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Headship After Hours: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Paul Collin
This podcast is for headteachers, executive heads & aspiring heads who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process. Paul Collin, former head and leadership coach, talks about isolation, pressure, governing bodies, staff dynamics & the inner work of staying grounded.
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- 1 weeks ago10 min
Schools Remember How Leadership Feels
School culture isn't created by a vision statement. It's created by how leadership feels every day.Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance.The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works.That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools.It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process:On-site school visitDetailed, school-specific reportFollow-up strategy sessionPractical leadership tools for a clear 90-day planTypically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools.Apply here → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the biggest misconceptions in education: that culture can be launched through policies, values or strategic plans.Real culture is built much more quietly.It develops through repeated leadership behaviours, emotional consistency, psychological safety and the thousands of small interactions that shape how staff and pupils experience school each day. In this episode we discuss:Why culture is built through repeated experiencesLeadership behaviours that quietly shape schoolsEmotional safety and psychological trustWhy systems alone never create strong culturesHow relational leadership transforms schoolsSchools don't remember what leadership intended.They remember what leadership repeatedly felt like.Timestamps:00:00 – Why Schools Don't Build Culture Through Posters00:35 – Schools Remember Leadership Differently01:35 – The Biggest Myth About School Culture01:52 – Culture Is Built Through Repeated Experiences02:36 – Attendance and Leadership Alignment03:51 – Systems Don't Create Trust04:08 – What Real Culture Looks Like04:38 – Why Micro Moments Matter05:03 – When Adults Change, Everything Changes05:43 – Emotional Safety vs Emotional Fragility06:21 – Why High-Trust Schools Perform Better06:42 – The Calm Schools That Thrive07:17 – Accountability and Relationships Together07:54 – Leadership Is Emotional Modelling08:30 – Why Culture Slowly Drifts09:05 – The Emotional Architecture of Schools09:24 – The Question Every Leader Should Ask09:48 – Schools Remember How Leadership Feels
- 2 weeks ago11 min
The Monday Morning Attendance Trap
Why does opening the attendance dashboard on a Monday morning feel like a verdict rather than information?Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance.The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works.That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools.It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process:On-site school visitDetailed, school-specific reportFollow-up strategy sessionPractical leadership tools for a clear 90-day planTypically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools.Apply here → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore the emotional weight many school leaders attach to attendance data and why a single percentage point can influence confidence, decision-making and school culture.Attendance matters deeply. But leaders are often held accountable for outcomes they can influence, not fully control. That tension creates pressure, encourages reactive leadership and can lead schools to chase weekly fluctuations instead of long-term improvement. This episode explores:Why Monday morning attendance reviews feel emotionally chargedAccountability versus control in school leadershipReading trends instead of reacting to weekly spikesBuilding confidence through strong attendance systemsCreating a calmer, more sustainable attendance cultureThe strongest attendance leaders don't ignore the numbers.They learn to read them with clarity, proportion and confidence.Timestamos00:00 – Why Monday Morning Attendance Feels Like Judgment00:59 – When One Percentage Carries Too Much Weight01:56 – Accountability Without Full Control02:47 – Stop Chasing Weekly Attendance Spikes03:06 – Attendance Leadership Resilience Check04:00 – Reading Data Like a Skilled Clinician04:49 – Signal vs Noise in Attendance Data05:27 – Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask06:09 – Creating a Calm Attendance Culture06:24 – Replace Dread With Grip07:07 – Attendance Lives in Everyday Practice07:42 – Build Systems, Not Heroics08:10 – Strategic Alignment Across Your Team08:57 – Confidence Changes Attendance Leadership09:30 – Attendance Is Really About Culture10:11 – Redesign the Conditions, Not Just the Response10:27 – When Data Stops Feeling Like Judgment
- 3 weeks ago12 min
Pressure Doesn't Break Schools. It Changes Leaders.
