In this episode, Anna Bateman from Halcyon Education explores how schools can rebuild trust, strengthen relationships, and use leadership, data, and collaboration to create a sustainable culture of wellbeing for staff and students.

Take 1, We’re in a Trust Recession “Trust recession” describes the decline in confidence across schools. Parents trust schools less, staff trust leadership less (Teacher Wellbeing Index), and young people trust institutions less. In international schools, high mobility makes trust even more crucial. AI accelerates this shift, not inherently negative, but changing how people access information, support, and connection. The key question, how do schools respond to growing disconnection?

Take 2, Relational Culture Needs Strategy Wellbeing is often reactive. A planned relational culture, with shared language and collective ownership, makes mental health a school wide responsibility rather than one person’s job. Strategic leadership is essential to embed it.

Take 3, Measure What Matters Schools care about wellbeing but may lack clarity on needs. Using validated tools alongside student and staff voice reveals patterns, who’s struggling, what works, and where intervention is needed. Data doesn’t replace professional judgement, it informs and strengthens it.

Take 4, Staff Wellbeing Is Foundational Wellbeing isn’t a perk, it’s the foundation of school culture. Staff who feel trusted and supported extend that trust to students. In a world where AI can deliver content, human connection is what makes schools irreplaceable, and supporting staff is key.

Take 5, You Can’t Do This Alone Many wellbeing leaders work in isolation. Networks provide support, shared thinking, and strategic insight. In January 2026, I launched a Senior Mental Health Leads network. With enough interest, an international focused group will follow.

International Senior Mental Health Leads Network, Initial Session Join Anna Bateman online on 24th April at 12pm (GMT+1) to connect with senior mental health professionals worldwide. Share ideas, tackle challenges, and strengthen leadership in an informal, supportive setting.

Whether experienced or passionate about mental health, this network offers a space to learn and grow together. Secure your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/international-senior-mental-health-leads-network-initial-session-tickets-1984625290669

Do you have an idea or area of expertise you would like to share on the ISN podcast? Please submit your ideas here: https://www.pages.isn.education/5-takes-podcast

1. Be curious: learn about yourself Building strong networks and relationships starts with understanding yourself. What are your key strengths, and how can you use them effectively? Are there aspects of your personality you could develop further? As Socrates advised, “Know thyself.”

Tools like the VIA Character Strengths survey and the 16 Personalities assessment can offer useful insights into your traits and how others may perceive you. Reflecting on these perspectives can help you build rapport more intentionally and identify emotional or psychological barriers that may have held you back.

2. Be brave Push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Reach out to someone you admire on LinkedIn or a similar platform and start a conversation - perhaps asking if they mentor or support aspiring leaders. Join discussions on topics that interest you and connect with others online.

Networks like WomenEd provide fantastic opportunities to meet women and allies from around the world. I lead the WomenEd Italy network, where members support one another with advice and inspiration. At conferences or events, check the speaker or delegate list, introduce yourself, exchange details, and follow up afterwards.

3. Nurture connections close to you Some of the most valuable learning comes from the people you work with. I have learnt a great deal from the leaders I worked for, and now from fellow heads with whom I collaborate at country and group level.

Whatever stage of your career you are at, connect with others in similar roles. Sharing experiences - both successes and challenges - builds trust and lasting professional relationships. I still rely on colleagues’ perspectives when I need fresh thinking on complex decisions or new strategies.

4. Put yourself forward Volunteer to lead professional learning, give a presentation, attend a conference, take a course, or lead an action research project. Then share what you learned and invite others to join you. Every opportunity can help you grow as a professional.

Programmes such as CIS visits and other accreditation work offer powerful professional development and connect you with educators worldwide.

Don’t wait to be invited - someone else may already have stepped forward. Be proactive about your career: make a plan, review your goals regularly, and embrace your ambition. Then seek out the people and opportunities that will help you achieve it.

5. Give back Cultivate gratitude - it benefits both you and those around you. As your network grows, think about how you can support others. Promote someone’s work, nominate them for an award, mention their achievements, or recommend them for an opportunity.

An art installation by Marinella Senatore in Florence during the first COVID Christmas displayed a powerful message: “We rise by lifting others.” Another read: “Breathe; you are enough.”

These words resonate strongly with educators, who give so much to others. By supporting those around us, we strengthen our communities - and ourselves.

Take 1) Creating a Culture of mental health support Whatever role you play in a school or organization, it’s important for you and everyone you work with to be someone willing to act if a person may be in need of mental health support. This can be through starting a committee, facilitating a workshop, writing newsletters or any other way you can communicate and remind people of what to do if you are worried about someone. The culture created should be that is a collective responsibility to recognize, understand, and respond appropriately to someone experiencing a mental health issue.

Take 2) Notice the signs and trust your gut

The signs of someone who may be in need of mental health support can be obvious or subtle but it is important to notice when they happen. Has there been a change in their behavior, are they experiencing mood swings, becoming withdrawn, voicing concerns, or are they going through high levels of stress, grief, or health issues? This is often the first sign to an outsider that something may be happening to a friend or colleague. If you feel something is amiss, or there has been a change, it could be hard to place exactly what that may be. It is important to trust your gut. It is far better to try and support someone and be wrong than to have a feeling about it and fail to act.

