Leadership and culture
What leaders do that most affects learning, and how to lead teaching without leaving it to chance. I've gathered webinars, podcast episodes and reading for principals and school leaders on leading teaching and learning, curriculum and whole-school improvement.
Practices in this area:Leading teacher learningGoal settingResourcing strategicallyCurriculum leadership
Lesson with commentary
Steplab · 43:12 · Primary and secondary · UK
The final part turns to teacher development, showing the approaches the two schools use to build teaching expertise reliably.
FreeOpens at steplab.co
Interview
AERO · Australia
Principals and teacher leaders from five secondary schools discuss what leading MTSS takes, from setting the vision and making time to timetabling small intervention classes, backing staff and staying the course.
FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au
Webinar
Grattan Institute · About 1 hour · Australia
A Grattan Institute webinar on helping struggling readers catch up, built around lessons from Parafield Gardens High School. Of interest to secondary leaders planning reading support.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Interview
NSW Department of Education · 16:03 · Primary · Australia
Two leaders from a remote primary school with a largely Aboriginal enrolment describe how teaching teams and instructional leadership keep expectations high for every student.
FreeOpens at players.brightcove.net
Explainer
Peps Mccrea · UK
Peps Mccrea asks whether alignment is the key ingredient of effective schooling. One for leadership teams thinking about how consistently a school works.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Amy Haywood and Nick Parkinson, Grattan Institute · About 70 minutes · 2025 · Australia
Grattan Institute's Amy Haywood and Nick Parkinson summarise the evidence on primary maths teaching and share lessons from seven case study schools that put it into practice.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Jacquie Burrows, Rhys Coulson, Sarah Asome and Steve Capp · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia
Four Victorian primary principals, from Churchill, Templestowe Heights, Bentleigh West and Chelsea Heights, discuss leading curriculum and instructional change and modelling professional learning themselves.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Heather Fearn · About 1 hour · 2025 · UK
Heather Fearn's follow-up session on how specialists and non-specialists can build and quality assure a subject curriculum, and why hierarchical and cumulative subjects need different sequencing.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Sacha Giurietto and Reid Smith · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia
Sacha Giurietto and Reid Smith explain how to set up a whole-school assessment system and run data meetings that lead to changes in teaching.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Joshua Bourke, Dandenong West Primary School, and Cassandra Flanagan, Rosewood Downs Primary School · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia
Leaders from Rosewood Downs and Dandenong West primary schools recount how they built whole-school routines and behaviour expectations, then embedded explicit instruction and a knowledge-rich curriculum.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Manisha Gazula, Marsden Road Public School · About 75 minutes · 2023 · Australia
Principal Manisha Gazula describes how Marsden Road Public School in NSW used evidence and explicit teaching of foundational literacy and numeracy to lift student results.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Jacquie Burrows, Churchill Primary School, hosted by Steve Capp · About 1 hour · 2022 · Australia
Principal Jacquie Burrows recounts Churchill Primary School's turnaround using explicit direct instruction and the science of reading. The page notes that only part of the session was recorded.
FreeOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Sarah Kelly · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia
Regional Victorian principal Sarah Kelly recounts moving her school away from a levelled reading approach, and how the leadership team built staff knowledge and a shared vision.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Sarah Asome, Steve Capp and Kate Buck · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia
Leaders from Bentleigh West, Chelsea Heights and Brandon Park primary schools explain how they assess and report on reading and maths without benchmark levels or running records.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Christine Jackson, AERO · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia
Christine Jackson gives an early look at AERO's Secondary Writing Instruction Framework, piloted in three secondary schools, and the lessons learned about a school-wide approach to writing.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Lachlan Yeates, Cranbourne Primary School · 30 to 60 minutes · 2023 · Australia
Principal Lachlan Yeates describes how Cranbourne Primary rose from the bottom of its network to the top in three years, covering staff buy-in, behaviour and leadership mindsets.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Ross Fox, Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia
Ross Fox shares how Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn has led Catalyst, a system-wide shift to evidence-based reading and teaching practice across its schools, and what the change involved.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Amy Haywood, Grattan Institute · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia
Amy Haywood presents Grattan Institute findings on the planning load teachers carry alone, and how five schools set up shared whole-school curriculum planning.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Kitty Hancock, St Mary's Primary School Myrtleford · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia
Principal Kitty Hancock tells how St Mary's Primary in Myrtleford turned around poor results over five years using the science of reading and learning, including mistakes to avoid.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Think Forward Educators, with Cate Whiting, AERO · 30 to 60 minutes · 2024 · Australia
Cate Whiting explains AERO's resources for leading a whole-school approach to classroom management, and how leaders can build shared understanding and consistent practice across classrooms.
