HFL Education

What could the latest education policy priorities mean for schools, trusts and local education partnerships? In this special bonus episode we bring you a roundtable discussion, produced in partnership with AEPA and Learn Sheffield, reflecting on a recent AEPA briefing with Sir Kevan Collins, the Department for Education’s lead non-executive director.

Hosted by Stephen Betts, Chief Executive of Learn Sheffield, the discussion brings together Baroness Estelle Morris, Chair of Birmingham Education Partnership and former Secretary of State for Education; Carole Bennett, Chief Executive of HFL Education; and Stephen Hall, Chief Executive of Camden Learning.

Together, they explore what these priorities could mean for curriculum reform, SEND and inclusion, the role of academies, and the future of local education partnerships. Drawing on their experience across the education sector, the panel considers the implications for schools and the wider education system.

Listen for informed perspectives on the issues shaping education and the potential impact on school and trust leaders.

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

How can schools deliver effective SEND provision while managing growing financial pressures? With increasing numbers of pupils with complex needs in mainstream education, school leaders face a difficult balancing act: providing the right support for children while making limited budgets stretch further.

In this episode of the HFL Education Business Services Podcast, Catherine Loake is joined by Sandra Sculley, School Business Management Consultant at HFL Education, to explore what sustainable SEND provision really looks like and why financial decisions must go hand in hand with educational outcomes.

They discuss the challenges of funding special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), why traditional cost-cutting and benchmarking approaches have their limits, and the importance of bringing education and business management expertise together to find solutions that work for each school and its pupils.

The conversation also explores early intervention, staff training, the cost of inclusive education, and common misconceptions about SEND funding, including the notional SEND budget and the belief that funding automatically follows the child.

For headteachers, school business leaders, SENCOs, trust leaders and governors, this episode offers practical insight into managing SEND budgets, strengthening inclusive provision and making informed decisions that put pupils’ needs at the centre.

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

Falling rolls and declining pupil numbers are putting increasing pressure on school leaders, with funding, staffing, class sizes and curriculum planning all affected. 

So how can school leaders respond to falling rolls while protecting the quality of education they provide?

In this episode, Catherine Loake is joined by Anne Peck, Director of Primary and Early Years Education services at HFL Education, to explore the practical challenges of managing falling pupil numbers. 

They explore what is within a school leaders control, how to manage finances, staffing and organisational design when a fall in pupil numbers is on the horizon, as well as when schools may need to consider mixed-age classes.

They also discuss how working proactively with governors, collaborating with neighbouring schools and rethinking how smaller schools operate can create opportunities that can come from becoming more agile and innovative, while recognising the difficult decisions that falling rolls can create.

Whether you're a headteacher, school business leader, governor or trust leader facing falling pupil numbers, this episode offers practical advice and ideas to help you plan ahead, manage financial pressures and build a sustainable future for your school.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services, HFL Education)

Guest: Anne Peck (Director of Primary and Early Year Education Services, HFL Education)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected]

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

Recruitment and retention remain one of the greatest challenges facing education, but attracting people into schools is only part of the solution. As the workforce evolves, school leaders must rethink how they recruit, develop and retain talented staff in a changing world of work.

In part 2 of their conversation, Catherine Loake and Alex Tomkins, Headteacher of Greenside School, explore how generational change, shifting employee expectations and advances in technology are reshaping the future of the education workforce. 

Together, they discuss what Gen Z is looking for in an employer, why flexibility, purpose and work-life balance matter more than ever, and how schools can adapt their people strategies to meet these expectations.

The conversation also explores the future of specialist education, and why schools should focus less on finding the "perfect" candidate and more on recruiting people with the right values and supporting them to succeed.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services, HFL Education)

Guest: Alex Tomkins (Headteacher, Greenside)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected]

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

Recruitment and retention are some of the biggest challenges facing schools, with staff shortages, rising absence and increasing workload placing significant pressure on leaders. But are schools asking the right questions, and what can leaders do differently to build a sustainable workforce for the future?

In this episode, Catherine Loake is joined by Alex Tomkins, Headteacher of Greenside School, to explore how schools can move beyond simply filling vacancies and develop a long-term people strategy that supports recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing. 