Take 3) Have the conversation

If you suspect someone may be experiencing mental health distress, it is important to speak to them. Most of us are not trained psychologists and the conversation needs you to just ask the person if they are ok. Mention a behavior you may have noticed, share that you are worried and most importantly, actively listen with empathy. Allow them to speak and validate their feelings. We can’t fix their problems for them, but we can be a pillar of support and encouragement.

Take 4) Signpost

If the conversation has led to the person potentially needing help, it is important to signpost them to appropriate support. In schools I have worked in we have kept an up-to-date contact list of doctors and therapists faculty can access and shared this in newsletters and kept available to everyone on shared drives. This can then be used to provide the person who may be in need of support with the resources to access professional help. This is especially important in schools with staff from around the world who may be new to a country and unaware of the help available. If applicable, also share how the health insurance operates if they do seek help and a step-by-step guide on what to do. These don’t have to be country specific if resources are limited in person, there are also excellent tele-health services available that some insurances will cover the cost for if other options aren’t viable.

Take 5) Follow Up

It will often take more than one conversation and more than one attempt to signpost before a person feels safe enough to get help. Follow up with the person, ask if they were able to contact the services you signposted, offer any help such as calling to make an appointment, or accompanying them to the location.

Do you have an idea or area of expertise you would like to share on the ISN podcast? Please submit your ideas here: https://www.pages.isn.education/5-takes-podcast

Drawing on her new book, Hannah Wilson, Director of The Belonging Effect, shares five practical insights on building belonging in schools.

Take 1) Introduction: Why should we care about DEIB?

• It does not have to happen to you to matter to you.
• Understanding power and privilege.
• We need to stand up, speak out, show support for issues impacting others.

Take 2) Belonging in Society: How do we develop it?

• Increased hate crimes.
• Riots.
• Flags.
• Media and social media.
• Derogatory language.

Take 3) Belonging in Schools: How do we change it?

• Intentional inclusion. By design.
• Challenging assumptions and biases.
• High attrition and exclusion rates.
• Strategic intent from governance.

Take 4) Belonging in the Staffroom: How do we disrupt it?

• Designing for inclusion.
• Diversifying recruitment.
• Talent pipeline and retention initiatives.
• ITTE and governance.
• Inclusive workplaces.

Take 5) Belonging in the Classroom: How do we foster it?

• Inclusive classrooms.
• Psychological safety.
• Diverse curriculum.
• Better representation.

Call to Action: What do we do next?

• Consciousness, Confidence, Competence
• Curiosity v Criticality
• Allyship
• Shaping intention into impact.

Links and Resources

Find the book here: https://www.awesomebooks.com/book/9781036206451/a-little-guide-for-teachers-cultivating-belonging-in-schools

Secure your place and join the virtual book launch on 9th February here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1574054442209?aff=oddtdtcreator

Learn more about The Belonging Effect here: https://www.thebelongingeffect.co.uk/

Episode 1, 2026: John Dolman, The AI English Teacher – 5 Ways Students Can Use AI to Learn

In this episode, we sit down with John Dolman, The AI English Teacher, who shares five practical ways students can use AI to enhance learning rather than shortcut it.

Take 1: Have the Dialogue Start by simply talking with students about their AI use. Focus groups and surveys help uncover whether students are using AI effectively or not. Avoid assumptions—understanding their habits gives you data to guide discussions and teaching.

Take 2: The Socratic Tutor Use AI as a guided tutor. LLMs can walk students through topics, answer questions, and summarize learning. The key is crafting prompts that position the AI as a Socratic tutor, e.g., “Explain this topic with questions and answers and summarize in 3–4 bullet points.” This encourages dialogue, comprehension, and active learning rather than passive reading.

Take 3: The Quizmaster AI is excellent for quizzing and memorization—key for building knowledge schemas. Students can create flashcards, interactive quizzes, or even games like Jeopardy. Ground the AI with specific content or exam material, and use it as a sparring partner in groups. This turns study into an interactive, engaging process while reinforcing knowledge.

Take 4: The Essay Explainer Instead of generating essays, students can use AI to analyze structure. Feed in high-quality essays or model answers and have the AI break them down into components, scaffolds, or step-by-step reasoning. This exposes the underlying patterns in good writing, encourages metacognition, and helps students understand how to structure their own work. AI can also show its “thinking” for each step, helping students explore strategies and techniques.

Take 5: The Feedback Loop AI is most effective when used for feedback, not creation. After students write their work, AI can provide critiques and suggestions based on specifications, model answers, or examiner reports. The goal is to identify patterns, understand strengths and weaknesses, and then make improvements independently. Think of AI like a personal trainer: it guides, advises, and critiques, but the learning happens when the student takes action themselves.

Links

Learn more about John Dolman: https://theaienglishteacher.wordpress.com/

Do you have a great idea for the ISN podcast? Submit your ideas and feature here: https://www.pages.isn.education/5-takes-podcast

In this panel discussion, our experts highlight the impact of deepfakes, algorithm influence and provide supportive strategies to help students navigate the flood of misinformation online.

