In this episode we take a deep dive into the different roles and models of executive primary school leadership, looking at best practice and how executive leaders can best support their individual schools.
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Our panel of experts ask what different executive leadership roles exist and what purpose they serve; we consider the different structures and models of executive leadership, too.

We discuss how executive leaders can effectively support the individual school leadership teams within each of the schools they oversee.

We also detail the the main responsibilities for executive headteachers and their deputies and ask what processes and elements are required for executive leadership to thrive.

We ask what skills make a good executive leader and hear examples of good practice and effective models from the experience of our three experts, including some of the challenges they have faced as executive leaders.

Helen Frostick is a National Leader of Education and a retired primary school headteacher. She is a long-standing member of the Headteacher Update editorial board.

  • Paul K Ainsworth has held director of school improvement roles in four multi-academy trusts and is currently the education director with Infinity Academies Trust in Lincolnshire. He has supported leaders of small rural primary schools to large 11 to 18 urban secondaries, working intensively with those in Ofsted categories. He is the author of No Silver Bullets: Day-in, day-out school improvement and a TEDx speaker. Paul often appears on the Headteacher Update Podcast. Find his episodes and all his articles for the magazine via www.headteacher-update.com/authors/paul-k-ainsworth  
  • Julie Norman is leadership and school effectiveness advisor for Devon County Council and director of School Omega Solutions. She is a former primary school headteacher and executive leader. Read her previous articles and find her previous podcast appearances for Headteacher Update via www.headteacher-update.com/authors/julie-norman 
  • Chris Jones is deputy CEO of the Warrington Primary Academy Trust (WPAT) and executive head at Bruche Primary School in Warrington. He is also a Pupil Premium reviewer working across WPAT and beyond. Read his previous articles and find his previous podcast appearances for Headteacher Update via www.headteacher-update.com/authors/chris-jones 

To hear other Headteacher Update podcasts, or to subscribe for free to new editions, search for 'The Headteacher Update Podcast' in your podcast streaming application of choice. Or visit www.headteacher-update.com/content/podcasts 

For details about The Headteacher Update Podcast, or to suggest future topics, email editor Pete Henshaw at pete.henshaw@markallengroup.com