Stories of School Leadership

In this fascinating episode I’m joined by Keith Bates, Associate Trainer For Adele Bates Education and Behaviour Consultant. Keith shared his journey through education and into teaching and leadership. As a Headteacher of a residential special school his insights give a fresh perspective on some of the more common themes we often explore in the podcast. Keith talks passionately about the power of...

In this episode I am joined by Robyn Vincent, Headteacher at an outdoor school. She shares her journey through the education system and into teaching as a career including insights into being led, and learning how to lead. Robyn talks with passion about her own learning about seeing a curriculum through the eyes of the child and how vital it is that we teach from where a child is, not where we exp...

In this episode the wonderful Hannah Wilson, Leadership Development Consultant, Coach and Trainer; Founder and Director of Diverse Educators, shares her journey into education and leadership and candidly explores her experience of leaving Headship which involved being put on gardening leave. In her own words’ we need to share the warts and all’ and in doing this she helps us feel less alone. Hanna...

The podcast is back after a long summer break, and this is a great episode to kick off with. Malarvilie shares, with openness her experience of school during challenging times including riots. We talk about her journey into teaching following a different sort of leadership, and into educational leadership. Malarvilie shares her passion for coaching, equality of opportunity, and leadership communic...

In this Episode I am joined by vastly experienced senior leader Andy Downing. As he nears retirement Andy and I take the opportunity to revisit his career spanning over 50 years in the sector leading in schools and authorities. We explore the difference educators make to young people, how important people centred leadership is and what it’s like to take on your first headship closer to the end of...

In this episode I'm joined by Yvonne Hogarth, Education Consultant, Trainer and Coach. Yvonne shares her journey  into Education and leadership working in a range of roles and phases. We explore how challenging it is for middle leaders in education - particularly programme or curriculum leaders - who might be juggling teaching and leadership without a roadmap!  Yvonne highlights the amazing possib...

Episode 20 marks the halfway point in my goal of interviewing 40 leaders for my 40th year, and it felt only right to include someone at this point in the journey who knows me quite well… my former boss!    Paul Jones, Educational Consultant, kindly joined me for a chat about his dedication to education including his work teaching the Travelling Community in Devon and his journey into leadership. W...

In Episode 19 I’m joined by Jonathon Nicholls, a former Principal and Executive Principal, who shares his journey into, and within, the Education Sector. Jonathan’s background in engineering features both as a key part of his journey, but also brings a fascinating angle in his reflections about education and leadership; the challenges and the possible future. We explore childhood, autonomy and dis...

This episode is full of joy and understanding its importance. I am joined by the incredible Dr Jo Trevenna who shares her journey into education and in leadership. We dig into the challenges of the sector currently and Jo shares her fascinating research into the idea of Carnivalesque Leadership, its origins and how understanding its importance can have a huge impact on how we lead for ourselves, o...

In this episode I am joined by Early Years Consultant, inspector, colleague and friend Leanne Galloway. Leanne shares her experience of growing up in small village in the UK, finding her calling into Education and her passion for the Early Years. We explore the challenges of balancing teaching with leadership, experiences of International Leadership and what it's like to be an Ofsted Inspector!  

In Episode 16 I’m joined by the brilliant Nancy Lhoest-Squicciarini sharing her journey in education. She shares her own experience of connection at school, I think a record for bringing my teary eyes at just 5 minutes in! Nancy’s energy is infectious, and her insights into facilitation are incredibly valuable. We explore creating and embedding norms into cultures, bringing fun to meetings and tra...

This episode touches on such a range of valuable topics. I’m joined by Alex Neophitou, former Senior Leader, now Freelance Education Consultant for his business New Education Outlook. As Alex shares his journey with incredible honesty, we explore how viewpoints of leadership evolve, finding joy in education and the importance of teams. He shares his decision making processes at key points in his e...

I’m joined by Headteacher Bob Benson, sharing his journey and insights spanning over 30 years in education. We talk about finding education and leadership when it wasn’t in the life plan, being a male leader in a girls school and championing the voices of women. Bob shares his pride in the impact his team has had supporting pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium funding, and the strategies they used....

In this episode I’m joined by Stella Odosola, sharing her journey and experiences of the education system as a pupil and into her career in teaching and leadership. We explore barriers relating to gender, race and disability, and Stella shares some invaluable recommendations for leaders looking to reflect upon their recruitment and retention of staff. We explore leadership outside schools includin...

This episode brings several vital conversations to the table. With the wonderful Sadia Hussain-Savuk we dig into racial prejudice, gender bias, glass ceilings and explore the progress, and at times, lack of progress, that we have made in the education sector in the UK. Sadia bravely shares her story of being educated in Scotland, moving into the sector as a teacher and becoming a change agent for...

In episode 11, I am joined by international school leader Matt Manfredi. Matt’s teaching and leadership career has taken him all around the world and we discuss the differences between education and leadership in the cultures he has experienced. Matt shares his insight into developing teams, autonomy, finding joy and an impressive amount of recommendations for reading! There are so many great nugg...

Helen shares her journey into educational leadership exploring the challenges of having a family while wanting to progress in a career and navigating a variety of roles and experiences on the journey to headship. We talk about the energy needed to excel in the role of Headteacher and the value and impact of coaching. 

Episode 9 - Stephanie Carlin Coach and TIFF provider Stephanie Carlin joins me for a fascinating conversation about her journey including an insight into the challenges of middle leadership, and making the decision to pursue a career outside the classroom. She helped me re-frame how we look at careers in schools and gives such an honest account of how it felt for her. A great episode for everyone...

Deputy Headteacher Rasheda Haq joins me for an honest chat about big challenges that life throws at us, learning on the job and the value of relationships where diversity of thought is present. Rasheda has an energy and joy for leadership that is inspiring and infectious!

I'm honoured to be joined by the founder of Mind your Head, Keven Bartle, who openly shares his experiences of school leadership including the truth about leading through the pandemic. His vulnerability is a powerful reminder that being honest and finding space for reflection is vital for leaders. We explore the complexity of leadership and why supervision needs to be embedded across the sector.

In this episode I'm joined by the wonderful Joey Nghi Ho, Headteacher in the beautiful country of Vietnam. Joey shares her journey to leadership which took her all over the world teaching and leading in schools. We talk about working with a diverse network of educators, learning from those around us and how being thrown into something is sometimes the best thing that can happen!  

Former Primary Headteacher Jen Mitchell shares her fascinating, slightly squiggly, journey into teaching and then leadership. Emma and Jen explores the challenges that Jen has faced along the way and how, by taking a chance she has recently found something that has re-ignited her passion for the education sector!

James, a visionary Headteacher from South East London, shares his journey through education and into Leadership. Reflecting on a decade of Headship, James shares what motivates him including some incredibly inspirational organisations to follow and get involved in.

Chilipo Gunda joins Emma from Malawi sharing fascinating insights into his journey to leadership and the challenges for schools in Malawi. This episode explores the importance of fostering a sense of belonging with both staff and pupils drawing on Chilipo’s own educational experience and through different leadership roles in Malawi.

Vivienne Porritt, OBE, Former Headteacher and Co-Founder and Global Strategic Leader of WomenEd, joins Emma for a conversation about belonging,  women in leadership and being brave. Vivienne shares powerful stories about her own childhood experiences driving her vision to serve in Education. This episode explores gender bias, the challenges for women working in Education and what visionary leaders...