3 important messages for school leaders from the DfE this week Enrichment matters Reception matters Professional judgement matters I've unpacked all three in the latest articles paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode... paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode... paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode...

I nearly skipped the DfE’s birthday absence story. The more I thought about it though, the less I think it’s about birthdays. Is it telling us something about how some families now view school after Covid. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I’m not. paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode...

Thank you for the interest shown in the Contextual Vulnerability Index A number of you have asked for more information, so I’m happy to share both the full framework document and the supporting spreadsheet 
[email protected] article here
paulurry68.substack.com/p/introducin...

This week's DfE Decoded series is now live. I've taken five major areas of education policy and broken them down into practical implications for schools: • nspection changes • Communicating with parents • Transforming children's social care • SEND • ECT development paulurry68.substack.com

Thanks Sue, it is proving really popular as a process as well as analysing the outcomes. I have a spreadsheet that also slices the data, if you are interested.

What if schools could understand children's strengths, challenges and circumstances with the same rigour that we analyse attainment data? At St Stephen’s Primary, that question led us to develop the Contextual Vulnerability Index. paulurry68.substack.com/p/introducin...

Best review I’ve had for my blog paulurry68.substack.com I find your writing invaluable for its clarity and practical insight. You articulate complex leadership dilemmas with honesty and offer grounded, workable solutions. Your perspective bridges theory and practice that supports school leadership.

A small shift I’ve been exploring: Learning objectives as questions, not statements. Instead of: “Understand…” Try: “Why…?” “How…?” It changes the feel of the lesson. Pupils aren’t just completing tasks — they’re working towards an answer. paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-excell...

Big week for education policy. Yes, the White Paper matters — but so do: • Neurodivergence report • Children of the 2020s data • English Hubs evaluation • School & College Voice surveys • Kinship care reform School leadership guides for each of these here: paulurry68.substack.com/s/dfe-decoded

I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership cohesion recently. Not the kind that looks neat on an organogram — the kind that feels safe in a room. This clip is a short reflection on building that safety deliberately. The full piece is here paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

Pupils don’t learn what we say. They learn what they think about. If learning looks secure in the lesson but disappears a week later, this unit digs into why. Memory. Attention. Schema. Clip below. Full article here paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-excell...

One of the most underestimated aspects of deputy headship is personal credibility. Module 1, Unit 5 of The Art of the Deputy explores how trust is built quietly — through presence, consistency, and how leaders show up under pressure. 🔗 paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

Leadership gets harder when you realise nothing happens in isolation. This unit explores what it means to see the whole school as a system — and lead more thoughtfully because of it. Read here: paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

I’ve written a short reflection about creating space for better leadership — space to pause, think clearly, and respond rather than react. Nothing clever. Just honest. If you’re in school leadership, you might recognise it. paulurry68.substack.com/p/making-spa...

Some weeks, leadership isn’t about plans or data. It’s about belief—in people, in the work, and in why you started. This piece explores how vision, faith (not just religious), and service actually keep leaders standing when things get tough. Full read here: paulurry68.substack.com/p/becoming-a...

Vision isn’t the statement on the wall. It’s how people behave when things get busy or uncomfortable. This unit explores how leaders (at every level) shape culture through the small, daily choices they make — often without realising it. Here’s the piece: paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

New article in my series The Psychological Work of Headship. This one focuses on the headteacher as an emotional container — holding staff, pupils, parents, and systems without absorbing everything. Part 4 here: paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

I’ve only just spotted this change to PPG on the DfE website from June 2025 There’s been a quiet change to FSM / Pupil Premium eligibility for families with no recourse to public funds. Easy to miss, but significant for schools and children. paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode...

Norway doesn’t ask how children with SEND can fit into schools. It asks how schools should be designed so everyone belongs from the start. This piece explores inclusion as architecture. Global Insights #17 Norway: Inclusion, SEND, and Belonging by Design 🔗 paulurry68.substack.com/p/global-ins...

Leadership feels different when values and culture pull in the same direction. This clip explores alignment — not as comfort, but as integrity. The longer piece reflects on why misalignment drains energy. full article: paulurry68.substack.com/p/becoming-a...

Leadership isn’t a performance. This clip explores why self-awareness matters more than style, confidence, or authority when stepping into leadership. Clip + full article here: paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i... Leadership grows when identity is understood.

I used to go to find useful stuff or systems for school, now I go to look at and compare ideas. This year I'm on the hunt for data visualisation ideas and budget friendly science ideas/kit.

Schools don’t just respond to what leaders decide. They respond to how leaders carry emotion This latest article in my psychology of headship series looks at emotional regulation as a core leadership skill—and why calm matters more than charisma in headship paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

Heading to the BETT Show this Wednesday with a simple intention: to discover what I don’t yet know that I don’t know. If you’ve seen something genuinely useful or future-facing at BETT, I’d love your recommendations. #BETT #EdTech #Education #SchoolLeaders #ProfessionalLearning

This week’s DfE Decoded covered four different areas of policy — reading, attainment, elective home education and children missing education. Together, they point to the same leadership challenge: visibility, belonging and early support matter more than ever. paulurry68.substack.com/s/dfe-decoded

Australia’s education system offers a familiar lesson for England:teacher wellbeing doesn’t fail because people care too little My latest global education insights piece explores workload, professional agency,and why wellbeing must be designed, not delegated paulurry68.substack.com/p/global-ins...

