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I write about education, leadership and the future of learning from the perspective of an educator, school leader, author and parent. My work spans British and international education, and I am particularly interested in what enables young people, educators and organisations not simply to succeed, but to thrive.

Here I share ideas, research and reflections on educational leadership, academic excellence, belonging, innovation and the changing world our young people are preparing to enter. At the heart of my work is a simple belief: education should open possibilities, develop human potential and create a more equitable future.

Liz Free FCCT FRSA

Harry, Meghan and the Global Pull of British Education

Harry and Meghan’s return to Britain highlights a wider global trend: families are increasingly prepared to cross borders for the education they want. British education still holds remarkable international appeal, but sustaining that pull will depend on combining academic excellence with belonging, breadth and genuine preparation for the future.

Peace, Justice and the Power of Words

Peace, Justice, and the Power of Words
As the world reels from the violent death of Charlie Kirk, I reflect on what it truly means to be a “peacemaker.” Words may not cause violence, yet they can seed division and hate. Drawing on the UN’s vision for peaceful, inclusive societies and the International Baccalaureate’s mission of intercultural understanding, I explore how listening, empathy, and education can help us move beyond polarisation.

Women leading change in education; empowering women in education to lead with confidence, challenge barriers, and drive change. International Schools Podcast

https://www.theinternationalschoolspodcast.com/e/159-women-leading-change-in-education/ Listen here Liz Free CEO International School RheitnalCo-Strategic Lead Europe WomenEd Vivienne Porritt OBECo-founder Global Strategic Leader #WomenEd Nancy SquicciariniHead of the Middle Leader Certificate for ECIS Co-Strategic Lead Europe WomenEd About Liz Free Liz Free is a co-founder of #WomenEd Nederlands and Strategic Leader for #WomenEd Europe. Liz has been a teacher and head teacher in… Continue reading Women leading change in education; empowering women in education to lead with confidence, challenge barriers, and drive change. International Schools Podcast

Teachers Talk Radio: Women as Leaders in Education Part 2

Teachers Talk Radio|3/21/2024 Michelle is joined by special guest Liz Free to discuss the challenges faced by women in education and how they are being overcome every day. At what rate are glass ceilings being smashed? We find out!

Disruptors, Innovators, Changemakers: The Global WomenEd Network

Vivienne Porritt with Lisa Hannay and Liz Free explore how the WomenEd network has connected women leaders, given them a voice and opened up opportunities for professional and personal development. Published by Professional Development Today in April 2023 Connecting, supporting and empowering women leaders The WomenEd network inspires and supports women educators and leaders to… Continue reading Disruptors, Innovators, Changemakers: The Global WomenEd Network

Welcoming Students Who are Displaced in Your Community: Traveling to Switzerland

I was delighted to work with the inspiring Nilmini Ratwatte Henstridge (@NRatwatte) to consider how we can best support displaced students in the international school community. Having experienced displacement in her own life, her insights and reflections are so pertinent valuable for us all.Please listen away and also read Nilmini’s piece. https://www.schoolrubric.org/welcoming-students-who-are-displaced-in-your-community-traveling-to-switzerland/

I’m 33rd in the world!

Apart from quite liking the appearance of the number 33, I now am properly branded 33 (not in age unfortunately!). Today, I unexpectedly received an email from ISC Research informing me that I am officially one of the top influencers of 2021 within international education; I am 33rd. ISC Research, the leading provider of English-medium… Continue reading I’m 33rd in the world!

Wellbeing Around the World: Focusing on what matters

n the latest article in our Wellbeing Around the World series, we chat to Liz Free, CEO and director at International School Rheintal (ISR) in Switzerland, an IB World School, about how she made improving staff wellbeing a key focus when she took on her role and the initiatives she introduced to deliver on this aim.

Being Braver: How Can You Make Steps Into Leadership?

First published 14/06/21 on the International Schools Network (ISN) https://edco-isn-staging.edcowebsites.co.uk/articles/open/being-braver-how-can-you-make-steps-into-leadership/ We need great leaders, full stop. This matters. This matters because every person working in our schools matters. And it is our leaders in our communities that act as the cohesion, the cohesive unifying force that supports us all on our paths, empowering our community. … Continue reading Being Braver: How Can You Make Steps Into Leadership?

To the ISR class of 2020-2021

Yesterday, we saw the graduation of our 2020-2021 Grade 12 students. We are all so proud of their achievements, resilience and grit in the face of a global pandemic and also the young adults they have become. They are a product of an ISR education, a truly international education, and we stand with them on… Continue reading To the ISR class of 2020-2021

Podcast S3 E7 Learning Communities: How to foster continuous learning. www.theartandscienceoflearning.com

A powerful source of learning and culture in any organization can come from having a well structured and supported learning community. It may be difficult in busy workplaces to prioritize creating and supporting learning communities, but the benefits of doing so are numerous and can be the glue that holds everything together. To discuss the… Continue reading Podcast S3 E7 Learning Communities: How to foster continuous learning. www.theartandscienceoflearning.com

