Educator’s Corner

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 — Schoolcast 

ANA Ed Talks interview with Kai Vacher — Aspee Nutan Academy

National Education Policy (NEP) — 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.

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.

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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 

Jenny’s Substack: How to Be Brave

Rebecca Winthrop’s LinkedIn newsletter: Winthrop’s World of Education

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.

Related episodes:

Episode 24 — Inside the Fastest Growing School in the UK (with Hugh Viney)

Episode 17 — Why have Children Stopped Reading (with Daisy Christodoulou)

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Stress, staffing pressures, and rising student needs mean schools can’t leave mental health to chance. But how do you move from creating policies to embedding awareness across a whole team?

In this episode, Kai talks to George Peterkin, a qualified teacher, accredited therapeutic counsellor, and founder of Mind Your Health. George has been delivering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training at British School Muscat, equipping staff with practical tools, language, and culture-shaping habits that make mental health awareness part of our everyday.

They discuss:

• What Mental Health First Aid is and how it differs from wellbeing

• Practical tools staff can use to support student and colleague wellbeing

• Why schools should consider using student artwork to deliver mental health education 

• How to embed MHFA into daily routines across the school curriculum

  
  

About Our Guest

George Peterson is a qualified teacher, accredited therapeutic counsellor, and founder of Mind Your Health Limited. He delivers Mental Health First Aid training and practical wellbeing programmes for schools and organisations worldwide, blending evidence-based strategies with engaging, classroom-tested practice.

Resources

Mind Your Health Limited website

George Peterkin on LinkedIn

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.

Related episodes:

Episode 23 — Is Kindness the Key to Effective Leadership (with Joanna Povall)

Episode 18 — How to Develop Empathy as a Teacher or School Leader (with Ed Kirwan)

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In this episode, Kai and George discuss:

3:34 How George went from classics teacher to MHFA trainer

3:23 What is Mental Health First Aid?

5:42 Why empowerment is key to promoting mental health in schools

6:38 Practical skills for mental health education

10:10 The real impact of MHFA training on staff and students

14:31 Small culture shifts that have a huge impact on wellbeing

25:19 Getting comfortable with the uncomfortable

With 1.28 million students persistently absent from school in the UK, it’s clear that the traditional classroom isn’t the right fit for everyone. But what does that mean for the future of education? For many families, the answer lies online. 

In this episode, Kai talks to Hugh Viney, founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy. Starting with just four students in 2021, Minerva now supports over 1,200 learners worldwide. It has become the UK’s fastest-growing school and a shining example of how online learning can help meet the diverse needs of today’s students. 

They discuss:

• Why online education is better than traditional schooling for some families
• How Minerva Virtual Academy grew from 4 to 1,200 students in just four years
• The role of one-to-one mentoring, flexibility, and community in student success
• Hugh’s vision for the future of global education

In this episode, Kai and Hugh discuss:

2:48 Which students thrive at Minerva Virtual Academy?

5:36 Inside the flipped model, where 60% of lessons are self-directed

6:11 How MVA ensures every student gets personalised attention

7:13 Building a real global community

8:43 What does a typical week at MVA look like?

22:24 The real impact of virtual learning on results and attendance

27:25 How MVA plans to expand beyond the UK

About Our Guest

Hugh Viney is the founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy, the UK’s fastest-growing school. Launched in 2021, Minerva serves over a thousand students across 60 countries, offering GCSEs and A-levels through a flexible online model that combines self-directed learning, live lessons, and weekly one-to-one mentoring. Hugh is also the founder of Minerva Tutors and has been recognised as a pioneer in reshaping education for the modern era.

ResourcesMinerva Virtual Academy website

Classlist (Parent community app)

Pupil absence in schools in England. Autumn 2024/25

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.

Related episodes:

Episode 20 - Going Remote: the solution to the teacher recruitment crisis? With Mark Steed

Episode 13 - Why AI must not replace teachers. With Priya Lakhani

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What are the qualities of a good school leader? Many people point to traits like confidence, decisiveness and resilience. But could kindness be the real key to bringing the best out in your team?

In this episode, Kai talks to Joanna Povall, Principal of Wales International School in Abu Dhabi, to explore why kindness is the sharpest tool a leader has. 

They discuss:

• What it means to lead with kindness
• Why being kind isn’t a weakness, but a strength
• How compassion helps leaders navigate challenges and bring the best out of their staff
• Joanna’s CHASE framework to show kindness as an education leader

In this episode, Kai and Joanna discuss:

02:43 How Princess Diana’s legacy shapes school culture

04:04 Why being kind is an important leadership quality, not a weakness

10:09 Joanna’s CHASE framework for leading with kindness

16:26 Why kindness and accountability go hand in hand

20:14 Words we should avoid as educators

25:56 Tips for keeping ego in check while showing strength

29:07 How “chasing kindness” transforms

34:04 Joanna’s advice to aspiring leaders

About Our Guest

Joanna Povall is the Principal of Wales International School, Abu Dhabi, named in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales. A respected international school leader, she is the creator of the CHASE framework for kindness in leadership. Joanna speaks regularly at conferences worldwide and is the author of an upcoming book on leadership and kindness.

