th century, but in meeting them where they already are.Key Topics DiscussedThe Gaming Revolution in EducationSaudi Arabia's unique demographic: 89% of population plays games, 70% under 35Moving from "gamification" (tricking students) to "gaming for purpose"Why gaming should be treated as sport, not just entertainmentMeeting Students Where They AreThe fundamental disconnect: teaching how we think they should learn vs. how they want to learnWhy motivation problems stem from this educational misalignmentThe danger of forcing students to live in two worlds: digital at home, analogue at schoolRethinking Traditional CurriculumWhat should we stop teaching if students can look it up in seconds?The difference between memorising times tables and understanding mathematicsWhy handwriting skills matter less in a digital worldMoving from knowledge acquisition to information verification skillsInnovation and Divergent ThinkingHow we systematically "un-teach" natural curiosityThe importance of making mistakes and asking "what if?"Cross-pollination and generalist thinking in a specialised worldAcademic innocence: why younger minds generate breakthrough ideasPractical ImplementationCreating gaming suites with educational purposeForming partnerships with universities beyond just university admissionWorking with examination boards to change assessment methodsThe role of interdisciplinary teaching and teamwork in exams Resources MentionedBook: "Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World" by David EpsteinHistorical Educational Games: Oregon Trail, MULEResearch: Daphne Bavelier's work on gaming and learning (University of Rochester, 2003)Stanford Human Perception Laboratory: Stanford HPLMisk Schools: Misk Schools WebsiteEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreJoin 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.
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    36 mins
  • The Hidden Science of Human Values | A Conversation with Ruth Taylor

    The Hidden Science of Human Values | A Conversation with Ruth Taylor
    Jun 2 2025

    Shane Leaning sits down with Ruth Taylor from the Common Cause Foundation to explore the fascinating world of human values and what they mean for school leadership. Ruth shares insights from decades of social psychology research that challenges everything we think we know about motivation.


    Key Topics Covered

    The Schwartz Values Framework

    • How 58 human values map onto our decision-making
    • Why some values are complementary whilst others are antagonistic
    • The difference between intrinsic and extrinsic values

    The Values Perception Gap

    • Why 74% of people prioritise intrinsic values like equality over extrinsic ones like wealth
    • How we consistently misjudge what motivates others
    • The self-fulfilling prophecy this creates in our organisations

    Practical Applications for School Leaders

    • Why competitions and prizes might backfire in the long term
    • How to ask "what values am I wanting to nurture?" before designing initiatives
    • Moving from outcome-focused to values-focused leadership
    • Creating space for conversations about what really matters
    Key Insights
    • We all hold all 58 values but "dance" in different parts of the map at different times
    • Cultural pressures often push us towards extrinsic values even when we'd naturally choose intrinsic ones
    • You're always strengthening values through your leadership - the question is which ones
    • Starting small and building habits around values-based thinking can create significant change
    • Simply reflecting on our own values strengthens our intrinsic motivations

    Useful Links
    • Ruth Taylor's website: ruthtaylor.org
    • Culture Soup newsletter: valuesnarrativesculture.substack.com
    • Common Cause Foundation: commoncausefoundation.org
    • Schwartz Values Framework map: Available on the Common Cause website

    Episode Partner

    The International Curriculum Association: Learn more

    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.
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    33 mins
  • Know Yourself, Lead Better | A Conversation with Alicia Drummond

    Know Yourself, Lead Better | A Conversation with Alicia Drummond
    May 26 2025

    My guest today is Alicia Drummond, a BACP accredited therapist and creator of The Wellbeing Hub. This conversation dives deep into why self-awareness is the foundation of effective school leadership. We explore how your internal state directly impacts your school's culture, and Alicia shares practical tools for understanding your triggers, biases, and leadership patterns. From attachment styles to the OK Corral framework, this episode is packed with actionable strategies you can use immediately.


    Key Points Covered
    • The internal-external connection: Research shows a leader's internal state directly impacts school culture
    • Understanding triggers: How childhood experiences create leadership patterns and why physical responses are early warning systems
    • Attachment styles in leadership: Four styles (secure, avoidant, ambivalent, disorganised) and how they affect your ability to trust and delegate
    • Personal bias exercise: Practical tool to identify your "in-group" and how it affects who you support vs. overlook
    • The OK Corral framework: Four positions (I'm OK/You're OK, etc.) that determine how you show up in relationships
    • Hero/anti-hero exercise: Understanding your light and shadow sides to catch yourself when moving toward unhelpful patterns
    • Choice, control, confidence: How awareness doesn't solve problems but gives you options for how to respond
    • Practical meditation: Simple daily practice for building self-awareness and emotional regulation

    This conversation challenged me to think about how often we rush to fix external problems when the real work starts internally. The research showing how a leader's internal state directly impacts school culture is a powerful reminder that working on ourselves isn't selfish - it's essential leadership development.


    Links
    • The Wellbeing Hub

    Episode Partner

    The International Curriculum Association: Learn more

    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.
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    32 mins
  • Are Leadership Qualifications Worth It?

    Are Leadership Qualifications Worth It?
    May 20 2025

    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.



    Key Points


    • 85% of leaders identified peer learning and community as the most valuable aspect of leadership programs, not the content or theory


    • The five failures of leadership programs:


    1. Theory without practice - providing concepts without application
    2. Wrong context and content - programs not adapted to different educational systems
    3. Unrealised community - superficial implementation of peer learning
    4. Simple models for complex realities - oversimplifying leadership challenges
    5. Ignoring identity - neglecting personal leadership development


    • The costs of these failures: staff turnover, misaligned teams, initiative fatigue, leadership burnout, wasted resources, and stagnant development


    • What works instead: blending theory with immediate application, creating genuine communities of practice, contextualising learning, embracing complexity, and integrating identity development


    Resources Mentioned


    • Education Leaders Intensive Programme - Shane's 12-week leadership development program starting in September
    • Leadership Qualification Webinar - Free webinar diving deeper into this topic


    Episode Partner

    The International Curriculum Association: Learn more

    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.
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    13 mins
  • The Trusted Adult Effect | A Conversation with David Ingram

    The Trusted Adult Effect | A Conversation with David Ingram
    May 12 2025

    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

    Key takeaways:
    1. Trusted adult relationships: Dulwich increased from 85% to 100% of primary students having a trusted adult by explicitly discussing this concept with both students and staff. They also recognized that trusted adults might be admin staff rather than just teachers.
    2. Comprehensive wellbeing frameworks: Working with positive psychologist David Bott, Dulwich developed a holistic approach to wellbeing that includes regular audits across multiple dimensions, allowing for systematic identification of areas for improvement.
    3. The AS Steer tool: This assessment tool helps identify students who present as being fine but may be struggling internally, allowing for proactive rather than reactive intervention.
    4. Smartphone policies: Rather than implementing a total ban, Dulwich restricts phone use during the school day while still embracing technology through innovative AI initiatives, creating a balanced approach that prepares students for managing technology in their future.
    5. Collaborative approaches: The success of Dulwich's wellbeing strategy relies heavily on collaboration across their school network and with external experts.

    Links mentioned in the episode:
    • David Bott's work on positive psychology
    • AS Steer wellbeing assessment tool
    • Connect with David Ingram on LinkedIn

    Episode Partner

    The International Curriculum Association: Learn more

    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.
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    34 mins