Leadership: How to run effective meetings Meetings matter, but too often in schools they can turn into long-winded affairs wasting precious staff time. Robbie Burns takes a look at how we can make our meetings more efficient and better
The power of coaching leadership styles Adopting a coaching leadership style in your school can yield a range of benefits for you and your team. Frances Robertson explains
Women in leadership: Smashing the glass ceiling Despite teaching being female dominated, men remain twice as likely to hold leadership positions. Headteacher Erika Eisele considers why this is and reflects on her own experiences as a school leader
Stress, anxiety, and developing our teachers Stressed? Overwhelmed? Anxious? If we are to put in place a schools recovery plan to help teaching staff and leaders, we need to know what challenges we are addressing and how to address them. Gareth Conyard reflects on wellbeing and CPD
Five lessons of primary leadership After 10 years as a headteacher in east London, Tom Panagiotopoulos has written a book chronicling his experiences. We asked him to give us five lessons for successful primary school leadership
Four steps to develop your school’s senior leadership team Building and developing a successful senior leadership team is an important part of the role of a headteacher. Simon Clark shares four strategic tips for how you can do this
Twelve ways to lead like a turtle Do you lead like a turtle? John Dabell explains why turtles can teach us a lot about effective school leadership 1 comment
Instructional coaching: What it is, how it works and why it matters Considered by many to be the most effective form of teacher CPD, instructional coaching is gaining popularity in schools. In part one of a two-part article, Robbie Burns looks at what it is, why it works, three types of approach, and three principles for implementation
Jazzy leadership: The essential elements of a great school leader 'Do not fear mistakes. There are none.’ From improvisation to risk-taking, drawing on two leadership books, John Dabell suggests some of the elements that make for effective school leadership
Getting the most out of your MAT As a teacher, how do you get the most out of your school’s multi-academy trust? Paul Ainsworth looks at some of the opportunities MATs should be providing for their staff and what teachers themselves can do to take advantage
Resignations and retirement: A looming leadership crisis? There are real fears that the added pressure of Covid-19 will drive many more headteachers to quit. Suzanne O’Connell looks at the barriers we face to headteacher retention and recruitment
Leadership: Certainty in uncertain times A new academic year dawns and we continue to live with the uncertainty of the pandemic. Dr Pooky Knightsmith offers us some simple ideas for leading with certainty in uncertain times
Research and evidence-led teaching: From consumers to creators Following up their previous article on how to interpret educational research, Dr Fiona Aubrey Smith and Prof Peter Twining urge teachers to shift from being consumers of research to co-creating and sharing their own knowledge and experiences…
Flexible working: How to job-share the role of primary headteacher Job-sharing the role of headteacher is an increasingly popular option. Co-heads Alison Fitch and Rebecca Stacey explain how their role works, why it is effective and why job-sharing could be a key factor in retaining more teachers
CPD at the heart of school improvement A small primary school in Cornwall has become a CPD powerhouse after placing professional development at the heart of its school improvement plans. Yvonne Gandy takes a look
Eight leadership habits and how to encourage them The Ted Wragg Trust prioritises leadership development across its schools. Senior leader Caroline Sherwood describes the MAT’s eight leadership habits and how these can be encouraged
Four coaching conversations for school leaders Coaching can have a positive influence on staff wellbeing, morale and performance in schools. Denise Barrows outlines four particularly powerful coaching conversations that leaders can use to achieve this sort of transformative impact
Taking on an acting headship in a time of crisis As if becoming an acting headteacher is not enough of a challenge – what is it like when there is a global health pandemic? Suzanne O'Connell speaks to one newly acting headteacher about her experiences and her advice to others who find themselves in an acting role
Ensuring effective career development for your staff A good career development strategy is crucial to retaining staff but can be challenging to get right, especially in a primary school. Maria Cunningham offers her best practice advice
The trials and tribulations of being a deputy headteacher… Laura Knight is in her second deputy headship. We asked her to describe the unique aspects of the role, the skills required and the sheer range of tasks that a deputy may be required to perform
What does a headteacher look like? The BAMEed Network is aiming to end to under-representation of BAME educators in school leadership. Co-founder Allana Gay explains more
Middle leaders: Great teaching and CPD ?Middle leaders now have a key role in developing great teaching across their teams, which of course involves securing effective CPD – but what are the best ways to achieve this? Bridget Clay advises
Starting your first headship Establishing yourself as a new headteacher is a daunting task. Colin McLean asks primary head Steph Gaskell to share her personal perspectives on how to handle this challenge effectively
Leadership succession: Give us a ‘Heads Up’ A report from the Future Leaders Trust has identified some of the key barriers that are stopping talented leaders from stepping up to headship, including the poor reputation of the role. Heath Monk issues a call to action
Aiming for the top job In September, Emma Williams will embark on her first headship. Here, she describes her leadership journey – the challenges she has faced and the skills she has learnt along the way – and offers encouragement and advice to other would-be headteachers
