Heads & Tales

Jesse Elzinga has been head of Sevenoaks since 2020, leading one of the UK's flagship IB schools. A dual US-UK citizen raised on a farm outside Detroit, Jesse sold apples at farmers markets before winning a place at Harvard with a generous bursary, then a scholarship to Oxford. That journey drives his ambition to have one in three Sevenoaks students on a free or assisted place by the school's 600t...

James Monaghan is the CEO and founding principal of GEMS School of Research and Innovation, the group's new flagship in Dubai which opened in September 2025. With 30 years in international education spanning the UAE, UK, USA and South Korea, this is the third school James has opened from scratch. In this episode, he explains what makes launching a school so uniquely challenging, why teacher traini...

Helen Pike is the first female master in Magdalen College School's 500-year history. Originally from Preston and the first in her family to attend university, she read history at Christ Church, Oxford, just 300 yards from where she now leads one of Britain's top day schools. In this episode, Helen shares what she tells sixth form girls about imposter syndrome and why confidence is the trait most c...

Richard Jones never planned to be a teacher. He studied economics, worked in recruitment, rented out custom-wrapped camper vans to backpackers, and only discovered teaching after spending a week shadowing his best friend in a classroom. Now he's head of Bryanston, one of Britain's most distinctive schools, having made the leap from senior deputy to headship in just 15 months during Covid. In this...

This week marks Oppidan's 10th birthday, and we're turning the microphone around. Chief of Staff Adam Goodbody, who has worked alongside the founders for eight years, puts Henry Faber and Walter Kerr in the hot seat. They share the real origin story: a kitchen table office, a dad in a dressing gown and a phone call to a headteacher that launched their first school programme days later. Henry and W...

Dr Mary Ashun is CEO of Ghana International School, one of West Africa's leading international schools, where she's spent over 12 years building what she calls "talent architecture" - pipelines to grow Ghanaian teachers and leaders rather than relying on expat hires. A scientist turned educator with degrees from London, Toronto and Buffalo, she's also a Klingenstein Fellow from Columbia and an aut...

Dr Kelly Fradin is a pediatrician, childhood cancer survivor and author of Advanced Parenting. Now chair of pediatrics at Atria in New York, she's spent her career at the intersection of healthcare and education, from public schools in the South Bronx to supporting families globally. In this episode, Kelly shares her nuanced take on the ADHD diagnosis debate - why we're both overdiagnosing and mis...

Dr Michel Khoury went from M&A at the notorious investment bank Bear Stearns to building a global education empire. After returning to Lebanon to take over Eastwood College – the school his father founded – he's expanded into Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Nigeria and beyond, with an online school he calls the "crown jewel" of the group. In this episode, Michel explains why he believes focus...

Erica Corbin is the Head of Cathedral School of St. John the Divine, the K-8 Episcopal school on Manhattan's Upper West Side now approaching its 125th year. After leadership roles at Collegiate and Chapin – two titans of NYC private education, one boys and one girls – she brings a rare perspective on what different school environments offer children. In this episode, Erica shares the uncomfortable...

Rob Millar has been at Shrewsbury International Bangkok since 2010 – long enough to see the city's British school market explode from a handful of institutions to over 100. Now principal, he shares what it's really like navigating a culture where grandparents influence university choices, parents enquire about Ivy League prep for newborns and the hardest conversation is helping a student find thei...

Jo Duncan became a headmistress at 34 with no senior leadership experience because someone saw something in her she hadn't seen herself. Now leading Wycombe Abbey, one of the UK's top girls' boarding schools, Jo shares what makes their mixed-age dormitories unique, why she's sceptical of boys' schools taking girls in sixth form and what a delayed flight from Delhi taught her about leadership. Plus...

Up next on Heads & Tales, we're joined by Tom Ferguson, Head of Dwight School Seoul. Speaking from South Korea, Tom reflects on a leadership journey shaped as much by early missteps as by success — from learning when to slow down and listen to navigating cultural expectations in a different country. He shares what it’s really like leading an IB school in Seoul, why being clear with families ab...

