Beyond School Improvement | In Conversation with Professor Deborah Eyre

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 [https://www.steededucation.com/founders]. 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 [https://subscribepage.io/reimagining-secondary-schooling-report] — Steed Education Ian Yorston on the future of education [https://youtube.com/shorts/mm8lOcvclLg?si=RerAFaclSpRd6Sih] — Steed Education, YouTubeSelina Boyd on the future of education [https://youtube.com/shorts/i8bx75HSgOw?si=Kc1l6HnASW_8tQGu] — 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 [https://subscribepage.io/kaipod-news]. 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 0RLℹ️Register your interest here [https://www.steededucation.com/conference] Related episodes: Episode 21 - Heading Towards Hybrid? With Mark Steed [https://youtu.be/rWBZxYQiAM4?si=peBTg0RH1OTUoXf3]Episode 24 - Inside the UK's fastest growing school (with Hugh Viney) [https://youtu.be/no3Kn-7I7hY?si=bhjQArrpKEaVTDZU]Episode 26 - Why 50% of Secondary School Students Have Stopped Trying (with Jenny Anderson) [https://youtu.be/h0GfdRtQkv8?si=bzWBMzi_RBt4oIBC] CreditsHosted by Kai Vacher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-vacher-88753718/]A BSM BSS productionPost-production by Communicating for Impact [https://communicating-for-impact.com/] Report Research by Lauren Martin at Simply Copy [https://simplycopyco.com/]

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 [https://www.highperformancelearning.co.uk/] — Founded by Prof Deborah Eyre  The Centre for Education Action Research [https://alfuttaimeducation.com/our-activity/cear/] — Founded by Simon O’ConnorDoes School Kill Creativity? (2007) [https://youtu.be/iG9CE55wbtY?si=6ZX_F8O-7AFTHW2x]— Sir Ken Robinson, TED A New Approach to Look Beyond Academic Learning (2021) [https://oecdedutoday.com/new-approach-social-emotional-skills/] —Andreas Schleicher, OECD Oman Across the Ages Museum [https://oaam.om/en] What is Social Mobility (2025) [https://www.suttontrust.com/our-research/what-is-social-mobility/] — 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 [https://subscribepage.io/kaipod-news]. Related episodes: Episode 23 — Is Kindness the Key to Effective Leadership (with Joanna Povall) [https://youtu.be/bqSaPPgfFaA?si=pgRebKB6yoM3K-wU] Episode 12 — Beyond Ofsted, Curriculum Reform and AI (with Lord Jim Knight) [https://youtu.be/HLlj1K9UaUc?si=OrocjwJhGAq-Jvz4] Episode 11 — 4 Simple Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools (with Mark Leppard) [https://youtu.be/iFGJl6WtxhA?si=oN1T1X00ZOKvPFgP] Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-vacher-88753718/]A BSM BSS productionPost-production by Communicating for Impact [https://communicating-for-impact.com/] Recorded at Story Ninety-Four [https://storyninetyfour.com/], Oxford

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 negotiation * The rise of the Gen Z teacher who demands flexibility * The potential of hybrid learning for hard-to-fill positions * The 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  [https://www.thesafeguardingalliance.org.uk/] How the world’s best-performing school systems come out on top [https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/education/our-insights/how-the-worlds-best-performing-school-systems-come-out-on-top] - McKinsey & Company (2007) Overseas regulatory reform updates [https://www.cobis.org.uk/our-network/news/news-hub/news-demo-page/~board/migrated-news/post/high-level-safeguarding-consultation-at-the-house-of-lords-strengthens-momentum-for-urgent-overseas-regulatory-reform]- 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 [https://subscribepage.io/kaipod-news]. Related episodes: Episode 19 — Beyond the Myths: Your Guide to International Teaching (with Laura Rigney) [https://youtu.be/n-af1hniOp8?si=52uY7iqZMZwMm2XR] Episode 16 — Your guide to teaching in the UAE (with Leisa Grace Wilson) [https://youtu.be/SSKNuBoaGJA?si=9-DbAIxD15TPdd0P] Episode 11 — 4 Simple Ways to Support Staff Wellbeing in Schools (with Mark Leppard) [https://youtu.be/iFGJl6WtxhA?si=oN1T1X00ZOKvPFgP] Credits Hosted by Kai [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-vacher-88753718/]Vacher A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact [https://communicating-for-impact.com/]

