Change the Narrative with Adele Bates

In this episode, Adele and Keith dig into what it really means to value and support TAs and other support staff around behaviour. They talk about how the TA role has changed over the last few decades, from “general classroom help” to one‑to‑one support, behaviour support and intervention work, and how that shift has created a lot of confusion about what TAs are actually there to do.  Adele and Kei...

In this episode, Adele and Keith talk with education leader and coach Shaheen Myers about what real inclusion and humane leadership look like in schools. Shaheen shares how, during her time as Deputy Director of Education in Leeds, a citywide inclusion model contributed to a period of zero permanent exclusions and what it took culturally and structurally to get there. They explore how behaviour be...

In this episode, Adele speaks directly to leaders, whether you’re in a school, college, MAT, or any organisation working with young people with SEMH needs, trauma, or behaviour that really stretches staff. Building on her first book, “Miss, I don’t give a sh*t” Engaging with Challenging Behaviour in Schools, and looking ahead to the next one, she steps back from one-to-one strategies to ask a bigg...

In this episode, Adele unpacks “martyr syndrome” in education. She frames martyrdom as a shadow “victim” archetype. It’s presented as a coping mechanism that feels virtuous and important but ultimately burns staff out and makes them less effective. Using real examples, she shows how over-giving becomes normal in underfunded systems that quietly rely on it. Adele offers a counter‑model starting wit...

In the Season 2 opener of Change the Narrative, Adele sits down with wellbeing specialist Maria Brosnan to unpack the physiology of stress and what it really means for school and college leaders. Maria explains how the autonomic nervous system and hormones shape our emotional states, and why chronic stress, menopause and personal pressures can so deeply affect leaders’ behaviour, confidence and ca...

In this special, quick and easy episode, Adele hands the mic to guest Dr LJ Ducksbury, who shares a deceptively simple but powerful idea: before you worry about pupils, staff or parents, you have to manage your own state. Dr Ducksbury walks through a three-part “state triangle” made up of physiology, focus, and language to transform how you show up in classrooms, meetings and beyond. Hosted by Ade...

In this unusually gentle, quick and easy episode, Adele does something a little different. Instead of another fast-paced strategy, she offers five minutes of calm. Drawing on her research into how the brain needs downtime to learn. The episode becomes a small, practical reminder that pausing, especially in hectic school seasons, is not a luxury but a tool, giving both body and brain a chance to re...

In this quick and easy episode, Adele shares how she won the Best Storyteller 2025 Speaker Award. Drawing on her early years in theatre and opera, some painful rejections, and a wobble of self-doubt over one lukewarm feedback comment, she shows how backing yourself and applying anyway is the real difference-maker and invites you to consider where you're ready to step forward next. Hosted by Adele...

In this quick and easy episode, Adele shares a simple way to engage the student you know is likely to disrupt – before they do. With this simple tip, she turns potential disruption into purposeful participation. It’s about offering a genuine reason to be in the room, building a connection early, and changing the tone of the lesson from the outset. Hosted by Adele Bates Recorded via Riverside Music...

In this quick and easy episode, Adele shares a simple but powerful relationship strategy - deliberately building positive contact before any behaviour issue or tricky conversation arises. She also shares how small, consistent habits, like ending the week by reaching out with genuine positives, can quietly shape relationships over time. The same principle applies to colleagues and to parents and ca...

In this quick and easy episode, Adele poses one deceptively simple question to school leaders: “Who is responsible for behaviour in your school?” The episode walks through how asking this one question exposes gaps in systems, processes, and accountability. Adele’s challenge to leaders is to not assume you know the answer. Check the data, listen to your people, and use what you find to tighten up b...

In this quick and easy episode, Adele talks about the messy side of behaviour change, that uncomfortable phase where old habits have stopped working but new approaches aren’t embedded yet. If you’re in the messy bit, it doesn’t mean it’s failing. What you need is extra support, extra time, and extra grace, for yourself and your community, while the new patterns take hold.   Hosted by Adele Bates R...