On this episode of Heads & Tales, we're joined by Gareth Parker-Jones, Head Master of of Rugby School – one of the UK's most historic schools and the birthplace of the sport. Gareth discusses leading the near 500-year-old institution in the modern world, from character education and the curriculum, to smartphone policies and the wider pressures facing young people today. It's a great conversat...

Recorded from his office beneath a poster reading “Work hard and be nice to people,” Matthew Shanks joins Walter Kerr for the first episode of 2026 to reflect on leadership, accountability and what success in education really looks like. Drawing on more than 30 years in the profession – as a headteacher, CEO of Education South West and Ofsted inspector – Matthew makes a compelling case for judging...

In this episode, Peter Hyman shares his unique journey from political strategist to educator, discussing the evolution of education in the UK, the importance of oracy and the challenges faced by teachers and politicians alike. He reflects on his experiences in the classroom, the significance of mentorship, and his vision for the future of education, emphasising the need for authenticity in politic...

Our next guest on Heads & Tales needs little introduction. As Head Master of Eton College for the last decade, Simon Henderson is at the helm of one of the world's most recognisable, and scrutinised, schools. In a Heads & Tales first, Simon joined us in person in the studio, speaking to Walter Kerr about the reality of running a near 600-year-old institution whilst preparing teenage boys f...

In this episode of Heads & Tales, Walter Kerr speaks with Jade Bowler, creator of the Unjaded Jade platform and author of The Only Study Guide You’ll Ever Need . Jade traces her journey from high-achieving student to global educator, reflecting on Minerva University, active learning and the emotional realities of modern adolescence. She also makes the case for why authenticity, wellbeing and r...

In this episode of  Heads & Tales , Henry Faber speaks with  Robert Tomalin , Principal of Oeiras International School in Lisbon. From his own journey through the UWC movement to leading a truly international IB school, Robert reflects on diversity, service learning, leadership and why community remains the defining strength of any school. He also makes a compelling case for why publishing exa...

In this episode of Heads & Tales, Henry Faber is joined by Matt Horvat, Head of the American School in London. Matt reflects on leading one of the capital’s most distinctive international schools, the difference between American and British approaches to education and what schools can do to balance academic rigour with human connection in an AI-obsessed world.

Up next on Heads & Tales is journalist and author Jenny Anderson, whose book The Disengaged Teen has reshaped how educators and parents understand adolescent learning. Tapping into the minds of 68,000 students, Jenny explains why so many teens switch off from school, the four modes they cycle through and what parents and teachers can do to help them rediscover their drive and purpose.

Sir Anthony Seldon is a man of many guises – historian, author and without doubt one of the most influential educators in the UK. From the impact of AI to a crisis of unhappiness in schools, Seldon argues that the future of education hinges on rediscovering what makes us truly human. His episode is one of meaning, humility and hope, told with the unquestionable authority of a man who has dedicated...

In this episode of Heads & Tales, Henry Faber hosts Jane Lunnon, Head of Alleyn’s School. From expanding Alleyn’s network of schools to launching pioneering AI and wellbeing programmes, Jane shares her philosophy on leadership, creativity and courage, and why she believes schools should be places of joy, curiosity and connection.

In this episode of Heads & Tales, Henry Faber is joined by Steve Marshall-Taylor, Headmaster of Brighton College. Steve reflects on what it means to lead a community built on both tradition and innovation, from the unifying power of whole-school moments to the quiet resilience that defines great teaching and leadership. He talks about Brighton’s growing boarding culture, the global reach of it...

In this episode of Heads & Tales, Henry Faber speaks with Naheed Bardai, Principle of UWC Atlantic College. From rescuing an Afghan student during the Taliban takeover to launching an innovative new curriculum, Naheed shares how this radical Welsh boarding school is preparing teenagers for the complex, interconnected world of 2060.

In this episode of Heads & Tales, Walter hosts BJ Fogg, Stanford researcher, founder of the Behaviour Design Lab and author of the bestseller  Tiny Habits . From mentoring the co-founder of Instagram to disrupting traditional schools of thought, BJ shares stories and practical tips for anyone trying to change behaviour – at home, at school or at work.