Across two halves, the podcast speaks to four school leaders to find out how they spot, encourage and develop potential leaders in their schools and trusts.
We ask how we can talent-spot these leaders – what kind of leadership traits and characteristics are we looking out for in our teachers and school staff?
Then, once we have identified these potential leaders, how do we support them to hone their leadership skills and what processes and CPD should schools have in place to encourage and inspire them? How do you nurture leaders pastorally to keep them energised? And what makes for an inspirational mentor or coach who might inspire the potential school leaders of the future?
We discuss all this alongside lots of good examples and ideas from our guests’ schools and trusts.
As ever, our host is Helen Frostick is retired primary school headteacher and a long-standing member of the Headteacher Update editorial board. Her guests were
- 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 No Silver Bullets 2.0: Heart and Soul of School Improvement. 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
- Laura McPhee is director of education at University Schools Trust. She is a facilitator for the National Professional Qualification for Headship on behalf of the London South Teaching School Hub. She is also board member of the Virtual School Management Board, executive committee member of the Lambeth Safer Partnership and guest lecturer at London South Bank University. Find her previous articles and podcast appearances for Headteacher Update via www.headteacher-update.com/authors/laura-mcphee
- Tenisha Jones is deputy headteacher at St John's and St Clement's CE Primary School in London, drawing on experience from her previous role as assistant headteacher at Loughborough Primary School in south London. Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Tenisha works to embed practices that address systemic issues in schools. She also serves on a governing body and is a board member for AA Educates. Find her previous podcast appearances for Headteacher Update via www.headteacher-update.com/authors/tenisha-jones/
- Louise Smith is CEO of Warrington Primary Academy Trust, which currently consists of eight primary schools. She is a practising headteacher at one of the trust’s schools and a National Leader of Education. Find her previous articles and podcast appearances for Headteacher Update via https://www.headteacher-update.com/authors/louise-smith/
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 https://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