TES Podcast: Why maintaining international networks matters

Liz Free (@LizAmfree) with Dan Worth (@DanWorth), Senior Editor, TES – released 24th November 2020 In the latest edition of the Tes International podcast we chat with Liz Free, the director and CEO of International School Rheintal in Switzerland. She discusses the challenge that international schools have faced this year, given that their usual routes to connecting with… Continue reading TES Podcast: Why maintaining international networks matters

Moving Through a Global Pandemic (‘International School Leader’ Magazine)

It’s September 2020. Many in our global community have been through a transition; whether directly affected by COVID-19, moving to new roles, being repatriated or being on lockdown and separated from family and friends. Whether old or young, the world has faced unprecedented levels of life change. Directly correlated to life change is physical wellness.… Continue reading Moving Through a Global Pandemic (‘International School Leader’ Magazine)

Decisions, Decisions… How can school leaders become better decision-makers?

A version of this was originally published in the ‘Tes Magazine’ on 27 March 2020 and the ILA ‘Rethinking Education‘ blog on 23 April 2020 I originally wrote this piece in January 2020. Little did I know then about how the world would change so fast and the significance and volume of decision making that our school… Continue reading Decisions, Decisions… How can school leaders become better decision-makers?

Where Have all the Teachers Gone?

This article first appeared in International School Magazine January 2020 Issue and was subsequently published on the ‘Rethinking Education’ International Leadership Academy Blog My eight-year-old daughter has discovered the potential of Alexa in all her glory! It appears that ‘True Colours’ (the Joshua Radin version, interestingly) and ‘Where have all the flowers Gone?’ are the hits… Continue reading Where Have all the Teachers Gone?

One in four teachers “needed overseas by 2029” International schools’ growth plans face setbacks unless a million English-speaking teachers can be found, expert warns

Article written by Claudia Civinini, TES, 09 December 2019 – Interview with Liz free A quarter of teachers in the UK, Ireland, US and Australia would have to move abroad to teach in international schools each year up to 2029 to meet the sector’s growing demand, an expert has warned.  Liz Free, founding director of the… Continue reading One in four teachers “needed overseas by 2029” International schools’ growth plans face setbacks unless a million English-speaking teachers can be found, expert warns

International Perspectives: Social, Moral and Economic Imperatives for Leadership #IWD19 #BalanceforBetter

Published by COBIS on #IWD19 (https://www.cobis.org.uk/blog/international-perspectives-social-moral-and-economic-imperatives-for-leadership-iwd19) ‘Gender inequality is not only a pressing moral and social issue but also a critical economic challenge. If women—who account for half the world’s population—do not achieve their full economic potential, the global economy will suffer.’ (McKinsey 2015) Last year I was invited to write a chapter exploring international… Continue reading International Perspectives: Social, Moral and Economic Imperatives for Leadership #IWD19 #BalanceforBetter

Inspirational Leadership? Which women leaders do you most admire? I’m Stumped. #IWD2018

Inspirational Leadership? I was recently asked ‘which women leaders do you most admire?’ This stumped me. There are so many inspirational leaders to choose from; great performers, educationalists, entrepreneurs, scientists and humanitarians alongside everyday acts of leadership I see in schools from staff and pupils who have significantly influenced their fields, their environments and the… Continue reading Inspirational Leadership? Which women leaders do you most admire? I’m Stumped. #IWD2018

In the age of education fad and fashion, Student-Centered Leadership is a haven of sensibility that calls to every education leader to put ‘education back into education leadership’.

‘Student-Centered Leadership’, Viviane Robinson,  Book Review by Liz Free. First Published by the Chartered College (7/11/17)   Details Book title: Student-Centered Leadership Author: Viviane Robinson Publication date: 2011 The review 1. What is your overall impression of the book? In the age of education fad and fashion, Student-Centered Leadership is a haven of sensibility that… Continue reading In the age of education fad and fashion, Student-Centered Leadership is a haven of sensibility that calls to every education leader to put ‘education back into education leadership’.

CPD Spend; How Much is Enough?

0.7%, 1%, 2% of school budget/revenue, more? This is a question that I get asked on a weekly basis.  How much should we be spending on CPD?  How much is enough? I often reference Viviane Robinson’s work from a Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) where she identifies the leadership dimension of ‘leading teacher learning and development’… Continue reading CPD Spend; How Much is Enough?

Super Saturday: Good to Great?

It’s Super Saturday! Three international Six Nations matches in one day as we reach the climax of finale competition weekend and the prospect of an epic England back-to-back grand slam victory (a feat only achieved five times in 107 years). England seek their 19th successive test win as they prepare to meet age-old rivals Ireland,… Continue reading Super Saturday: Good to Great?

We spend more on toilet paper and hand wash than CPD

Recently I delivered some workshops at conferences for senior education leaders looking at CPD as a core lever for school improvement and the international research evidence in this field (impressively dynamic & exciting despite the rather apparently dry content).     I enthusiastically talked about research and impact, raising a rallying call to school leaders across… Continue reading We spend more on toilet paper and hand wash than CPD