A Headteacher's Perspective Podcast

This article is also available as a podcast click here to listen.

New academic years often begin with lofty promises that fade by October. In this episode, we set out 10 resolutions for headteachers that are realistic, purposeful, and designed to last. From protecting wellbeing to prioritising classroom presence, these are commitments that genuinely make a difference — and that leaders can actually keep.

* Ten practical resolutions every head can adopt this year

* Why small, consistent actions matter more than sweeping changes

* How to balance personal wellbeing with professional demands

* Strategies for sustaining momentum through the whole year

* Examples of resolutions that strengthen leadership and culture

Headteachers may build their case with facts, policies, and logic — but in schools, emotions often carry the day. In this episode, we examine the tension between rational decision-making and emotional reality. From parent meetings to staffroom debates, we explore why understanding emotion is crucial for leadership, and how wise heads work with it rather than against it.

* Why emotional responses can override logical arguments

* The impact of emotion on staff, parents, and pupils in key decisions

* How leaders can anticipate and navigate emotionally charged situations

* Practical strategies for balancing empathy with authority

* Stories of heads who learned when to let logic go and listen to feeling

Every leader knows the moment: you’ve just had the hard conversation — with a staff member, a parent, or even a pupil — and then comes the lonely walk back to your office. In this episode, we explore that quiet space after conflict, when leaders carry the weight of their decisions alone. It’s a raw and honest look at the side of headship that rarely gets spoken about, but every leader recognises.

* Why difficult conversations linger long after they end

* The emotional cost of leadership silence

* Strategies for processing conflict without burning out

* The importance of support networks and trusted confidants

* Stories that prove even in solitude, leaders are not truly alone

Data, strategy, and policy guide school leadership — but instinct plays a bigger role than we often admit. In this episode, we explore why trusting your inner compass matters when the evidence is unclear, when decisions are finely balanced, or when time is short. Great leaders blend analysis with instinct, and knowing when to trust your gut is part of the art of headship.

* Why instinct still matters in an age of data-driven leadership

* How experience sharpens a leader’s inner compass

* The risks of ignoring gut feeling — and the risks of over-relying on it

* Stories of leaders who made the right call by trusting instinct

* Practical ways to balance data, logic, and intuition in decision-making

Headteachers often seek collaboration and consensus — but sometimes the toughest calls must be made alone. In this episode, we explore the reality of decision-making when the responsibility can’t be shared. From balancing competing priorities to carrying the weight of unpopular choices, we discuss how leaders can act with clarity, integrity, and courage when the buck truly stops with them.

* Why some decisions can never be delegated or delayed

* The emotional and professional cost of carrying sole responsibility

* Strategies for making tough calls without losing perspective

* How to communicate decisions with honesty and authority

* Stories of leaders navigating the hardest leadership moments

Every school depends on a steady stream of talented new teachers — but what happens when the system produces trainees who simply aren’t ready? In this episode, we take a hard look at the challenge of poor-quality teacher training, the impact it has on schools, and the questions it raises for recruitment and retention. With honesty and urgency, we ask what needs to change to ensure every trainee entering the classroom is equipped to succeed.

* Why inconsistent training standards undermine schools and pupils

* The impact of poor preparation on staff workload and morale

* How headteachers and mentors can support struggling trainees

* The role of government and providers in raising the bar

* What this means for the long-term future of the profession

Criticism comes with the job — but that doesn’t make it easy. In this episode, we explore how school leaders can handle criticism with grace, perspective, and resilience. From staffroom grumbles to parental complaints and public scrutiny, leaders often carry the weight of judgments others don’t fully understand. We’ll share practical approaches to listening well, responding wisely, and staying grounded in your purpose when the spotlight burns.

* Why criticism often says more about context than competence

* Strategies for receiving feedback without losing focus or confidence

* How to respond with grace while holding firm to your values

* The role of perspective in keeping criticism in check

* Stories of leaders who turned difficult moments into growth

When politicians make big speeches about education, schools are left to deal with the reality. In this episode, we respond directly to the Secretary of State’s July 2025 speech — cutting through the rhetoric to examine what the promises, priorities, and policies mean for teachers, leaders, and pupils. It’s an honest, grounded take on how national announcements translate into the daily life of schools.

* Key themes from the Secretary of State’s July 2025 speech

* What the proposals mean for teachers, heads, and families

* Where the promises align with school realities — and where they don’t

* The risks of headline-grabbing initiatives that lack practical backing

* How leaders can prepare their schools for what’s ahead

On paper, elective home education looks like a choice — but for many families, it’s anything but. In this episode, we dig into the reasons why increasing numbers of parents are turning to home education: school anxiety, unmet SEND needs, safeguarding concerns, and disillusionment with the system itself. Through real stories and honest reflection, we explore what this trend reveals about schools, support services, and the pressures families face.

* Why more families are opting for elective home education

* The difference between genuine choice and forced necessity

* The role of SEND provision, attendance, and mental health in driving decisions

* How schools and policymakers should respond with compassion and clarity

* What this shift means for the future of mainstream education

Once held in high regard, teaching has too often been reduced to targets, league tables, and political soundbites. But teachers remain the people who shape every child’s future — and society’s too. In this episode, we ask what it will take to restore the esteem of teaching. From valuing professional expertise to celebrating the daily impact teachers make, we explore how the profession can reclaim its rightful place at the heart of the nation.

* Why public perception of teaching has declined — and why it matters

* How respect for teachers directly links to retention and recruitment

* Practical ways to raise the profile of teaching within communities

* The role of government, media, and leadership in restoring esteem

* Inspiring stories of teachers who remind us why the profession matters