Understanding the World’s Most Diverse Education System | In Conversation with Avyakt Sethi

With over 240 million students and 1.5 million schools, India’s education system is arguably the most diverse globally. Shaped by its population, governance, culture, and openness to external models, it is an example of pluralism in action. So what does learning look like across such a vast landscape? In this episode, Kai begins an exploration of the Indian education system with fellow podcaster Avyakt Sethi, the creator of Schoolcast. Drawing on conversations from Indian schools and their communities, Avyakt sheds light on the academic rigour of India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the drive towards holistic development in one of the most varied educational environments. About Our Guest Avyakt Sethi is the creator and host of Schoolcast, India's first dedicated school education podcast. Drawing on conversations with diverse voices from Indian schools and their communities, Avyakt offers a unique perspective on the rapid changes in India's education sector. Resources How School Education Differs in CBSE and International Schools [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZ-hfweE5U] — Schoolcast  ANA Ed Talks interview with Kai Vacher [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdgHjhpwUwg] — Aspee Nutan Academy National Education Policy (NEP) [https://www.education.gov.in/en] — The policy driving reform in Indian education 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 [https://subscribepage.io/kaipod-news]. Related episodes: Episode 14 — The AI-proof Skills Our Students Need (with Leo Thompson) Episode 6 — The Global Teacher Recruitment Crisis (with Mark Steed) Special thanks Thank you to our listeners, Hannah, Joanna, and Ben, for their excellent questions, and to Deniece Wheeler of COBIS for her insightful query about the international school market in India. Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-vacher-88753718/] A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact [https://communicating-for-impact.com/]

Why 50% of Secondary School Students Have Stopped Trying and How We Can Fix It | With Jenny Anderson

Why are so many young people disengaged from learning — and what can parents and educators do about it? That’s the question that journalist Jenny Anderson seeks to answer in her book, The Disengaged Teen. Alongside co-author Rebecca Winthrop, Jenny unpicks why so many teenagers have switched off from school and presents evidence-based strategies to help reignite their love of learning.  In this episode, Jenny joins Kai to share: * What ‘student engagement’ really means beyond grades or behaviour * The four modes of student engagement and how to identify them * Why 50% of teens spend most of their time at school in one mode - and why this presents a huge challenge * How agency and the “zone of proximal development” support real learning * Simple strategies for parents and teachers to increase student engagement In this episode, Kai and Jenny discuss: 05:30 What student engagement really means — beyond behaviour 07:41 Why disengagement is one of the biggest challenges facing schools 10:13 The four modes of engagement: passenger, achiever, resister, explorer 17:28 Passenger mode: the “invisible middle” of the classroom 23:24 Achiever mode and the hidden costs of perfectionism 27:32 The challenges and opportunities of Resister mode 32:21 Signs a student is in Explorer mode and how to cultivate it 35:06 Practical strategies for parents and educators to foster agency and increase engagement 43:04 How AI is creating more passengers — and what to do about it About Our Guest Jenny Anderson is a journalist and co-author of The Disengaged Teen with Rebecca Winthrop. A former finance reporter for the New York Times, Jenny now writes about education, parenting, and human development. Her work explores how families and schools can support adolescents in moving from compliance or resistance into curiosity, agency, and meaningful engagement. Resources The Disengaged Teen — book website [https://www.thedisengagedteen.com/]  Jenny’s Substack: How to Be Brave [https://howtobebrave.substack.com/] Rebecca Winthrop’s LinkedIn newsletter: Winthrop’s World of Education [https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/winthrops-world-of-education-7242168988468658176/] KaiPod News Enjoyed this episode? Keep the conversation going with KaiPod News — a fortnightly newsletter from Kai Vacher sharing fresh insights, stories, and strategies from education leaders around the world. Subscribe here [https://subscribepage.io/kaipod-news]. Related episodes: Episode 24 — Inside the Fastest Growing School in the UK (with Hugh Viney) [https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KbPNJYgIbeJH6edPAB9Ne?si=csah6owiS9y2xUz-BsmoKQ] Episode 17 — Why have Children Stopped Reading (with Daisy Christodoulou) [https://open.spotify.com/episode/44HPwtHWw7dPmCoRUvlYk8?si=r8TCCdioQOK13ll-vtLhhA] Credits Hosted by Kai Vacher [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kai-vacher-88753718/] A BSM BSS production Post-production by Communicating for Impact [https://communicating-for-impact.com/]