Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode we explore the growing role of apprenticeships in shaping the future education workforce. As schools and trusts face ongoing recruitment, retention and development challenges, apprenticeships are becoming an increasingly important tool for attracting new talent, widening access and creating meaningful career pathways. Our guests discuss how apprenticeships can support a more equita...

Please note this episode was recorded before the Education White Paper was published. In this episode we explore how ITT providers are responding to the growing priority of inclusion, belonging, and professional behaviours in shaping the future workforce. Our guests reflect on how teacher training can nurture a strong sense of belonging, model inclusive practice, and set high yet realistic expecta...

In this episode, we explore how peer learning and cross-trust collaboration are shaping stronger, more connected leadership across the education system. Our guests reflect on what they’ve learned through peer review, professional networks, and trust-to-trust partnerships, and discuss what makes these approaches genuinely impactful rather than simply performative. The conversation considers how MAT...

With the publication of the 2025 Skills White Paper, the post-16 landscape in England is changing rapidly. For school-based sixth forms, particularly within multi-academy trusts, this brings both opportunity and challenge. In this episode, we explore how leading MATs are responding to the reforms - from curriculum and funding implications to staffing, progression pathways and the evolving role of...

In this episode, we explore how a meaningful, purpose-driven approach to professional learning can strengthen staff retention and build a thriving workforce across schools and trusts. Our guests discuss the types of CPD that genuinely make a difference, how they are developing leaders at every level, and what’s changing in the way we support early-career and mid-career teachers. They also share wh...

In this episode we explore how trust and estates leaders are rethinking the school estate in response to some of the biggest shifts facing the sector - from falling pupil numbers and rising SEND complexity to growing expectations around flexibility and inclusion. Our guests discuss the demographic changes reshaping long-term planning, the pressures schools and trusts are experiencing right now, an...

In this episode, we explore how MAT boards can sustain effective challenge and strategic leadership over time. Our guests dive into the realities of trustee succession planning, the importance of board diversity and how governance culture evolves as trusts expand and face increasing complexity. They share what strong succession planning looks like (and what it doesn’t), how boards can better refle...

In this episode we explore how school and trust leaders are navigating the complex landscape of funding and resources - balancing financial pressures with strategic clarity and a strong moral compass. Our guests share practical examples from their trusts, highlighting different models and approaches they’ve adopted to make resources work harder and ensure sustainability. They discuss the values gu...

A strong school culture sets the tone for everything - from how pupils learn and behave to how staff collaborate and feel supported. But what does a truly positive culture look like in practice, and how can leaders know it’s making a difference? In this episode, we explore the building blocks of school culture, the pitfalls schools often face when tackling behaviour and inclusion, and how leaders...

Across the country, schools and trusts are grappling with a growing challenge: declining student attendance and disengagement from learning. Behind the numbers are complex stories - of wellbeing, belonging, and barriers both inside and outside the classroom. In this episode, we hear experiences from the ground in schools and MATs, explore what’s genuinely working to re-engage students, and reflect...

AI is no longer on the horizon - it’s already part of the education landscape. From automating tasks to supporting decision-making, it promises new possibilities while also raising important questions about ethics, equity, and pace of change. In this first episode of The Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we discuss where AI is already making a difference in schools and trusts, the challenges leaders need...