"Headteachers don’t resign because they haven’t got the skills required to be an effective community leader; they resign because they don’t believe they have the skills to be an effective community leader." @headsup4hts.bsky.social uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/he...

On December 9, the SecEd Safeguarding Digest is hosting its next online masterclass with Elizabeth Rose. We will outline key priorities for DSLs at the end of autumn term, offer a #safeguarding checklist for the new year & discuss key updates buff.ly/MdIfkvl #schools

"We believe that the responsibility of the DfE goes beyond establishing the policy, frameworks & standards to prepare leaders for headship, through leadership development programmes (NPQs)..." @headsup4hts.bsky.social 1/2

Releasing the last set of posts from Kate Smith & James Pope's new book for @headsup4hts.bsky.social today. If you've read them, I hope you've found them interesting & useful. If you WANT to read them, scroll through my posts from the last couple of weeks! Thanks. uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/he...

"David Crossley makes the point that we are excellent at adding things into our schools as a result of initiatives, but we are less intentional & clear about abandoning the previous activity that the new activity has been designed to replace" @headsup4hts.bsky.social What should we perhaps abandon?

School leaders: "During our journey to headship we have acquired all sorts of diverse skills & experiences. We are drawing on this skill set & these experiences constantly in our daily working life, making decisions & taking action in an almost subconscious way..." @headsup4hts.bsky.social 1/2

"The idea behind building a positive self-image is to have a visualisation in our minds of what we look like, who we are & how we behave & feel – on our best days. The visualisation becomes a reminder on the more negative days that we have not landed in the position we are in by chance..." 1/2

"Teachers spend so much time at school, often more than with their families during term time, so it’s crucial that the environment feels safe, supportive & authentic." Kirstie Willis, Head of Briar Hill Infant School, in uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/he..., @headsup4hts.bsky.social

Aspiring to headship in the independent sector? This online course, from @isaschools.org.uk, is really good value - £60 for one session, & £110 for both sessions. Open to aspiring heads within & beyond ISA: 9.30-11.45am on 28.11.25 & on 5.12.25. www.isaschools.org.uk/event-calend...

and support the CYP do the same? 😉 #monotropism #neuro-affirming autisticrealms.com/neuro-affirm...

"If we find an activity personally joyful, the likely reason is that it feels purposeful. If it feels purposeful it is almost certainly contributing in some way to our sense of well-being. Be more present in those moments & plan more of those things into your working day." @headsup4hts.bsky.social

I’m going live in 15 mins on LinkedIn! See how TalkSavvy™ Coach supports real leadership reflection — clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence in action. Join here 👇 www.linkedin.com/events/talks... #SkyEd #Edusky #Leadership #AI #Coaching

"When we ask headteachers in the HeadsUp4HTs network what the barrier is to them looking after themselves it ordinarily boils down to one of three things: time; resources; self-limiting beliefs." @headsup4hts.bsky.social in uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/he...

Headteachers dealing with potentially overwhelming challenges: "Share your concerns with someone you trust. Talking openly can provide relief, reduce isolation & allow you to gain support & practical advice from someone who understands your challenges." @headsup4hts.bsky.social in 👇

"We have deliberately sought to facilitate teacher autonomy & teachers’ ability to bring the curriculum to life, to own the curriculum as their material & tool, & give them a bit more space to have the freedom to enhance & direct content, depending on their classroom." @beckyfrancis.bsky.social 1/2

In case you missed it: The Education Secretary is holding a live online event at 4:15pm on Wednesday 12 November, where she will discuss the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the government’s response. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-on-c...

"It’s disrespectful to ignore - or worse disparage - aspirations that don’t result in you getting really great grades & going to uni. It’s perfectly rational for youngsters to decide that they don’t want to go to university, & that they want to do what their mum & dad have done.." 1/2

Thanks @jillberry102.bsky.social and of course Sam and Tracy @samgibbs.bsky.social @missgoodyear.bsky.social A powerful voice here on something close to our long term ‘Opening Doors’ work: teacher empowerment 👇👇👇👇👇

"Within the curriculum & assessment review, there are numerous recommendations for how the content, structure &/or delivery of almost all core subjects should change. This could impact teachers across the country if these proposals are adopted...." @tesmagazine.bsky.social 1/2

"Instructional coaching is not about telling teachers what to do, but it’s also not about withholding information that would be helpful - so instructional coaches need specific coaching skills to be effective. Instructional coaches listen effectively, ask deep questions..." 1/2

"Real reform is rarely dramatic, but it is always collective. We must see this review as a chance to recast teaching as a profession that privileges professional thought and agency. As we look ahead, our challenge is simple..." @missgoodyear.bsky.social @samgibbs.bsky.social 1/2

"Experience tells us that ownership, not compliance, drives meaningful change." Great piece from @samgibbs.bsky.social and @missgoodyear.bsky.social in @tesmagazine.bsky.social: www.tes.com/magazine/ana...

Preparing for Headship - online, Tuesday 11th November, 9.30am-12.30pm Still time to register! Suitable for aspiring heads in UK and international schools. Organised by HMC (The Heads' Conference) but open to other schools, too: hmcpd.arlo.co/w/courses/10...

Heads - safeguarding your wellbeing: "Ask yourself ‘How are you?’ Respond with a one-word answer, but not a deflective response (OK, good, alright, fine). This is much more challenging than you might think, so take your time to think of your one word...." 1/2

In case you missed it: The Education Secretary is holding a live online event at 4:15pm on Wednesday 12 November, where she will discuss the Curriculum and Assessment Review and the government’s response. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/focus-on-c...