Speakers:

John Mikton – Digital Learning Facilitator, International School of Geneva

John Dolman – The AI English Teacher; Media & English Teacher, Ponteland International School

Christopher Blackwood – Head of Digital Innovation, Victory Heights Primary School

Elliot Newman – Co-Founder, Wellio

Key takeaways

• Practical Tools for Media Literacy: Gain hands-on strategies and resources to help students critically evaluate news, social media, and online content for credibility and accuracy.
• Identifying Misinformation: Learn how to teach students to recognise common signs of misinformation and disinformation in both traditional and digital media.
• Building Critical Thinking Skills: Explore methods for fostering independent, critical thinking in students, empowering them to question sources and cross-check information.
• Navigating a Changing Digital Landscape: Understand the impact of social media platforms removal of fact-checkers, and how to adapt your teaching to these shifts.
• Creating a Culture of Responsible Media Consumption: Discover ways to instil a sense of digital and ethical responsibility in your students, preparing them to engage thoughtfully in the digital world.

Resources

What is True: Media Literacy: Recalibrating Truth

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To share your story, thoughts or ideas with the ISN community, please send your article draft, podcast or event ideas by emailing our Head of Community at [email protected]

Safeguarding, mental health and well-being experts analyse the findings of Jonathan Haidt's ground-breaking book.

Speakers

Sian Jorgensen: Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer, International Schools Specialist, ©SAFE Interviewing Trainer

Hayley Wilson: Deputy Head of Secondary School (Pastoral Community and Wellbeing) at Kellet School, The British International School in Hong Kong

Anna Bateman: Senior Education Consultant, Specialising in Mental Health Strategy and Training.

Jamie Ganley: Head of Sales at The National College

Reports and resources

Public attitudes to smart phones 2025 https://www.moreincommon.org.uk/media/flrnzo5x/public-attitudes-to-smartphones-social-media-and-online-safety-1.pdf

Lost boys report https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/library/lost-boys

The Instagram post from the guardian that helped launch Kellett School |British International School Hong Kong's phone free school considerations https://www.instagram.com/guardian_us/p/C1pF8NvLHr7/

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To share your story, thoughts or ideas with the ISN community, please send your article draft directly to our editorial team here, or email us at [email protected]

In this session, international school leaders and experts, Mark Leppard MBE, Damian Bacchoo, Jarrett Brown and Jamie Ganley delve into Personalised CPD for Teachers' Growth and School Success, sponsored by our partner The National College.

Personalised CPD is reshaping how international schools approach professional learning. When educators take ownership of their growth and leaders empower their teams with the autonomy to design their own CPD journeys; professional development becomes purposeful, motivating and transformative. In this session, our experienced panel will explore how this approach benefits all stakeholders, how educators can take ownership of their CPD journey and how leaders can develop personalised CPD frameworks within their schools.

Key themes:

• How to take ownership of your CPD journey so it aligns with your goals and passions, shaping your professional growth around what matters most and makes CPD motivating and meaningful.
• How leaders can design personalised CPD frameworks that engage and energise staff, giving teachers real choice and autonomy while still supporting whole-school priorities and strengthening collaboration.
• How practical tools can be used to embed coaching, reflection, and choice into a school’s development culture, making these practices a natural, everyday rhythm rather than an occasional initiative.
• How international schools can implement personalised CPD successfully, improving teacher engagement, building expertise, and benefiting students, with real examples you could adapt in your own context.

In this episode, Jarrett Brown, Secondary Principal at ISA International Education Group, shares best practices for fostering meaningful and engaging language learning.

Take 1) Go back to basics: Get students to practice in the classroom as much as possible because they won’t have opportunities elsewhere.

Take 2) Library meets students' expectations: Having books appropriate for the language level and age appropriate level of the students. We don't want books that are Little Bobby going to school, but something for middle school that is more age appropriate

Take 3) Competitions that bring enthusiasm: Everyone likes prizes, and having speaking contests, reading contests, library monthly focus genres, mystery books

Take 4) Make it meaningful: Shouldn't just be recitation, but students need to be active out of the classroom practicing English. Go to the canteen and practice words like "fork" or "knife" or "I would like some more broccoli please"

Take 5) Have material relevant to them: Curriculum shouldn't be talking about Shakespeare, Henry Viii or Abraham Lincoln- we should have material relevant and interesting for the

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To share your 5 takes epiosde with the ISN community, please your ideas directly to [email protected]

In this episode, Abigail Alexis-Olubuyide, Head of Primary at The British School of Beijing, explores how Martin Seligman’s PERMA Model can be used to foster a culture of flourishing.

5 takes

1) Positive Emotions Create Upward Spirals

2) Engagement Flows Through Strengths

3) High-Trust Relationships Underpins Flourishing

4) Connect to a Higher Purpose Through Meaning

5) Frame Accomplishments as Progress That Inspires Growth

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If you would like to feature on the ISN podcast please contact us by emailing our community manager [email protected]