In this deeply moving episode, I’m joined by Viv Grant —former headteacher, author, and founder of Integrity Coaching.

In the first half, Viv shares her remarkable journey fromgrowing up as a child of the Windrush generation in London’s inner-city schoolsto becoming one of the youngest headteachers to turn around a failing primaryschool. Despite the school’s success, Viv speaks candidly about the personaltoll of leadership: the isolation, self-doubt, and relentless pressure so manyschool leaders experience behind the scenes. We discuss how these challengesinspired her to create Integrity Coaching, dedicated to supporting leaders sothey can flourish without losing themselves in the process.

In the second half, Viv opens up about the story behind herlatest book, Learning to Walk in the Dark. She reflects on navigatingthe profound uncertainty and fear that came with facing critical illness, andhow this experience deepened her understanding of vulnerability, faith, andresilience.

Throughout, Viv offers invaluable insights into theemotional landscape of leadership — and how, even in our darkest moments, wecan find hope, meaning, and connection.

Whether you’re a school leader, educator, or simply someonewho has faced life’s toughest challenges, this conversation is an invitation toexplore what it really means to lead, to heal, and to keep going when the wayahead feels uncertain

https://www.integritycoaching.co.uk/

https://www.integritycoaching.co.uk/learning-to-walk-in-the-dark/

Carla Julian started her journey into education as a Spanish and French teacher at a girl's school in London. She moved to Dubai, taking an initial post in a primary school before returning to secondary. She has always had a passion for yoga, wellbeing , education and inclusion and whilst in Dubai transitioned from teaching to set up her own business https://www.moveonyoga.com/.

She actively raises awareness and inspires children aged 2 - 18 to happily develop and grow mindfully, in order to become more successful in all aspects of their life journey through yoga.

In this episode of the Flying High Club, Carla shares the 20hToddler Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training Course and 30h Teens Yoga & Mindfulness Teacher Training Course she'll be running through https://aboveandbeyond.education https://aboveandbeyond.education/event/toddler-yoga-mindfulness-teacher-training-course/2025-04-19/

https://aboveandbeyond.education/event/30h-teens-yoga-mindfulness-teacher-training-course/2025-04-12/

Our guest this week is Sheila Mulvenney. She started her career as a nurse then health visitor before going in to teach in further education on a range

of care and childcare courses. While there she completed a degree and later a PGCE, teaching in a range of settings before moving into specialist, SEMH schools. She went on to become head of a small school for children in care. From there she moved to working in local authorities initially in

inclusion then as head of a virtual school for children in care in 5 different local authorities.

Sheila can be contacted via her company, www.attunededucation.com. She offer training in personal development, phonics for teachers and issues related to vulnerable children such as trauma, attachment, emotion coaching and behaviour management.

She says, 'I believe if we change our mindset we can change our life hence my book ‘Make it Magnificent’

which available on Amazon

You can also connect with Sheila on Twitter and LinkedIn

Laura Martin is a cover supervisor at a secondary school in the Midlands.  I first met her in 2020, when she had just started her journey working in schools as a Learning Support Assistant. It has been a huge period of growth for her and I was delighted that she was open to sharing her story. She says, 'I was dyslexic and loathed school as a child and teenager due to my experiences. I vowed never to set foot inside a school again after collecting my GCSE results. I ended up working as chef in a junior school by chance after being made redundant, my passion for accessible education was born from seeing how the TAs gave so much to the children that they worked with' 

Laura can be contacted on LinkedIn and Twitter

Russell Taylor is a second year History and Sociology ECT teacher. He's wanted to be a teacher for most of his life and despite his passion he describes how the journey has not been straightforward. 

Russell is happy to connect with you on Twitter as well as on LinkedIn

Dave McPartlin, leads a Happiest Primary School award winning school and is also a BBC Bitesize & Live lessons presenter. His upbeat, positive outlook and fun banter with his pupils meant I had to invite him to be a #FlyingHighPodcast guest - especially after reading this wonderful thread capturing a conversation with one of his pupils.  Take a look at his school win a golden buzzer on Britain's Got Talent right here

Find him on

Twitter - @dave_mcpartlin

Linkedin - Dave McPartlin

Adele Bates is a Teacher, Behaviour & Education Specialist, Keynote Speaker  and Author of  'Miss I Don't Give A Shit'.  I loved listening to her story about her unconventional journey into teaching 

Contacts

adelebateseducation.co.uk

Bukky Yusuf, is a Senior Leader with a passion for Ed Tech and Science, Education Consultant, Public Speaker and blogger, coach and all round inspirational woman. Our conversation, as always, covered a lot of ground, including how to have difficult conversations with people who have a different perspective to our own and we mention the How To Be A Better Human. The episode we discussed can be found here 

Here are the links to Bukky's work and contact details:

LinkedIn

YouTube

Blogs

Twitter

https://aboveandbeyond.education/our-community/actionheroteacher/?no_frame=1

https://amzn.eu/d/4Di4wCg

https://www.actionheroteacher.com/

https://twitter.com/actionheroteach?s=20&t=BHHbVywaiLzJGd-FulniVg

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlpupe/

[email protected]