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Guest: Juliëtte van Eerdewijk - Educational Consultant and School Leader

Overview

In this episode, we sit down with Juliëtte to explore how language development can transform international school leadership and student success.

Key Discussion Points

• Personal Journey and Perspective

Juliëtte brings a unique perspective as a native Dutch speaker who mastered English for her professional career. Her personal experience navigating language acquisition informs her entire approach to educational leadership, giving her authentic empathy for language learners and their challenges.

• Language as Core School Strategy

Rather than treating language support as a supplementary programme, Juliëtte advocates for positioning language development as the central pillar of school improvement. She argues that curriculum design, assessment practices, and pedagogical approaches should all be built with language development at their core—benefiting not just multilingual learners, but all students.

• Practical Tools for Educators

Drawing from her lived experience, Juliëtte equips teachers and school leaders with concrete strategies and techniques to support language learners effectively. Her approach combines empathy with actionable methods that can be implemented across different educational contexts.

• Challenging Traditional Models

Juliëtte questions conventional leadership structures in British International Schools, pushing for more inclusive environments where students, parents, and staff members are genuinely heard and valued—regardless of their English proficiency or native language background.

The Multilingual Reality

The conversation raises a critical question for international schools: Are our institutions truly designed to serve the multilingual reality of modern international education? As linguistic competence becomes increasingly valuable in our globalised world, Juliëtte's perspective offers essential insights for school transformation.

Why It Matters

This conversation challenges international educators to reconsider how language shapes every aspect of school life—from curriculum to culture—and offers a roadmap for creating more inclusive, effective learning environments for diverse communities worldwide.

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Episode Summary

In this episode, we unpack our conversation with Pat Clark, exploring four key leadership insights that challenged our thinking:

"It takes a very strong leader to give the power away" We discuss how school leaders can consistently develop their team leaders' skills and motivation, and why empowering others requires confidence, not weakness.

"Heads can make the weather -- alongside a good team" An honest look at self-awareness in leadership: recognising when we're not showing up at our best, understanding our unintended impact on the school community, and the importance of recovery and repair.

"Changing culture takes time -- you can shift it one step at a time" We explore the value of being clear and honest about "what we do around here" - the why, what, and how - and making incremental improvements rather than seeking overnight transformation.

"Look in the mirror, look out the window" Pat's powerful framework for when things go wrong: taking personal responsibility while inviting the team into problem-solving and improvement.

A reminder that headship is tough work, and it's okay to acknowledge that your leadership was good enough today while striving to be even better tomorrow.

What resonated with you from this conversation? We'd love to hear your takeaways.

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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Pat, a distinguished educator whose remarkable six-decade career spans classroom teaching, school leadership, and international leadership training. Her energy and passion for the profession remain as vibrant as ever, offering a masterclass in sustained professional commitment.

Key Insights

Throughout the conversation, Pat shares profound reflections on what sustains school leaders through the inevitable challenges of educational leadership. Her wisdom is drawn from decades of firsthand experience navigating the complexities of leading educational communities.

Essential Advice for School Leaders

Pat emphasises several core principles for thriving in school leadership:

Stay Humble – Effective leadership begins with humility and a willingness to learn from everyone in your community.

Embrace Risk-Taking – Growth and innovation require stepping outside your comfort zone and being willing to try new approaches.

Trust Your Competence – Combat self doubt by recognising that you are, indeed, good enough for the role you hold.

Recognise Your Privilege – Leading a school community is a unique opportunity to shape lives and create positive impact.

Celebrate Small Wins – Remember that making even a small difference each day is meaningful and worthwhile.

Takeaway

Pat's enduring passion for education demonstrates that school leadership, when approached with the right mindset, can be a source of energy and fulfilment throughout one's entire career and beyond. Her message is clear: leadership is both a privilege and an opportunity to create lasting positive change in the lives of students, staff, and communities.