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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
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
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