Moral leadership isn’t about statements or slogans. It’s about what leaders do when decisions are difficult, pressured, or unpopular. Unit 2 explores leadership as a moral responsibility — lived daily through judgement, integrity, and courage.

New leadership unit for deputy heads. This resource explores the head–deputy relationship as a professional partnership,built on trust,discretion,honest challenge, and alignment rather than agreement. Available as a full learning package: • Video • Podcast • Written article • Accompanying workbook

Teaching is one of the professions that is both moral and intellectual Module 1, Unit 2 explores how excellent teachers protect dignity while designing learning with precision, balancing care and challenge, compassion and clarity, every day in the classroom paulurry68.substack.com/p/excellent-...

My latest piece in The Psychological Work of Headship. Self-awareness before strategy — why your inner world shapes judgement, tone, and decision-making far more than we like to admit in school leadership. paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

DfE Decoded is published weekly on Sundays. Clear, calm analysis of new DfE policy — written for school and trust leaders who want understanding. Each one with a leadership reference, challenge and action guide paulurry68.substack.com/s/dfe-decoded

My DfE Decoded #56 unpacks the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill as a leadership issue, not a compliance one. It reframes safeguarding, attendance and wellbeing. There’s also a leadership reference sheet for heads and governors. paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode...

Before leadership becomes visible, it becomes personal. Module 1, Unit 1 of Becoming a Future Head creates space to reflect on purpose, values, and what truly anchors leadership Not techniques. Not performance. Just clarity of why — before questions of how. paulurry68.substack.com/p/becoming-a...

Deputy headship is one of the most influential leadership roles in a school—but it’s often misunderstood Module 1 of The Art of the Deputy Head explores leadership through influence rather than title For deputies who want to lead consciously, calmly and well paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

New leadership resource for teachers stepping into responsibility. Self or group study weekly course This first unit explores the difference between management and leadership. Available as: • Video • Podcast • Written article • Accompanying workbook paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

Today we begin The Excellent Teacher Programme. An 8-module course with 5 units per module, released every Tuesdays. Every unit includes a video, podcast, written article, and workbook. A thoughtful, research-informed journey into excellent teaching. paulurry68.substack.com/p/excellent-...

I’m starting a new series today: The Psychological Work of Headship It explores the inner, often unspoken work of school leadership—pressure,decision-making,behaviour,mental health & sustainability Why Headship Requires Psychological and Psychiatric Awareness paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

If your school is closed with snow tomorrow, this is an invitation to think differently. Shared story time, outdoor play, and family connection can be real learning — and thoughtful leadership — not a fallback from it. paulurry68.substack.com/p/perspectiv...

I am starting a free 20 article series on the psychology of leadership on Monday 5th January - podcast and written Follow here paulurry68.substack.com/subscribe

A New Year resolution? Your own CPD programme? I have 4 running Excellent Teacher Stepping into leadership The art of the deputy Becoming a future head 40 units, released weekly in video, podcast or text with self study workbook - more information here paulurry68.substack.com/publish/post...

On my Substack next month Free subscribers get a new Psychology of Leadership series, global education case studies,and weekly DfE updates Monthly/annual subscribers get full access to four leadership courses focused on purpose,identity,and moral leadership paulurry68.substack.com/p/january-on...

Deputy headship sits at the centre of school life — between vision and reality, people and systems. I’ve written The Art of Deputy Headship course: a weekly series with an article, podcast, video and workbook to support real leadership work. paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

December leadership shapes January more than any planning day ever will. Clarity, reflection, and humanity in the final weeks of term don’t make December easier — they make January steadier. Three habits I now treat as non-negotiable. paulurry68.substack.com/p/perspectiv...

Launching 7th January: a brand-new weekly leadership programme for teachers - Stepping Into School Leadership Eight modules • 40 units • Weekly podcast • Workbook tasks Designed to grow confidence, strengthen practice, and help teachers step into leadership. paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

When the pace of school life accelerates, the pressure to react can be intense. My latest piece explores why slowing down, widening the lens, and choosing thoughtful action over instant reaction is one of the most powerful leadership moves we can make. paulurry68.substack.com/p/perspectiv...

Language expands identity. Culture deepens belonging. Confident communication grows when MFL becomes part of who we are, not just what we teach. paulurry68.substack.com/p/perspectiv...

Glad that that this is being discussed at last - only headteachers hold the whole picture – the curriculum, culture, community and safeguarding woven together. Reforms must restore that multifaceted, joined-up role. Without clarity and resource, the system loses the one leader who can connect it all

Introducing the Excellent Teacher Programme that offers a weekly rhythm for growth: a video, podcast, article, and workbook to help you find your groove. Eight modules. Forty sessions. Starts 6 Jan 2026. paulurry68.substack.com/p/introducti...

Child: You have something on your chin, Mr Urry Me: thank you Child: No - your other chin Child walks away laughing Not often speechless, but quietly proud to be head of a school where humour thrives - even if it is at my expense

Child comes straight into my office Me: I'm on the phone! child: yes - but I have to tell you that another child Calle me a golddigger Me: and?? Child: I've come to tell you that I didn't hit him