Drawing on his experience at Greenside Alex shares practical examples of how investing in coaching, flexible working and values-led recruitment has helped strengthen culture and reduce burnout.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services, HFL Education)

Guest: Alex Tomkins (Headteacher, Greenside)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected]

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

School complaints are a normal part of educational leadership, but what happens when a complaint becomes persistent, unreasonable or impossible to resolve? As schools face increasingly complex complaints, leaders are finding themselves spending significant amounts of time managing situations that can quickly become overwhelming.

In this episode, Catherine Loake is joined by HFL Education Complaints Manager Paul Davis to explore what constitutes a vexatious complaint and how school leaders can respond.

The conversation also examines communication restrictions, the role of governance, the risks of acting too quickly, and the balance between protecting staff wellbeing while ensuring genuine concerns are heard.

Packed with practical advice this episode provides school leaders with a clear framework for managing some of the most challenging complaints they may face, while maintaining focus on what matters most: delivering excellent education.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services, HFL Education)

Guest: Paul Davis (Complaints Manager, HFL Education)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected]

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

As AI transforms the way we communicate, it is also changing the nature of complaints received by schools. 

In this episode Catherine Loake is joined by Emma Murray, Headteacher of Camps Hill Primary School and Co-CEO of The Claxton Trust to discuss how is effecting complaint volume, tone and escalation, as well as the effect on relationships and teacher well being.

Packed with real-world experience, this episode offers school leaders strategies to manage relationships, strengthen communication through listening and manage complaints confidently in the age of AI.

Bite-sized listening for headteachers, CEOs, school business leaders and governors, the series helps leaders step back from day-to-day pressures, reflect on the bigger picture, and explore practical ways to lead their organisations sustainably and strategically.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services, HFL Education)

Guest: Emma Murray (Headteacher, Camps Hill Primary School and Co-CEO, The Claxton Trust)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected]

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

Catherine Loake is joined once again by Carol Bennett to explore the growing contradictions within the education system and the impact these tensions are having on school leaders.

The conversation examines the increasing fragmentation across education policy and practice, from school place planning and financial accountability to inclusion, SEND provision, Ofsted, falling rolls, and the competing expectations placed on education professionals.

Bite-sized listening for headteachers, CEOs, school business leaders and governors, the series helps leaders step back from day-to-day pressures, reflect on the bigger picture, and explore practical ways to lead their organisations sustainably and strategically.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services)

Guest: Carole Bennett (CEO)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected].

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

Change is a constant in school, but not all change is created equal. While curriculum developments are often embraced, changes to systems, processes, and back-office functions can prove far more challenging.

In this episode, Catherine Loake, Director of Business Services at HFL Education, is joined by HR expert Hena Mahmood to explore why change can feel so difficult in school settings, and what leaders can do to make it more successful.

Drawing on extensive experience supporting schools and trusts, Hena highlights the human side of change, how change effects culture and the importance of communication.

Successful change is not just about having the right strategy, but about taking people with you, creating a shared purpose, communicating clearly, and investing time in listening and support. 

With realities of modern headship, how can leaders navigate change when there is resistance?

Bite-sized listening for headteachers, CEOs, school business leaders and governors, the series helps leaders step back from day-to-day pressures, reflect on the bigger picture, and explore practical ways to lead their organisations sustainably and strategically.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services)

Guest: Hena Mahmood  (Service Development Lead)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected].

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.  

To insource or to outsource? That is the question. 

In this episode, Catherine Loake, Director of Business Services at HFL Education, is joined by Jackie Keegan, Head of Financial Services, to unpack the realities behind insourcing and outsourcing in schools and trusts.

Drawing on over 27 years of experience Jackie explores why there is no one-size-fits-all answer, why flexibility is key and how school leaders can rethink traditional service models, shift towards outcome-focused conversations with suppliers, and find the confidence to do things differently.

Practical and thought-provoking, this episode encourages leaders to stay agile and continually review how services are delivered ensuring the best outcomes for pupils while maintaining financial sustainability.

Bite-sized listening for headteachers, CEOs, school business leaders and governors, the series helps leaders step back from day-to-day pressures, reflect on the bigger picture, and explore practical ways to lead their organisations sustainably and strategically.

Host: Catherine Loake (Director of Business Services)

Guest: Jackie Keegan (Head of Financial Services)

Created by: Rachel Lodge, Paul Hayward, Biljana Miljkovic

Questions? Email [email protected].

HFL Education (formally Herts for Learning)  is a not-for-profit organisation providing all the services, training and resources needed to deliver a great education to every child.