School leaders

In this Q&A, we speak to Kirsten Hodgson and Bryan Kilkenny from St Monica’s College about their approach to explicit instruction, how they use professional learning to support staff in shifting their practice, and what they’ve learned from visiting other schools that have undertaken a similar journey.

We’re joined by Professor David Hopkins ahead of his keynote at ACER’s Research Conference 2025, titled ‘Unleashing Greatness – A Strategy for School Improvement’. Our conversation zeros in on one of the 8 steps of his strategy, instructional leadership, and includes practical pointers and plenty to reflect on in relation to your own context and practice.

In this episode of our Global Education podcast, Teacher Editor Jo Earp talks to Soukdalone Phommathep – Foundation Principal of Lab Langban in Laos – about its growth from humble beginnings, learning while having fun, the importance of student voice, and a playful design touch that’s enjoyed by adults just as much as the children.

As a teacher or school leader, what are the mental health needs of your students? How do you promote mental health and wellbeing? What would a whole-school approach look like in your own context? Educational and Developmental Psychologist Dr Jane Kirkham shares details of an organisational tool called the ‘Wellbeing Tree’.

How can we transform education practice to enable holistic growth for all students? That’s the topic for Research Conference 2025. In this Q&A, we speak with Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy – Research Director for ACER’s Centre for School and System Improvement – about the theme, and why it’s an important topic for school leaders and teachers.

In Series 3 of our School Assembly podcast, we’re following Dan McShea – Foundation Principal of the new P-12 Notre Dame College on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. Episode 2 is all about student enrolments – from juggling the many enrolment interviews, to some eye-catching ways of selling a vision for a school that doesn’t exist yet.

From the uniform and building names to community consultation and learning, Aboriginal perspectives and culture is woven into the fabric of Googong Public School. Teacher speaks to principal Rebekah Lindsay, a 2024 NAIDOC Teacher of the Year Award winner, about their approach and the success it’s bringing.

‘We weren’t looking at expanding (the program) but the demand from the education sector was strong.’ Researchers behind the trial of a meditation program for primary students have just launched a new study focusing on principals and teachers. In this article, we find out more from Dr Peta Stapleton.

As a school leader, what’s been your biggest achievement of the last month? What about a challenge or hurdle you’ve had to overcome? And what’s been a key learning for you in your own practice? In this episode of Teacher Staffroom, we take a look at some of the leadership-focused content we’ve published recently.

High quality implementation of educational approaches can have a significant impact on improving students' outcomes. But when it comes to implementing a new approach, how can schools ensure it’s being done effectively? We speak with AERO’s Kate Griffiths.