Education Leaders

• Project Learning That Works | A Conversation with John Taylor

  In this episode, Shane Leaning sits down with John Taylor, Director of Learning, Teaching and Innovation at Cranleigh School and one of the principal architects of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). They explore how a small pilot programme exploring science ethics has evolved into a globally recognised qualification with over 50,000 students annually. John shares insights into project-based learning at scale, how universities now offer grade discounts for EPQ students, and why this qualification is particularly valuable for international schools and multilingual learners. Shane and John discuss the practical challenges of supporting teachers in transitioning from content delivery to mentorship roles, how to assess diverse project outcomes fairly, and John's concept of "minovation" - incremental innovation that creates lasting educational change. This conversation offers valuable insights for school leaders considering project-based learning initiatives and demonstrates how inquiry-based approaches can work effectively within existing qualification systems whilst developing critical thinking skills and student autonomy. Links to Learn More:Pearson Edexcel Extended Project QualificationCranleigh SchoolJohn Taylor on LinkedInUCAS EPQ Qualification Information 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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• How to have a nuanced conversation | A conversation with Drew Perkins

  In this episode, Shane sits down with Drew Perkins, President Director of ThoughtStretcher Education and host of the ThoughtStretchers Education Podcast. Drew brings a refreshing perspective on how we can navigate the often polarised world of education discourse, from the direct instruction versus inquiry debate to the broader challenge of maintaining nuanced thinking in our schools. Drew shares his approach to engaging in online education conversations with curiosity rather than certainty, and explains his concept of "reality-based communities" grounded in what he calls enlightenment liberal principles. Whether you're a school leader trying to cut through the noise or an educator looking to model better dialogue, this conversation offers practical wisdom for staying grounded whilst remaining open to learning.Resources MentionedThoughtStretchers Education Podcast - Drew's weekly education podcastPaul Kirschner Panel Discussion: "The Knowledge Revival, Curriculum For Deep Thinking" - Recent episode exploring direct instruction vs inquiry learningJonathan Rauch's "Kindly Inquisitors" - Book on knowledge and free speechJonathan Rauch's "The Constitution of Knowledge" - Exploring how we determine truth in modern societyThoughtStretcher Education - Drew's organisation websiteThoughtStretchers Community - Educational discussion community 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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• Change Starts Here | A Conversation with Efraim Lerner

  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 & LinksOrder "Change Starts Here: What If Everything Your School Needed Was Right in Front of You?"Amazon Pre-order LinkPublisher Website - RoutledgeWaterstones Pre-order Work CollaborativeWebsite: workcollaborative.com Connect with Efraim LernerLinkedIn: Efraim LernerJoin 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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• The Truth About Metacognition | A Conversation with Nathan Burns

  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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• An Ecological Approach to Wellbeing | A Conversation with Lori Cohen

  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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