Preparing for Headship - online, Tuesday 11th November, 9.30am-12.30pm Still time to register! Suitable for aspiring heads in UK and international schools. Organised by HMC (The Heads' Conference) but open to other schools, too: hmcpd.arlo.co/w/courses/10...

"Ultimately, accessibility benefits everyone. When schools commit to designing inclusive environments, they create cultures of empathy, respect & fairness. This isn’t just about compliance with regulations—it’s about building communities where everyone belongs..." @ifnotme.bsky.social 1/2

Since 2011, Andrew Hampton & I have worked with 42 cohorts of aspiring SLs & heads on our online 'Leading an Independent School' course. 782 participants have completed the course, many of whom have gone on to successful careers as SLs & heads in the sector, in the UK & overseas. 1/2

"We know that headship is both the best & most joyful job in the world & incredibly challenging & demanding … & if we know this then let’s provide leaders with the support they need – not in a reactive way, but in an intentional & proactive way." @headsup4hts.bsky.social

Initial thoughts: some nice nods to diversity but it really is evolution not revolution. www.gov.uk/government/p... More thoughts later as it percolates.

"Psychological well-being is closely tied to the sense of purpose. Purpose has been shown to be a significant predictor of mental health outcomes. Research has consistently found that people with a strong sense of purpose tend to experience lower levels of depression..." @headsup4hts.bsky.social 1/2

From @benniekara.bsky.social: "I will be leading a webinar on Race & Colonialism in Literature on 25th Nov 7pm. This event is perfect for those wanting to brush up on their knowledge of race, racialisation & colonisation in literature. I will be referencing current taught texts in the UK." 1/2

"We can see that well-being is a multifaceted & dynamic concept that encompasses various aspects of human life. It is often used to describe the quality of an individual’s experience & functioning in the world. While its definition can vary depending on..." @headsup4hts.bsky.social 1/2

- suitable for those in primary/secondary/all-through schools, in the UK or overseas. For further info, see the website: leadinganindependentschool.wordpress.com & this blog post: jillberry102.blog/2017/11/19/l... Please share with anyone who might be considering it? Thanks! 2/2

Interested in senior leadership or headship in the independent sector? On Mon 19 Jan we start working with our next cohort of aspiring leaders: a 4-week online course which is basically asynchronous so you complete the activities in your own time... 1/2

We're offering 30 fully funded places on our Chartered Teacher (Leadership) Status: Increasing Diversity in Teacher Education cohort - designed specifically for experienced senior school leaders from global majority backgrounds. Find out more: https://chartered.pulse.ly/0rnglbimyb

On headship: "When we ask the question ‘Where do you find the joy in your job?’ of leaders & other staff in schools (& we have done this thousands of times) it is always the case that the examples provided will be directly related to an impact on another human being in their community..." 1/2

Interested in senior leadership or headship in the independent sector? On Mon 19 Jan we start working with our next cohort of aspiring leaders: a 4-week online course which is basically asynchronous so you complete the activities in your own time... 1/2

Also. Have you heard about MFL!???!? whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-...

Way I hear from history teachers is the content at GCSE is too much especially in that one tiny thing you squeezed into a Tuesday afternoon can turn out to be central to the exam paper. As a result actual standards are lower but covering it is harder. With random jeopardy depending on what comes up.

..any advice or useful research on Inclusive Teaching and it's impact would be hugely appreciated @markgoodrich.bsky.social @paulclinepsy.bsky.social @carlhendrick.substack.com @mrjlauder.bsky.social @mrmountstevens.bsky.social @jillberry102.bsky.social @dtwuva.bsky.social @jillberry102.bsky.social

Not too hard! But too much content at GCSE and some exam questions encourage formulaic answers which do not reward genuine enquiry or higher order thinking. A Level history is hard but challenge is good!

"Are GCSE and A-level history just too hard? And if so, what can we do about it?" History teacher Evelyn Waite writes in @tesmagazine.bsky.social . What do other history teachers think? www.tes.com/magazine/tea...

“Exclusion is a legal right & I actually support permanent exclusion as a tool which needs to exist. But where you have a school or trust using permanent exclusion at a far greater rate than others in a locality, who is looking at the data & asking, ‘What is going on?’” Head of a PRU, in tes 1/2

Committing to learning the language of your host country if you're an international teacher: "It’s helped me to become even more sensitive to the needs of our students who are English language learners & our parents from many countries..." www.tes.com/magazine/lea... @teachrankin.bsky.social 1/2

✅ Move from "telling" to "asking." ✅ Empower their middle and senior leaders to become effective coaches. ✅ Build a culture of trust and professional growth. Find out more about building a coaching culture that sticks: films.myattandco.com/programs/big...

Featuring Rachel Lofthouse, Joshua Goodrich and @jillberry102.bsky.social this curated set of recordings is designed for leaders who want to: /4

But how do you, as a leader, make that shift a practical reality? That's the core of the "Big Question - Leadership" program from Myatt & Co for Autumn 2025: "How can leaders create a coaching culture that empowers staff and drives continuous improvement?" /3

Creating a genuine coaching culture is the key to unlocking sustainable improvement. It empowers staff, builds capacity, and fosters a collaborative environment where everyone is invested in getting better. /2

Is your school's "improvement" culture just more top-down initiatives? Many school improvement plans fall flat because they lack buy-in. What if we shifted from "directing" to "developing"? /1