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Join us for an inspiring conversation with Liz Smith and Hajra Abbasi, an exceptional teacher and teaching assistant partnership from The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi. Working together in a Reception Class, they share the secrets behind their successful collaboration and what makes their professional relationship thrive.

In this episode, Liz and Hajra discuss:

• How they established a strong foundation by sharing their vision for students from day one
• The importance of clearly defining roles and responsibilities in the classroom
• Maintaining open and honest communication as the cornerstone of their partnership
• Mutual respect, equality, and supporting each other through the daily challenges of school life
• Keeping perspective and finding joy in the everyday moments with young learners

Beyond their classroom collaboration, discover how these educators channel their Early Years expertise and passion for child development into creative projects. Their latest venture is a published children's book that combines storytelling, illustration, and practical activities to help young children navigate emotions, worries, and doubts. It's an essential resource for teachers and parents alike.

Learn more about their book "The Best Version of Me": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Version-Me-Pentalogy-Development/dp/9948701518

Whether you're an educator, teaching assistant, or parent, this episode offers valuable insights into building effective partnerships and supporting children's emotional development.

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This episode features a remarkable conversation with Jessica Delgado, Maki Nishihara, and Julie Villers, who transformed a competitive senior leadership interview process into a collaborative and supportive experience.

The Story

Three candidates found themselves competing for the same senior leadership position at a school. Rather than viewing each other as rivals, they chose to embrace a "Better Together" philosophy, supporting and encouraging one another throughout the entire recruitment process.

This collaborative approach allowed each candidate to show up authentically and perform at their best. The candidates demonstrate how transparency, fair planning, and clear communication from the interviewing school created an environment where this support was possible. They emphasise that interviews are a two-way process: candidates assess whether the school will help them succeed and grow, while the school evaluates the best fit for their community.

What Happened After

The collaboration didn't end with the interview. The three candidates formed a professional support group that continued long after the hiring decision was made. Now working as leaders in schools across different parts of the world, they lean on each other for clarity, perspective, and strength as they navigate the challenges of their new roles.

Their connection evolved into honest, reflective dialogues built on empathy and care. They developed what they call a "friendcabularly"—the ability to share openly about their evolving lives, acknowledge lonely moments, and help each other recognise things to be grateful for in their respective situations.

Impact

This powerful triad demonstrates how collaborative recruitment can create lasting professional relationships that extend far beyond a single job opportunity. The group provides a safe space where each member can seek help, develop resilience, re-centre themselves, and lead from their humanity.

Three Key Takeaways

• Lean in and collaborate. Whatever situation you find yourself in, building networks and supporting each other is the way forward. You are better together.
• Honour those who came before you. Remember that you're standing on the shoulders of role models who paved the way. Appreciate what others have done to help you reach where you are today.
• Share the experience. We perform better in recruitment processes and challenging situations when we share the experience with others. Reach out, provide support, and encourage each other to show up authentically.

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Episode Summary

The way we communicate shapes everything—our relationships, our culture, and our collective growth. In this episode, we explore these ideas with Kai Vacher, Principal of the British Schools of Muscat and Salalah.

As a long-serving school leader, Kai recognised that traditional performance management approaches weren't creating meaningful professional development. His school community asked a powerful question: What if we equipped everyone with the skills to have better conversations?

The answer sparked a four-year transformative journey involving multi-level training, collaborative learning, and ongoing evaluation to measure real impact.

What Changed

The school now has a culture where staff have genuine agency over their professional growth, trust runs deep across all levels, reciprocation and support are the norm, and relationships strengthen through intentional, skilled dialogue.

From Concern to Innovation

Kai shares how the school moved from concerns about ineffective performance management systems to building skilled dialogue and deeper trust. Through individual coaching, mentoring, and team coaching, these communication skills became embedded in daily practice. Staff now learn together and actively shape a process that builds engagement, innovation, and professional agency.

Advice for School Leaders

Kai offers three practical recommendations for leaders considering coaching to develop dialogue quality:

1. Be curious - Read extensively, explore recommended books, research, and podcasts
2. Experience coaching yourself - Find a coach with good chemistry and discover what the relationship offers
3. Train alongside your team - Engage in coach training together, explore new skills and tools, and deepen how you relate to each other

Acknowledgments

Kai credits the inspiration and support of David Porritt, Ave Peetri, Linda Berlot, Nicolas McKie, and insights from Tony Blair, Brené Brown, Alex Ferguson, John Gottman, and Simon Sinek.

This isn't just about coaching—it's about creating an environment where how we communicate fundamentally changes how we work together.

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Flexible Working in International Schools

In this episode, we explore what flexible working really means for staff in international schools. We unpack the concept of flexible and contracted work, looking closely at how job-share arrangements can strengthen staff retention, support professional growth, and enhance recruitment.

We speak candidly about the challenges that come with managing multiple job shares within a school, and we offer practical strategies for overcoming these complexities.

The conversation then moves into the role of special leave and how responding flexibly to staff needs can cultivate a culture of care, compassion, and trust. We share real examples of what effective practice looks like, and discuss how to ensure that leave requests are handled equitably and sustainably, without placing undue strain on colleagues.

We also provide guidance on creating responsive working conditions that allow staff to meet personal needs while contributing meaningfully to team and whole-school performance. Ultimately, we explore how flexible working can help us build schools where staff feel present, engaged, and supported throughout every stage of their careers—something we know has a direct impact on the consistency and quality of learning for students.

