I’ve been reading posts online this week from leaders who have just taken their first steps into headship, and it’s caused me to reflect on my own first weeks and months in a headteacher role nearly 15 years ago. One moment came clearly into view. I was fortunate to be part of a new heads group in my LA (sadly I don’t think they’re all that common these days). We attended a workshop together and the first activity was to bring a photo that showed something you felt proud of from your first...

I’ve noticed that AI has become a regular talking point in coaching conversations with heads. I was really impressed the other day as I listened to a head tell me how he and his staff are leveraging it, among other things, as a tool to enhance effective feedback to pupils. The creative possibilities seem to keep coming, but I can’t help wondering what we might be losing as AI occupies a bigger and bigger space in school life and in the minds of school leaders. The context of shrinking...

I was coaching a lady recently who had moved school and into a new role as a head of department. She was feeling a bit like a fish out of...