Changing Conversations

A conversation with Billy about leadership, reform and hope.  This episode marks the final conversation of Changing Conversations , a podcast that began in June 2020 during lockdown, born from a desire to create space for thoughtful dialogue in education. In this closing conversation, Billy reflects on his journey from secondary headteacher through the pandemic to his current role as Head of Child...

In this episode, Sarah chats with Maggie Farrar about presence in leadership. Maggie has worked in Education for many years as a teacher and as a leader, and found that her personal mindfulness practice was a cornerstone of her leadership practice.  Having trained as a mindfulness practitioner, her work with leaders focuses on supporting others to cultivate mindfulness in life and work.  We explor...

In this episode of Changing Conversations , Sarah is joined by Katrina and Sean for a rich and reflective discussion inspired by their book Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage in Schools . Drawing on their work within the Tees Valley Education Trust, Katrina and Sean explore what it means to take a genuinely place-based approach to school improvement, one that recognises the complexity of poverty, v...

In this episode of Changing Conversations, Sarah is joined by Professor Haili Hughes - teacher, leader, writer and academic. This is a slower, more reflective conversation. It’s the kind of conversation you fall into, where the threads of experience, identity, leadership and belonging weave together in ways you can only see with hindsight. Together we explore: Haili’s unexpected journey from journ...

In this episode, I’m joined by Anne-Marie Duguid , creator of Enabling Leaders and long-time collaborator in leadership development across the UK and internationally. Across the conversation, Anne-Marie shares the story behind creating a new model of leadership learning, one that moves away from “done to” programmes and toward something deeper, more intentional and impactful. With honesty and clar...

In this book-filled episode, I sit down with Kathryn Morgann to explore three powerful reads that together form a kind of trilogy for purpose, restoration and reclamation : Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman Phosphorescence by Julia Baird Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Through the lens of teaching, leadership and life, they weave a conversation about doing good work without...

Tracey talks about some of the concepts in her recent book, Ferocious Warmth, and the philosophy of leadership with both the heart and the mind. High challenge and high support in a context of emotional intelligence and trust. Learn more https://www.traceyezard.com/

In this episode, I’m joined by Simon Breakspear to explore what it means to elevate the quality of professional conversations in schools. We discuss why simply spending more time together doesn’t guarantee better collaboration and how schools can make the most of the time they already have. Simon introduces the idea of weary talk , those moments when teams power down and connection fades and offer...

You can get 20% off Sarah’s book - Creating a Trauma-Informed Classroom until 31 December 2025 using the code 25EFLY3 at https://www.routledge.com/   Teacher and author Sarah Lathan joins me to unpack what a trauma-informed classroom looks like in practice. Drawing on 15 years across additional needs and mainstream contexts, Sarah explains how understanding child development, the brain and the ner...

In this episode of Changing Conversations , I am joined by Kathleen Johnston - Education Manager, doctoral student and former Quality Improvement Manager for the Northern Alliance. Together, we explore what it really means to collaborate in education and what gets in the way. From the promise and challenges of the Regional Improvement Collaboratives to the tension between policy intention and syst...

What happens when you bring AI into the conversation without rushing to a quick fix? Zahra and Rick from Winning Scotland are holding space for local authorities, researchers and educators to explore the possibilities and the nuance of AI in Education. This isn’t about chasing the latest tool, it’s about understanding the best conditions for change. What began with curiosity has grown into a two-p...

In this episode, Sarah is joined by three insightful guests: Shirley Clarke, Angela Evans, and Kate Moss, co-authors of Understanding and Reducing Anxiety in the Primary Classroom . Together, they explore the essential link between well-being and learning, drawing from their collective expertise in formative assessment, school-wide compassion, and child and adolescent psychotherapy. Our conversati...

Dr Naomi Fisher is an independent clinical psychologist, author and trainer. She specialises in trauma, autism and alternative approaches to education and works with children, adolescents and adults. Find out more at Naomi's website. In this episode we focus in particular on the mental health of young people and what Naomi has been observing in her work in this area. We discuss the education syste...

A brief scheduling update from us! Sarah has launched a new podcast, Space to Think , which you will find on your preferred podcast platform. We'd love for you to check it out, subscribe, like or follow. You can subscribe on Substack meaning you'll never miss an episode! We still enjoy our Changing Conversations and plan to record and share an episode each month. A big thank-you for contin...

In this episode, Sarah chats with Dr Andrea Stringer about her recently published thesis on coaching early career teachers. Andrea explored the environment for and implementation of coaching for early career teachers. While her focus has been early career teachers there are helpful reflections for all settings and stages. You can access Andrea's thesis here. https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/entities/p...

A month on from the live Word Education Summit event I had the opportunity to reflect on how it went with co-founder Anne-Marie. If you're wondering where and how to work your way through the epic resources that is WES, this is a must-listen. Anne-Marie shares her highlights, some top tips for where to start as well as the 12 key thoughts that emerged for her: AI is here but it can’t do everything...

Marie-Claire co-authored Imperfect Leadership In Action with Steve Munby (episode 67) and is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Waterton Academy Trust in West Yorkshire. In this epsiode we explore her relationship with imperfect leadership, what it means to have a healthy ego, nuance, values and even shape-shifting.

In this episode, we reconnect with James Nottingham from Challenge Learning. James has recently published his 12th book, Teach Brilliantly we consider what's changed over the years and why this book and why now. We dig into the topic of engagement, what it means and what it looks like - how do we know learning is happening? Find out more about Teach Brilliantly here .

The final episode of our World Education Summit mini-series, in which we've been highlighting some of this year's brilliant speakers. This week we revisit our conversation with Jim Knight on instructional coaching. The World Education Summit is 18-21 March 2024 - find out more at ⁠⁠worldedsummit.com⁠⁠ .

As part of our World Education Summit mini-series, we're highlighting some of this year's brilliant speakers. This week we revisit our conversation with Peter Dewitt on de-implemntation. The World Education Summit is 18-21 March 2024 - find out more at ⁠⁠worldedsummit.com⁠⁠ .

In this episode we chat with Bex Ewart who hosts Education Scotland's Pedagogy Podcast. We take the opportunity to explore Bex's current big thinking around the role of teacher - educator - adult. We hope it sparks something for you!

As part of our World Education Summit mini-series, we're highlighting some of this year's brilliant speakers. This week we revisit our virtuous leadership conversation with Viviane Robinson. The World Education Summit is 18-21 March 2024 - find out more at ⁠worldedsummit.com⁠ .

This episode was recorded live with colleagues from across Scotland and beyond on Thursday 1st February 2024. Having chatted with both Michael and Santiago on different occasions we were keen to create an opportunity for their thinking to come together live, with you, our listeners. It was a fast hour and as always they left us with a sense of hope and possibility.

As part of our World Education Summit mini-series, we're highlighting some of this year's brilliant speakers. First up, Michael Fullan. The World Education Summit is 18-21 March 2024 - find out more at ⁠worldedsummit.com⁠ .

In this episode, we are joined by Andy Griffith and Margaret Pollock. Andy is the co-author of Teaching Backwards, Engaging Learners and the Outstanding Teaching Intervention. Margaret is DHT at St Luke's High School in Barrhead. Andy's new book is called The Working Classroom and having spent some time with the team at St Luke's it was great to have the opportunity to explore the prin...