Simon Botten, executive headteacher in Bristol and author of ‘Headteachering’, shares practical insights into sustainable leadership and staff wellbeing in schools.

In this episode, Simon reflects on his journey into headship and explains why he embraces the complexity and uncertainty of leadership.

He explores the first 100 days in a role, including building trust, creating clarity of purpose, and securing early wins through culture, environment and behaviour.

Simon discusses how to develop happy, effective teams through psychological safety, honest communication and strong relationships, alongside practical strategies for managing stress, maintaining boundaries and staying connected to the joy of working with children.

Learn more about Simon’s work here: https://headteachering.uk/

Sue Ackroyd, CEO and executive principal of the William Henry Smith Foundation, shares insights from her 37-year career supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.

In this episode, Sue discusses trauma-informed leadership, designing curriculum that gives students real “currency” for life, and building a culture focused on quality of life for both students and staff.

Sue also outlines practical approaches to staff support, including wellbeing activities, clinical supervision, therapy access, and menopause support, and highlights why self-care without guilt is essential for retention and sustainable practice.

Louise Shields, School Business Manager and Senior Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead at Beacon of Light Alternative Provision School, shares how schools can build a strong culture of staff wellbeing in demanding environments.

In this episode, Louise reflects on 25 years of working across different education settings and explains how she reshaped the school’s wellbeing policy, introducing dedicated staff wellbeing days and creating a wellbeing team.

She discusses the emotional demands of alternative provision, the value of daily briefings and safeguarding support, and practical initiatives, from walks and quizzes to menopause awareness, that help strengthen staff morale and connection.

Haley White, founder of Menospace, and Victoria Brookbank, founder of Minds That Work, discuss menopause, mental health and workplace wellbeing.

In this episode, Haley shares her experience of perimenopause and how it led her to develop menopause training for organisations, while Victoria reflects on her work in psychotherapy and workplace culture change.

Together they explore common psychological symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, sleep disruption and brain fog, and why stigma and lack of awareness can prevent people from getting the support they need.

They also discuss practical workplace adjustments, how managers can foster psychologically safe conversations, the importance of including men in these conversations, and the growing focus on menopause support in workplace policy.

Helena Marsh, experienced school and trust leader and teaching head at Linton Village College, discusses relational leadership, emotional intelligence, and how coaching conversations can help shift school culture away from top-down problem-solving.

In this episode, Helena explores collaborative leadership, developing a workload and wellbeing charter into a wider culture code, and the role of shared responsibility across schools.

She also reflects on co-founding WomenEd, changes in the profession over the past decade, including flexible working, and practical ways leaders can sustain wellbeing through strong networks, reflection, and support.

Steve Munby, leadership speaker and author of Imperfect Leadership, explores why effective leadership is rooted in self-awareness, humility and collective responsibility.

In this episode, Steve reflects on his journey from his first years as a teacher to leading major education organisations, and explains why he challenges the myth of the “hero leader.”

He discusses psychological safety, modelling vulnerability, and how tools like 360-degree feedback can help leaders grow and prepare for headship.

Diana Osagie, secondary school leader and author of Courageous Leadership, shares what it really takes to lead with courage in education.

In this episode, Diana reflects on her journey from science teacher to headship and the emotional realities of leadership.

She explores resilience, self-awareness and strategic clarity, alongside the importance of vulnerability and strong support networks.

You’ll hear practical insights on intentional self-care, celebrating small wins and answering the call to leadership in ways that are sustainable, human and values-led.

Jason Rawding, founder of My Beast, explores how humour and storytelling can strengthen wellbeing, belonging and psychological safety in education.

In this episode, Jason shares why laughter matters at work and how intentional humour can build trust, connection and more human teams.

He reflects on the role of storytelling in leadership and the impact of openness and empathy on team culture.

You’ll hear practical ideas for bringing humour into everyday school life, along with insights on creating environments where staff feel safe, seen, and valued.