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Guest: Julia Knight

International School Leader & School Improvement Partner, Bahrain

The Journey to International Education

Julia Knight shares her transition into the international school sector, revealing the personal and professional opportunities this path has created for both her career and her family. Her story offers insight into what draws educators across borders and the rewards that come with embracing global education.

Leading While Living: The Balancing Act

With characteristic honesty, Julia discusses navigating the complex terrain of educational leadership while being present as a mother of two, a partner, and a friend. She opens up about the deliberate decisions required to honour both professional ambitions and personal commitments—a reality many leaders face but few discuss so candidly.

The Power of Your Professional Circle

Julia makes a compelling case for intentionally building a trusted community of fellow professionals. She emphasises the value of having colleagues who provide not just advice and encouragement, but the honest, candid feedback that drives real growth. In leadership, she argues, isolation is a choice we don't have to make.

Lifting Others as You Climb

One of Julia's most powerful messages centres on leadership as a collective endeavour. She speaks passionately about the responsibility experienced leaders have to support those coming up behind them and alongside them—creating conditions where everyone can thrive and find fulfilment in their work.

Real Talk About School Improvement

Julia doesn't shy away from the challenging realities of international school headship and the genuine improvement work required in schools today. What sets her apart is how she approaches these challenges: with humour, courage, and an infectious passion for making schools better places for learning and working.

This conversation offers a refreshingly honest look at educational leadership through the eyes of someone living it daily—complete with its challenges, joys, and endless possibilities.

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Guest: Juliëtte van Eerdewijk - Educational Consultant and School Leader

Overview

In this episode, we sit down with Juliëtte to explore how language development can transform international school leadership and student success.

Key Discussion Points

• Personal Journey and Perspective

Juliëtte brings a unique perspective as a native Dutch speaker who mastered English for her professional career. Her personal experience navigating language acquisition informs her entire approach to educational leadership, giving her authentic empathy for language learners and their challenges.

• Language as Core School Strategy

Rather than treating language support as a supplementary programme, Juliëtte advocates for positioning language development as the central pillar of school improvement. She argues that curriculum design, assessment practices, and pedagogical approaches should all be built with language development at their core—benefiting not just multilingual learners, but all students.

• Practical Tools for Educators

Drawing from her lived experience, Juliëtte equips teachers and school leaders with concrete strategies and techniques to support language learners effectively. Her approach combines empathy with actionable methods that can be implemented across different educational contexts.

• Challenging Traditional Models

Juliëtte questions conventional leadership structures in British International Schools, pushing for more inclusive environments where students, parents, and staff members are genuinely heard and valued—regardless of their English proficiency or native language background.

The Multilingual Reality

The conversation raises a critical question for international schools: Are our institutions truly designed to serve the multilingual reality of modern international education? As linguistic competence becomes increasingly valuable in our globalised world, Juliëtte's perspective offers essential insights for school transformation.

Why It Matters

This conversation challenges international educators to reconsider how language shapes every aspect of school life—from curriculum to culture—and offers a roadmap for creating more inclusive, effective learning environments for diverse communities worldwide.

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Episode Summary

In this episode, we unpack our conversation with Pat Clark, exploring four key leadership insights that challenged our thinking:

"It takes a very strong leader to give the power away" We discuss how school leaders can consistently develop their team leaders' skills and motivation, and why empowering others requires confidence, not weakness.

"Heads can make the weather -- alongside a good team" An honest look at self-awareness in leadership: recognising when we're not showing up at our best, understanding our unintended impact on the school community, and the importance of recovery and repair.

"Changing culture takes time -- you can shift it one step at a time" We explore the value of being clear and honest about "what we do around here" - the why, what, and how - and making incremental improvements rather than seeking overnight transformation.

"Look in the mirror, look out the window" Pat's powerful framework for when things go wrong: taking personal responsibility while inviting the team into problem-solving and improvement.

A reminder that headship is tough work, and it's okay to acknowledge that your leadership was good enough today while striving to be even better tomorrow.

What resonated with you from this conversation? We'd love to hear your takeaways.

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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Pat, a distinguished educator whose remarkable six-decade career spans classroom teaching, school leadership, and international leadership training. Her energy and passion for the profession remain as vibrant as ever, offering a masterclass in sustained professional commitment.

Key Insights

Throughout the conversation, Pat shares profound reflections on what sustains school leaders through the inevitable challenges of educational leadership. Her wisdom is drawn from decades of firsthand experience navigating the complexities of leading educational communities.

Essential Advice for School Leaders

Pat emphasises several core principles for thriving in school leadership:

Stay Humble – Effective leadership begins with humility and a willingness to learn from everyone in your community.

Embrace Risk-Taking – Growth and innovation require stepping outside your comfort zone and being willing to try new approaches.

Trust Your Competence – Combat self doubt by recognising that you are, indeed, good enough for the role you hold.

Recognise Your Privilege – Leading a school community is a unique opportunity to shape lives and create positive impact.

Celebrate Small Wins – Remember that making even a small difference each day is meaningful and worthwhile.

Takeaway

Pat's enduring passion for education demonstrates that school leadership, when approached with the right mindset, can be a source of energy and fulfilment throughout one's entire career and beyond. Her message is clear: leadership is both a privilege and an opportunity to create lasting positive change in the lives of students, staff, and communities.