In this episode, Adele and Keith dive into the messy, very human reality of difficult conversations. Drawing on their own challenging discussions as a live case study, they explore how disagreement, when approached with honesty, respect, and curiosity, can strengthen relationships and practice, whether between these co-authors, staff teams, or teachers and parents. Hosted by Adele Bates Guest: Kei...

In this quick and easy episode, Adele provides you with a behaviour tip you can use to build a relationship with someone you find difficult. It’s a two-minute ritual to interrupt negative shortcuts, and softens defences on both sides. Try this ritual and watch the relationship shift.  Hosted by Adele Bates Recorded via Riverside Music by Pocketbeats Music, @pocketsbeatsmusic on Instagram Productio...

In this episode, Adele and Welsh Associate Keith share a leadership framework for behaviour and inclusion, from staffing structures and systems to policies, CPD, and the “feel” of a school. They dig into why data beats anecdote, how cross-school consistency is built, and what it really means when a school claims to be “inclusive” Hosted by Adele Bates Guest: Keith Bates Recorded via Riverside Musi...

In this episode, Adele speaks with Dr LJ Ducksbury, Educational Psychologist, keynote speaker, and coach, on staying grounded under pressure. Together, they unpack how to manage your state in challenging conversations, navigate the realities of public speaking, and receive feedback without losing your centre. It’s a practical discussion about authenticity on stage and in the room, and if you’re cu...

In this episode, Adele introduces Frédérique Lambrakis-Haddad, co-founder of Flourish Mentors, ABEducation’s charity partner. They talk candidly about funding and sustainability, fair pay in the charity sector, quality and accessible services, and the trust required to work with vulnerable young people. With practical insights on mentorship and small actions that spark change, it’s a grounded, hop...

In this episode, Adele digs into why relationships sit at the heart of education, with pupils and with colleagues. She explores how connections begin before you step into the classroom, how personal wellbeing and unconscious biases shape interactions, and practical ways to build trust day to day. Expect clear strategies regarding consistency and follow-through, and the power of a genuine apology t...

In this episode, Adele makes a clear, compelling case for insisting on payment for your work. Payment isn’t just a transactional detail; it’s a boundary, a signal of respect, and a practical foundation for doing your best work.  Her message is simple: value your expertise, because when you get paid, your impact multiplies.  Hosted by Adele Bates Recorded via Riverside Music by Pocketbeats Music, @...

In this episode, Adele explores how culture shifts start with us. If the staff room feels negative, waiting for “someone else” to fix it rarely works. Instead, Adele makes the case for personal responsibility, showing how the mindset and behaviours we model can reset the tone and invite others to follow. This is a conversation about leading from where you are: consistent, human, and proactive. You...

Ever wonder what it takes to write a book with a title schools can’t ignore? In this episode, Adele Bates gives the backstory to her critically-acclaimed first book, “Miss, I Don’t Give a Sh*t”: Engaging with challenging behaviour in schools. She pulls back the curtain on her journey, sharing an honest look at how she landed her book deal and why she was driven to write a no-holds-barred guide on...

In this episode, Adele Bates introduces the ABEducation team and explores the unique roles each member plays in the organisation. Together, they discuss the challenges and opportunities of working in the education sector, as well as the distinctive experience of being part of a growing organisation. Hosted by Adele Bates Guests: Keith Bates, Hannah John, and Susan Outlaw Recorded at Nostars Studio...

In this episode, Adele Bates introduces her Welsh associate, Keith Bates. Keith is an accomplished educator and collaborator on her second book. Together, they explore their shared commitment to social impact, education, and inclusion. Adele and Keith reflect on both the heartwarming and challenging moments they’ve experienced in the classroom, offering honest insights into supporting students who...

In this debut episode, Adele Bates shares the formative experiences that shaped her passion for social impact, education, and inclusion. Discover how her upbringing inspired the values at the heart of ABEducation, and why these principles continue to drive her work with schools and communities. Hosted by Adele Bates Recorded at Nostars Studio Music by Pocketbeats Music, @pocketsbeatsmusic on Insta...