Strategic Schools
Get simple and practical ideas to enhance your educational leadership in under 20 minutes. Join educational researcher and author Dr Simon Breakspear as he shares key insights and practical tools that can help you to find greater focus, flow and impact in an increasingly overwhelming educational landscape.
Each year Simon Breakspear works with hundreds of schools and thousands of educational leaders. He received a degree in Psychology from The University of NSW, a Master of Science from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Education from The University of Cambridge.
Podcasting since 2023 • 31 episodes
Strategic Schools
Latest Episodes
Ep. 31: Transforming Change into Culture
In this episode, Simon explores how leaders can embed improvement work so deeply into structures, norms, and culture that it lasts long after they’ve moved on. He shares a mindset shift from leading change to leading a legacy, offering practica...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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11:19
Ep. 30: Adaptive Persistence
In this episode, Simon unpacks the vital leadership disposition of adaptive persistence - the ability to stay committed to long-term goals while flexibly adjusting to challenges. Drawing on insights from Professor Viviane Robinson and real-worl...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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9:10
Ep. 29: Looping for understanding
In this episode, Simon explores the power of “looping for understanding”, a simple technique to improve communication, build trust, and avoid misunderstandings. Simon unpacks how listening attentively, paraphrasing, and checking for understandi...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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13:17
Ep. 28: Focus on the Next 5-8 Weeks
In this episode, Simon shares why school improvement is more like night driving than building a bridge - you can’t see the whole road, but you can still make the journey. He unpacks how working in 5 to 8 week action cycles can help teams stay f...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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6:44
Ep. 27: Working at a Natural Pace
In this episode, Simon explores why effective school improvement isn’t about going fast or slow - it’s about finding a natural pace. Drawing on lessons from fitness and recovery, he unpacks how leaders can tune into their team’s capacity, avoid...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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8:27