Resources

• Scott, K. (2017). Radical Candor. St. Martin's Press

• Folkman, J. (2022). The Power of Kindness in Leadership. Forbes

• Wales International School, Abu Dhabi (@walesinternationalschool6422)

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.

Related episodes of Educator’s Corner:

Episode 18: Connecting with Empathy with Ed Kirwan

Episode 14: Could this be more important than AI? with Leo Thompson

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What does it mean to find your ikigai, and why might that be the key to saving our planet?

In this episode, Kai talks to Jeroen van de Waal, founder of OrcaNation, the BlueBeat Group and The Reef Company. Following a lively keynote session at British School Muscat, Jeroen reflects on his journey from corporate CEO to ocean conservationist and how he's on a mission to reconnect 8 billion people with nature.

In this episode, Kai and Jeroen discuss:

01:49 Jeroen’s mission (and how it started)
05:30 Unlocking a different way of thinking
07:14 A corporate social responsibility plan
10:38 Discovering ikigai during garden leave
12:30 How the BlueBeat Group was born
14:15 Why experiential learning matters more than ever
18:03 The power of purpose and how to find it
23:22 Why life skills are critical in the age of AI
25:55 Practical steps we can take to support ocean health
32:20 Quickfire student Q&A

About Our Guest
Jeroen van de Waal is the founder of the BlueBeat Group, OrcaNation, and The Reef Company. A former corporate CEO turned conservationist, Jeroen now leads global initiatives in ocean education, reef regeneration, and tech-for-good projects, including underwater satellite systems. His mission: to save the ocean, the planet, and ourselves.

Resources

• OrcaNation website
• The Ocean Cleanup – Boyan Slat website
• Chan Kim, W. and Mauborgne, R. (2005). Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant. Harvard Business Review Press.
• Waal, J. (2024). Together We Can Turn Tides: A Manifesto to Save the Oceans, Planet & Ourselves. Rethink Press

Related episodes of the Educator’s Corner podcast:
Episode 14: Could this be more important than AI? With Leo Thompson
Episode 13: Why AI must not replace teachers with Priya Lakhani

Special Thanks
A big thank you to Brody, Joel, Hassen, Vrinda, Nour, and all the students who asked Jeroen questions during his visit to British School Muscat.

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Hosted by Kai Vacher
Produced by Alfie B, Stuart Pardoe, Zoe Snell, and Marion James
A BSM BSS production
Post-production by Communicating for Impact

Could hybrid schools be the answer? Mark Steed returns to the Educator’s Corner podcast to continue the conversation on remote teaching, flexible models, and reimagining the future of schooling.

Following their packed session at the COBIS Conference in London, Kai and Mark pick up where they left off. In this episode, they explore how innovative teaching models could help address two major challenges: teacher recruitment and student attendance.

In this episode, Kai and Mark discuss:

01:26 Why some schools have no choice but to go hybrid

06:21 Why paying teachers more isn’t the whole solution

07:15 What good remote teaching looks like post-COVID

10:01 The 25% problem: student absence and disengagement

13:10 The rise of online schools and the case for hybrid

22:30 Designing the Hybrid Academy: layout, tech, and student flow

27:10 How hybrid offers flexibility for both teachers and learners

30:47 From cost-cutting to curriculum expansion: the hybrid advantage

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.

Resources

• COBIS website
• The Good Schools Guide
• Jestico + Whiles - Architects of the ‘hybrid academy’
• Steed Education – consultancy services

Related episodes of the Educator's Corner podcast:

• Episode 19: Beyond the Myths: Your guide to international teaching with Laura Rigney
• Episode 20: Going Remote: the solution to the teacher recruitment crisis?  With Mark Steed

Save the Date
Join Mark and Kai in person for an open conversation about hybrid schooling and reimagining the future of education.
🗓️ Tuesday 20 January 2026
📍 Location TBC. Follow Kai and Mark on LinkedIn for updates

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Could going remote really be the solution to the teacher recruitment crisis? Recent survey findings from Teacher Horizons suggest online teaching is here to stay, but not everyone agrees. 

Director and Consultant at Steed Education, Mark Steed, rejoins the Educator's Corner podcast to discuss whether remote teaching really is a viable solution to the current teacher shortage. 

