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...

@themountaingoats.bsky.social Hello from the UK! I have written a post on my substack about the positive impact the music of The Mountain Goats can have on your mental health. open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

On my #Substack, I don't just write about education, leadership and introversion. I am writing a #folkhorror story too. Unsurprisingly, it takes place in a village school! Part seven has just been uploaded, and it can be found here exheadteacher.substack.com/s/the-villag...

Check out my new post, '8 Simple Rules for (Up)dating the National Curriculum. I have read a 200-page document so that you don't have to! exheadteacher.substack.com #headteacherupdate #headteachernews

Here is the third and final part of my attempt to summarise the Curriculum and Assessment Review from a primary perspective. Parts one and two are also on my Substack. #HeadteacherNews #HeadteacherUpdate open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Here is part 2 of my no-nonsense reflections on the curriculum and assessment review. There is actually some good stuff in this part, believe it or not. Remember, I am reading the whole document, so you don’t have to! Part 1 is also available on mySubstackk. open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

If you don’t want to read the whole document (it’s nearly 200 pages long), check out my reflections on it here. I have tried to make it an easy read! #headteachernews #headteacherchat open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

If you don’t want to read the whole document (it’s nearly 200 pages long), check out my reflections on it here. I have tried to make it an easy read! #headteachernews #headteacherchat open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

My post on #substack today is entitled 'The Rise of the (Introverted) Robots'. I hope you enjoy it! open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

As an #introvert, one of the reasons I produce a substack is to let other overthinking introverts know that there are lots of us out there who think like they do. open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Part of my mission as an #introvert is to help non-introverts better understand what goes through the minds of overthinking, anxious introverts like me. I also want to let other introverts know that they are not alone #introvertproblems open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Sunset this evening. This picture was taken on my phone from my front step. There is something rejuvenating about staring out to sea. Sometimes I am guilty of taking things for granted, but not tonight. #QuietLeadership

As an #introvert, I often struggle with small talk. Here are a couple of examples when it went wrong, as well as some of the tactics I use to get me through these kinds of situations

As a primary school teacher and then senior leader, I struggled with the festival of Halloween. Should we be engaging with it in our schools, or is there a better way?https://exheadteacher.substack.com/p/halloween-vs-day-of-the-dead?r=4tu1ld

As someone who suffers from very poor sleep, I read this article with great interest. #insomnia #introvert

Podcasts are the perfect medium for introverts. There is one in particular that should be a must-listen for us. I have done a deep dive into why the medium, and this podcast in particular, appeals to people like me. #Introverts #ElisandJohn #QuietLeadership open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Here is part two of my post focusing on the potential uses for #YouTube as a middle-aged surfer. I would love to hear from others my age (51) and older who use the site regularly. What do you use it for? open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

One of the most rewarding things you can do as a leader is spot potential and see it realised. Here is an example of exactly that. #QuietLeadership open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Many people my age don’t realise that YouTube isn’t just for millennials, and that it can be for them too. Here is part one of an article I have written on ‘YouTube for the over-fifties’ #wellbeing #QuietLeadership #Youtube open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

In 2025, language seems to be evolving at a greater pace than ever. Teachers owe it to their children to understand what they are talking about, whether it is skibidi, rizz or 67. We mustn’t try to speak their language, though, as that would be ‘cheugy’. open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Sir Gavin Williamson spoke to the covid-19 enquiry yesterday about his role as Secretary of State for Education during the pandemic. Here are my thoughts… open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Changing a toxic culture is a huge task. Here is an example, from the sporting world, of how it can be done. #QuietLeadership

It is a privilege to share the build-up to Christmas with children in school. It is a chaotic, exciting and exhausting time, but it can eat you alive if you are not prepared. I have written my guide to surviving the Christmas term, which I hope readers will find useful. #QuietLeadership

Have you got a book in you? I am chronicling my journey to become a published author in my #Substack, so check it out if you are thinking of starting this journey. We can do it together! exheadteacher.substack.com/s/becoming-an-author #QuietLeadership #Introversion

Here is a gift from me to mark #WorldMentalHealthDay. I hope that it brightens up your Friday afternoon! #QuietLeadership open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Here is a gift from me to mark #WorldMentalHealthDay. I hope that it brightens up your Friday afternoon! #QuietLeadership open.substack.com/pub/exheadte...