Free account neededOpens at thinkforwardeducators.org
Webinar
Grattan Institute · About 1 hour · Australia
A Grattan Institute webinar on changing the way reading is taught, drawing on lessons learnt at Churchill Primary. Suits leaders planning a similar shift.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
Grattan Institute, with Adam Bright and Brad Nguyen · About 45 minutes · Australia
Grattan Institute talks with Adam Bright and Brad Nguyen from Docklands Primary School about their school's curriculum. Useful for leaders thinking about curriculum across a school.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Talk
researchED, with Christine Counsell · About 65 minutes · UK
Christine Counsell's researchED Home talk on the support middle leaders need if a school's curriculum is to flourish. Aimed at leaders who work with subject and year-level leads.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Interview
PaTTAN, with Louise Spear-Swerling · About 37 minutes · USA
Louise Spear-Swerling talks with PaTTAN about structured literacy, in a session from its Leaders and Learning in Literacy series.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Webinar
AERO · About 1 hour · 2025 · Australia
An AERO researcher and two classroom teachers walk through the School Writing Instruction Framework and what leading writing across a school involves.
FreeOpens at edresearch.edu.au
Webinar
NSW Department of Education · 30 minutes · 2024 · Australia
Jarrad Cox from the department's curriculum team walks leaders through the explicit teaching workshops, strategy modules and technique guides, and the thinking behind how to roll them out.
FreeOpens at education.nsw.gov.au
Webinar
Grattan Institute · About 1 hour · Australia
A Grattan Institute webinar on transforming maths teaching, drawing on lessons from The Entrance. Suits leaders thinking about maths teaching across a school.
FreeOpens at youtube.com
Lessons from high-performing schools
Knowledge for Teachers · with Jeanette Breen
Jeanette Breen of Templestowe Heights Primary School shares insights from her tour of some of the highest-performing schools in the UK.
FreeOpens at knowledgeforteachers.podbean.com
Curriculum as the foundation
Education Research Reading Room · with Ben Jensen
Ben Jensen of Learning First explains why curriculum matters so much for school and system improvement, drawing on his advisory work across education systems.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Fewer, deeper priorities
Education Research Reading Room · with Viviane Robinson
Viviane Robinson discusses her book Reduce Change to Increase Improvement and her engagement approach to leading school improvement.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Staff culture and retention
Knowledge for Teachers · with Simon Fairall, Lauren Naldrett and Kirby McDonald
Leaders from the Junior School of Trinity Anglican College, Albury, explain how a large school moved from islands of excellence to a coherent, low-variance instructional model.
FreeOpens at knowledgeforteachers.podbean.com
Leadership conversations
Education Research Reading Room · with Viviane Robinson
Viviane Robinson returns to discuss virtuous educational leadership and what it means for leaders to do the right work in the right way.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Leadership in Focus (NSW School Leadership Institute) · with Viviane Robinson
FreeOpens at education.nsw.gov.au
School improvement through coaching
Education Research Reading Room · with Alex Evans
Deputy headteacher Alex Evans describes how St Luke's moved from the bottom 20 per cent of schools nationally to the top 20 per cent in four years, using instructional coaching.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Education Research Reading Room · with Dylan Wiliam
Dylan Wiliam discusses how leaders can build teacher professional development around formative assessment to improve outcomes for students.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Evidence-informed leadership
Evidence into Action
Alex Quigley, Kirsten Mould and guests including Nick Brook discuss what evidence-informed leadership looks like in schools.
FreeOpens at evidenceintoaction.podbean.com
Leading a school
Education Research Reading Room · with Sue Knight
Principal Sue Knight, who has led several school turnarounds grounded in the science of learning, shares her three principles for effective school leadership.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Leading a primary school
Education Research Reading Room · with Steve Capp
Principal Steve Capp explains what it took to turn around two primary schools, with advice ranging from pedagogy to management.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Education Research Reading Room · with Greg Ashman
Greg Ashman discusses what makes Ballarat Clarendon College a high-performing school, including shared expectations, professional learning, shared lesson plans and use of data.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Vision and school culture
Knowledge for Teachers · with Ray Boyd
Ray Boyd, foundation principal of Dayton Primary School, reflects on leadership, vision and the pedagogical shift he led at West Beechboro Primary School.
FreeOpens at knowledgeforteachers.podbean.com
A whole-school case study
Education Research Reading Room · with Musumeci, McClements and Plunkett
Principal Lee Musumeci and deputies Mark McClements and Kelly Plunkett describe the approach behind Challis Community Primary School in Armadale, Western Australia.
FreeOpens at ollielovell.com
Department of Education, Victoria · Policy · Australia
Opens at www2.education.vic.gov.au
Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Hughes argues that reducing teaching to a list of approved moves strips out the subject knowledge, judgement and responsiveness that make it intellectual work, and that pupils lose out when that happens.
FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com
Teacher magazine (ACER) · Article · Australia
Opens at teachermagazine.com
AITSL · Guidelines and videos · Australia
Opens at aitsl.edu.au
Rebecca Birch (On Education) · Substack · 2025 · Australia
Birch welcomes Australia's shift towards explicit teaching but names five risks to the reform, including rushed rollout, thin resources and unclear messaging, and how leaders can avoid another pendulum swing.
FreeOpens at rebeccabirch.substack.com
Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Hughes explains how well-meant whole-school lesson structures built from cognitive science can become rigid checklists, and why subject knowledge and teacher judgement must shape how principles are used.
FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com
Department of Education, Victoria · Policy and guidance · Australia
The Victorian government school policy on Individual Education Plans. It sets out which students must have one, reminds schools of their duty to make reasonable adjustments, and links to guidance and templates.
FreeOpens at www2.education.vic.gov.au
Ambition Institute · Blog post · UK
Opens at ambition.org.uk
EducationHQ · News report · Australia
Opens at educationhq.com
Grattan Institute · Guide · Australia
Companion to the Maths Guarantee report, written for primary principals. Describes what strong whole-school maths teaching involves and the steps leaders can take to build it.
Opens at grattan.edu.au
inclusionED, with Elizabeth Dickson · Practice series · Australia
An introduction to the Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Standards for Education, written with education law expert Professor Elizabeth Dickson. Covers educators' obligations, discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
FreeOpens at inclusioned.edu.au
Australian Government Department of Education · Government resource page · Australia
The Australian Government's home for the Standards, with fact sheets, exemplars of practice and the national guide to planning personalised learning and support.
FreeOpens at education.gov.au
Holly Korbey (The Bell Ringer) · Substack · 2025 · USA
Korbey looks at how US curriculum review platforms rate materials, why each one examines only part of the picture, and why evidence of impact is so often missing when schools choose.
FreeOpens at hollykorbey.substack.com
Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Hughes reflects on a year implementing research-informed lesson principles across a trust, sharing what helps principles move from a published document to consistent, thoughtful practice in classrooms.
FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com
Jamie Clark · Blog post · 2024 · Australia
A school leader's five ingredients for embedding research in a school, from shared understanding and how learning happens to trust, context-specific professional learning and curated strategies.
FreeOpens at jamieleeclark.com
Paul Kirschner and Nidhi Sachdeva · Substack · 2026 · International
Kirschner and Sachdeva explain why expert teaching is hard to see in a lesson, warn against judging by surface features such as a lively room, and argue that student learning remains the best available measure.
FreeOpens at paulkirschner173727.substack.com
Mary Myatt (Curriculum 101) · Substack · 2026 · UK
A short challenge to lesson observations that judge teacher performance, suggesting observers look instead for evidence of what pupils are thinking and learning.
FreeOpens at marymyatt.substack.com
Trisha Jha (Publican Policy) · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Explains why content being in the curriculum often does not mean it is taught, and argues Australian systems need better visibility of what students actually learn.
FreeOpens at publicanpolicy.substack.com
Kylie Hoey · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Explains why reported progress can appear to drop when schools adopt better teaching and more reliable assessment, and how leaders can prepare parents and staff for it.
FreeOpens at kyliehoey.substack.com
Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Prompted by a Victorian primary principal's talk, Hughes examines how the phrase "our kids can't" lowers expectations, and how explicit, systematic teaching makes ambitious goals reachable for all students.
FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com
Teacher magazine (ACER) · Interview · Australia
Opens at teachermagazine.com
AITSL · Resource collection · Australia
AITSL's collection of elaborations and videos showing how the Disability Standards for Education connect to the Teacher Standards and what they ask of teachers and leaders.
FreeOpens at aitsl.edu.au
Rebecca Birch (On Education) · Substack · 2025 · Australia
Prompted by a Productivity Commission report, Birch discusses why quality-assured lesson materials matter for teacher time and student outcomes in Australia, and how they relate to teacher expertise.
FreeOpens at rebeccabirch.substack.com
Department of Education, Victoria · Policy and guidance · Australia
The Victorian policy on Student Support Groups, the meeting of school, family and others that plans support for a student with disability or diverse learning needs.
FreeOpens at www2.education.vic.gov.au
Haili Hughes · Substack · 2026 · Australia
Hughes reflects on the hostility in Australia's debates about explicit teaching and the science of reading, linking it to teacher identity and suggesting how leaders can help teachers reconsider practice.
FreeOpens at hailihughes.substack.com
Robinson, Lloyd and Rowe · 2008 · Meta-analysis
Opens at cdn.auckland.ac.nz
Grissom, Egalite and Lindsay · 2021 · Systematic synthesis
Opens at wallacefoundation.org
Leithwood, Harris and Hopkins · 2020 · Review
FreeOpens at ub-ir.bolton.ac.uk
Papers and blog · UK
Opens at ambition.org.uk
Magazine · Australia
Opens at teachermagazine.com