Join us as we discuss: 

• Why we find ourselves in the midst of a recruitment crisis 

• What 1,600 teachers think about the future of teaching

• Lessons from British School Muscat's venture into remote teaching for A-level subjects

• The shift towards hybrid schools and the need for varied pedagogical approaches

By breaking down data from the Teacher Horizons survey and sharing insights from our own experiences, we explore whether online teaching is the answer to the teacher recruitment challenges we face. 

In this episode, learn about:

• 00:43 The persistent teacher recruitment challenge
• 6:17 Factors contributing to the teacher shortage
• 08:01 Exploring remote teaching as a potential solution
• 13:41 Key insights from the Teacher Horizons’ data
• 17:59 Lessons learned from implementing remote teaching
• 23:52 The importance of varied pedagogical approaches online
• 27:58 The reality of specialist teacher shortages
• 36:59 Will going remote solve the teacher shortage?
• 40:41 Moving towards hybrid schools

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.

Resources

• COBIS website (including the upcoming conference)
• COBIS accreditation reports
• Steed Education - specialist educational consultancy supporting schools
• Teacher Horizons - resources and reports

Related episodes of the Educator's Corner podcast:

• Episode 6: The Global Teacher Recruitment Crisis: Looming challenge or an opportunity for innovation? Part 1 with Mark Steed
• Episode 8: The Global Teacher Recruitment Crisis: Hybrid schooling and other innovative solutions. Part 2 with Mark Steed
• Episode 19: Beyond the Myths: Your guide to international teaching with Laura Rigney

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.

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Laura Rigney, Director of School Services at Teacher Horizons, joins Kai to dispel common myths about teaching internationally. Discover the realities of career opportunities, salary expectations, and the diverse experiences available in international schools.

In this episode:

• 02:39 Myth 1: International teachers are misfits, missionaries, or mercenaries.
• 06:46 Myth 2: You can't do your ECT year abroad
• 11:17 Myth 3: Tier one schools are the only desirable option
• 19:44 Myth 4: Teaching abroad is only for young, single professionals
• 23:25 Myth 5: Teaching abroad is financially lucrative
• 27:14 Cost of living and quality of life indices
• 32:58 Researching outgoings and taxes
• 39:51 Bottom Line It Round: Tips for applicants

About Our Guest

Laura Rigney is the Director of School Services at Teacher Horizons, with extensive experience placing teachers and leaders in international schools worldwide.

Resources

• Department for Education (DfE) website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-education
• FOBISIA: Federation of British International Schools in Asia. https://www.fobisia.org/
• COBIS: Council of British International Schools. https://www.cobis.org.uk/
• BSME: British Schools in the Middle East. https://www.bsme.org.uk/
• Teacher Horizons: for salary data and international school information. https://www.teacherhorizons.com/

Join the conversation

What are your experiences with teaching internationally? Share your thoughts with Kai on LinkedIn or YouTube @BSMuscat

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Empathy has been named one of the most important leadership skills. But what does empathy mean? Can it be taught? If so, how can teachers and aspiring leaders develop empathy?

In this inspiring conversation, Ed Kirwan, founder and CEO of Empathy Studios and Empathy Week, explains how empathy can break down barriers, boost student engagement, improve behaviour and allow everyone to thrive. 

Ed shares:

• What empathy truly means

• Why empathy is so important for teachers and leaders

• How to cultivate this vital 21st-century skill

Through sharing his personal journey, practical strategies, and insights, Ed offers an inspiring take on why and how we should all develop empathy.

In this episode

• 1:57 Ed's journey with empathy
• 8:35 What is empathy?
• 11:15 Empathy vs. sympathy and kindness
• 16:16 Rate my empathy
• 17:41 Donald Trump and empathy
• 19:42 Steve Jobs and empathy
• 21:48 Is Taylor Swift empathetic?
• 25:00 Can you be too empathetic?
• 30:32 Why empathy matters
• 31:23 Is empathy learnable?
• 33:47 Practical tips for developing empathy
• 37:30 Empathy Week
• 45:21 Bottom Line It Round
• 46:14 Developing our own empathy

About Our Guest

Ed Kirwan is the CEO and founder of Empathy Week and Empathy Studios. His award-winning global educational event has engaged over 175,000 people, helping teachers and students develop the skill of empathy. This is part of his wider mission to build an #EmpathyGeneration. 

Articles

• Demetriou, H. (2018) Empathy, Emotion and Education. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Galoustian, G. (2022) Greater Empathy in Adolescents Helps Prevent Bias-based Cyberbullying

Resources

• Born Free. Animal and wildlife charity
• Empathy Week and Empathy Studios
• Slido and Mentimeter survey tools
• No Isolation reduces school absence with AV1 robots

Join the conversation
How are you building empathy in your classrooms? Share your thoughts with Kai on LinkedIn or YouTube @BSMuscat

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.

Credits

Hosted by Kai Vacher

Produced by Stuart Pardoe, Zoe Snell, and Marion James

A BSM BSS production