“I think it's a really brave thing for a school  to open itself up to scrutiny from peers, but it's also a really important thing to do if you are looking to drive your school forward”

This week we talk to Dr Kate Chhatwal, Chief Executive of Challenge Partners. Kate explains the ways in which Challenge Partners’  network uses peer review to support schools to improve, provide high-quality CPD for those undertaking the review and benefit the school system as a whole. We consider the challenges schools are facing at the moment as well as the opportunities lockdown has presented to share good practice across the country, rapidly and widely.  

Kate tells us more about what makes for high-quality peer review and how Challenge Partners has adapted its methodology to conduct trust level peer reviews.  We also examine a potentially enhanced role for peer review, while traditional methods of accountability such as league tables and Ofsted inspection are on hold for the foreseeable future.  Towards the end of the podcast, we discuss the crucial need to share evidence between schools of what works to close the disadvantage gap. Finally Kate draws on her previous experience within the department of education to reflect on how the department and the sector can best work together. 

This week we talk to Michael Pain, Founder of Forum Strategy, about supporting trust leaders. Michael discusses the importance of bringing ideas and experiences from the worlds of health, charity and business into education, and the need for trust leaders to have peer-to-peer support, particularly as they navigate challenging situations. 

Michael also shares some of the issues that the Forum Strategy’s regional networks have been tackling over the lockdown period. Finally, we look to the future, considering how the role of the CEO continues to evolve. We discuss the impact the current crisis might have on accelerating trends Michael is already seeing in his work, for example,  trusts working to build a stronger focus on connecting with their communities, and addressing sustainability issues.

Sorry, interference has slightly impaired the sound in some parts of this podcast.

Finally, we consider the qualities required to lead teaching and learning as a Headteacher or CEO, and the system changes John and Jonny would like to see in the next 10 years.

This week we talk to Claire Heald, Standards Director and Executive Principal at Inspiration Trust. Claire shares how she and her team designed and implemented a comprehensive teacher and leader development programme across their 14 schools. 

We also hear more about how Inspiration Trust has responded to the coronavirus pandemic, and in particular, how their CPD offer has changed to support staff with delivering remote learning. Finally, we consider the recent increased recognition for the work of the teaching profession, and the impact the pandemic may be having on recruitment and retention longer term. 

This week we talk to Debra Rutley, Executive Headteacher, and Eleanor Bernardes, Head of Development and Opportunities at Aspire Alternative Provision. 

We learn more about how the work of Aspire began and continues to develop in collaboration with local mainstream schools. We hear about Debra’s “leading with love” philosophy and how Aspire’s model focuses on high quality education first and foremost, with appropriate additional support rather than the other way around.  We also hear Eleanor’s reflections, as someone relatively new to alternative provision, about what working at Aspire is like. 

We also discuss the impact of funding challenges in education and the pressure this puts on alternative provision. In light of this, Eleanor shares the ways the Aspire Trust is exploring new opportunities to develop and extend its offering.  

This interview was recorded on a visit to Aspire Alternative Provision in early March 2020.

This we talk to Sir David Carter about the challenges of being a school or trust leader through a national crisis, and how accountability systems will need to adapt in the future to reflect the ‘next normal’.

We delve into his experience as a trust CEO turned senior civil servant and how school leaders can productively input into policy making. We also consider what makes a good trust leader and why recent weeks might have helped trusts demonstrate what can be achieved when groups of schools work together. 

The article from McKinsey that Sir David mentions can be found here

This week we talk to Neil Collins, Director of GovernorHub, the collaborative working platform for governors.  Following news this week that GovernorHub will join The Key, Neil talks us through the story of how GovernorHub came to be and shares his own experiences as a governor.  

We also consider how governance is adapting during school closures and the crucial role governors must play in supporting their schools through these most challenging of circumstances. 

If you want to know more about video meetings in GovernorHub, referenced in this podcast, you can find more information here.

This week we talk to Dr Adam Boddison, CEO of National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen). We cover a range of topics including how SEND is being inspected under the new inspection framework and how schools can improve the status of SEND in their schools.  We also discuss SEND funding in more detail and Adam shares some low cost ways schools can maximise their funding and outcomes. 

We also look ahead to the government’s forthcoming SEND review publication and consider what it might include as well as discussing future reforms that Adam would like to see. 

The Covid-19 resources from nasen mentioned at the beginning of this podcast can be found here.

This week we speak to Sinead McBrearty, CEO of Education Support about the kinds of issues education staff are coming to them for help with at the moment. We discuss practical ways to look after your colleagues’, and your own, wellbeing as schools continue to tackle the demands of the current situation. 

We go on to talk more broadly about the factors contributing to the number of education professionals experiencing either behavioural, psychological or physical symptoms due to their work (as reported in the 2019 Education Support Wellbeing Index). We also discuss what could be done at both a national policy and school level to address this significant threat to teacher retention.

Education support have a 24/7 telephone helpline, where you can speak confidentially to trained counsellors UK-wide: 

Call: 08000 562 561

Text: 07909 341229

This week we talk to Stephen Morales, CEO of the Institute of School Business Leadership (ISBL), Stephen Mitchell, interim CEO at Oak Multi Academy Trust and Kaley Foran, Lead Content Editor at The Key. We discuss some of the unprecedented situations school business leaders have been tackling in the past few weeks. We also consider issues schools might have to navigate when pupils and staff do eventually return and what successful leadership looks like in challenging times. 

ISBL’s Covid-19 resources can be found here.

The Key’s Covid-19 resource hub can be found here.