Have you got a book in you? I am chronicling my journey to become a published author in my #Substack, so check it out if you are thinking of starting this journey. We can do it together! exheadteacher.substack.com/s/becoming-an-author #QuietLeadership #Introversion

Worrying news about another growing problem for schools post-pandemic was reported by the BBC this week. This is something that all headteachers and SENCOs should be aware of.

This is the best idea for improving school attendance that I have heard, bar none! Rather than focusing on punishing poor #attendance, we should be trying something positive, and rolling this out nationally would be a good start. #headteachernews #headteacherupdate

"Are you on email? You simply must be these days." Some communication-related tips for new headteachers in my post for the day. #headteacherupdate #headteachersupport #headteachernews

As someone who spent countless hours peeling oranges for children during playtime duties, I think this video should be shown in all schools. www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...

Renowned introvert Warren Buffett said “It’s good to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn from other peoples mistakes.” He was right. We can learn a lot about leadership from the broken culture that exists in football in 2025. exheadteacher.substack.com #QuietLeadership

I am delighted to announce that my book is now available for pre-order from the lovely people at Crown House Publishing www.crownhouse.co.uk #QuietLeadership #HeadteacherNews #HeadteacherUpdate

Coming February 2026! 📘 Leadership doesn’t always have to be loud. In #QuietLeadership Andrew Marsh offers an inspiring guide for introverted school leaders, showing how you can lead with authenticity & efficiency while embracing who you are. Find out more & join the waitlist here: buff.ly/20KdYL5

I have uploaded another chapter of 'The Village School' to my #Substack today. Other new content includes a piece about the elephants' graveyard, and one about the wellbeing benefits of becoming a twitcher! exheadteacher.substack.com

Why are there so many songs about birds? The answer is simple: birds represent the infinite possibilities that await us if only we can let go of the stresses of our everyday lives. exheadteacher.substack.com

Lots more uploads on my #substack in the last week, including more chapters of 'The Village School' and an unlikely role model! exheadteacher.substack.com #leadership #introvert #headteacher

For several years, I have noted that school leadership is becoming more like football management, so I have written a ‘Sky Sports’ style report that imagines such a scenario. It’s probably closer to the truth than you might imagine! exheadteacher.substack.com

As an #introvert, building LEGO models helps me to feel like I am bringing order to a chaotic world. On my #substack I've written about becoming an AFOL (adult fan of LEGO) in my fifties! I have also added the next chapter of my story, ‘The Village School’ exheadteacher.substack.com

I have added a new chapter of my story, 'The Village School', to my #substack, as well as a recount of a day in primary school when we were terrified by a public information film #apaches exheadteacher.substack.com

If you could share one tip for new leaders, what would it be? Read mine here. I have also written a piece about the positive effect of collective effervescence, something I would recommend all introverts trying out. exheadteacher.substack.com

Too many people forget that some good things happened in schools in the past. For example, I wrote a piece today that encourages schools to bring back the nature table. exheadteacher.substack.com

New posts on my #substack - why it is important we understand the personalities of introverts, a new edit of the first few chapters of 'The Village School' and an update on the publication of my book. exheadteacher.substack.com

Ready for the start of the new school year, I have listed my top ten tips for #schoolassembly. I have also added another chapter from my folk horror, ‘The Village School,’ to my Substack. exheadteacher.substack.com

Two new posts on my #substack today. One is my personal history of personal computing, and the other is the next part of my fictional story, 'The Village School' exheadteacher.substack.com

Two new posts from me. One is the introduction to a fictional story I am writing, and the other describes how a highly introverted person spends his bank holiday weekend! I will post chapter one of the story soon, and I will keep going if the feedback is positive. exheadteacher.substack.com

I am all about lists this week. 'Ten things I have learned since leaving the teaching profession' and 'my top ten charity shop artists', plus why schools should focus less on communicating with parents. exheadteacher.substack.com

Is it possible for an #introvert to have the perfect night's sleep? Check out my journey here tiny.cc/fyer001 exheadteacher.substack.com

Having just watched the movie ‘Saturday Night’ about the first broadcast of #SNL I was struck by the similarities with life ‘behind the scenes’ in a primary school. I have written my own version, which I have called ‘Monday Morning Live (MML)’ exheadteacher.substack.com

Why has "the new manager bounce" become a thing in schools? This and more, including a visit to an oasis of calm in the middle of #Bristol, in my #substack this week. #introverts #headteacherchat exheadteacher.substack.com