Pressure rarely arrives dramatically. It accumulates quietly.In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the most overlooked realities of school leadership: pressure changes leaders long before it changes schools.Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance.The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works.That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools.It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process:On-site school visitDetailed, school-specific reportFollow-up strategy sessionPractical leadership tools for a clear 90-day planTypically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools.Apply here → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/As accountability, attendance, behaviour, staffing and parental expectations continue to increase, many leaders unknowingly shift from reflective to reactive leadership. Over time, that pressure changes relationships, decision-making, emotional regulation and ultimately the culture of the school. In this episode, we explore:• Why leadership pressure quietly reshapes school culture• Emotional regulation versus emotional suppression• Psychological safety and staff retention• Why behaviour and attendance improve when people feel safe• How leaders can create emotional predictability during challenging timesSchools don't simply respond to strategy.They respond to emotional climate.This episode is for headteachers, senior leaders and trust leaders who want to lead sustainably while protecting both themselves and the cultures they are building.Timestamps00:00 – Pressure Changes the Leader First01:03 – Why This Podcast Exists02:08 – Leadership Behaviour Shapes School Culture02:52 – When Schools Begin Operating Through Anxiety03:09 – Attendance and Leadership Alignment04:12 – The Hidden Weight of Modern Headship04:59 – How Pressure Changes Leadership Behaviour05:52 – Why Schools Feel Pressure So Deeply06:29 – Systems vs Emotional Culture07:05 – Toughness Is Not the Same as Resilience07:44 – Psychological Safety in Schools08:12 – Schools Need Regulated Leaders08:45 – Emotional Safety Changes Everything09:07 – Emotional Containment Explained09:51 – When Leaders Stop Processing Pressure10:25 – Why Urgency Destroys Culture11:06 – Leadership Drift Under Pressure11:43 – The Question Every Leader Should Ask12:02 – Schools Respond to Emotional Climate
- Jun 26, 202648 min
Steve Willshaw: What Secondary Schools Miss About Reading
What do schools really know about their readers?In this episode of Headship After Hours, Paul is joined by Steve Willshaw to explore reading culture, literacy leadership, school transition and the importance of recognising the rich reading histories that pupils bring with them into secondary education.Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance.The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works.That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools.It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process:On-site school visitDetailed, school-specific reportFollow-up strategy sessionPractical leadership tools for a clear 90-day planTypically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools.Apply here → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode, Steve shares the story behind the nationally recognised Rooted in Reading project and explains why reading passports, transition work and intellectual equity matter more than ever in today's schools. Together, they discuss how schools can create stronger reading cultures, support literacy development and ensure that young people are not treated as blank slates when they move between phases of education. The conversation also explores Steve's four leadership pillars:• Radical Simplicity• Intellectual Equity• Relational Agency• Professional CraftAlongside a deep dive into Functional Fluency, coaching, behaviour, relationships and how educators can move from reacting to responding. This episode is for headteachers, literacy leaders, English teachers, curriculum leaders and anyone passionate about reading, equity and school improvement.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, culture, attendance, behaviour and sustainable school improvement.00:00 – The Reading Histories Schools Miss01:12 – Steve Willshaw’s Journey Into Education03:03 – Inclusivity, Equity and Early Leadership Lessons05:26 – Keeping Leadership Simple06:43 – The Four Leadership Pillars08:32 – The Story Behind Rooted in Reading12:53 – Reading Passports and Literacy Culture16:24 – Why Reading Transition Matters19:30 – Professional Craft and School Context20:31 – What Is Functional Fluency?25:11 – Radical Simplicity Explained26:20 – Intellectual Equity and Ambitious Curriculum30:41 – Relational Agency in Schools32:34 – Professional Craft and Teacher Development36:32 – The Functionally Fluent Teacher43:31 – Steve’s Advice for School Leaders46:20 – Respond More, React Less#HeadshipAfterHours #Literacy #SchoolLeadership #ReadingForPleasure #EducationPodcast #SchoolImprovement #Curriculum #ReadingCulture #Transition #SteveWillshaw
- Jun 19, 202611 min
The School Always Knows
Before attendance drops, before behaviour shifts, before staff morale declines, the school already knows.I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers navigating attendance pressure.It begins with a short strategic assessment.If eligible, this leads to a full review process including:• On-site school visit• Detailed, school-specific report• Follow-up strategy session• Practical leadership toolsApply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the most overlooked aspects of school leadership: emotional climate.Schools are highly sensitive environments. Students, staff and families respond not only to systems and policies, but to leadership presence, consistency and emotional regulation.This episode explores why leadership is not just strategic — it is atmospheric.We discuss:• How schools absorb leadership emotionally• Why culture changes before leaders notice• The role of trust, consistency and psychological safety• Why behaviour and attendance often reflect emotional climate• How leaders unintentionally transmit pressureSustainable school improvement is not just about systems.It is about creating a culture where trust, stability and emotional consistency can thrive. Timestamps00:00 – Before the School Tells You, It Knows02:43 – Schools Are Emotionally Sensitive Systems03:20 – Leadership Presence vs Leadership Strategy03:57 – The Signals Leaders Transmit04:42 – How Culture Changes Quietly04:58 – Why Trust Starts to Erode05:15 – Emotional Problems vs Operational Problems05:33 – Systems Are Interpreted Through Culture05:57 – Children Experience Systems Through Relationships06:17 – Students Detect Inconsistency Fast06:55 – Leadership Is Atmospheric07:14 – What Pressure Does to Leaders07:32 – When the Weather Changes in a School07:48 – Why Psychological Safety Matters08:28 – Leadership Is More Than Formal Moments08:48 – The Power of Micro Interactions09:25 – Schools Stabilise Through Predictable Leadership09:44 – The School Always Knows10:20 – What Emotional Climate Are You Creating?
- Jun 12, 20269 min
Behaviour and Attendance Follow Adult Behaviour
Behaviour and attendance are not separate problems. They are reflections of adult practice.I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers navigating attendance pressure.It begins with a short strategic assessment.If eligible, this leads to a full review process including:• On-site school visit• Detailed, school-specific report• Follow-up strategy session• Practical leadership toolsApply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore why behaviour and attendance improvement starts with consistency, relationships and leadership.Across UK schools, leaders face increasing pressure to improve behaviour and attendance. While systems, policies and processes matter, sustainable improvement happens when adult responses become calm, consistent and predictable.This episode explores three key shifts:• Consistency is the foundation• Knowing the child changes the response• Relational practice at scaleWe discuss the influence of relational practice, the importance of strong pastoral systems, SEND leadership, multi-agency collaboration and why students respond to environments that feel safe, fair and predictable.Sustainable improvement is not built through stronger sanctions alone.It is built through consistent adult behaviour and strong relationships. Timestamps00:00 – Behaviour and Attendance Start With Adults02:17 – Why Behaviour and Attendance Remain Challenging02:54 – Systems vs Student Experience03:14 – What Relational Practice Really Means03:53 – Consistency Is the Foundation04:29 – Why Behaviour Systems Often Fail04:46 – Stability Creates Improvement05:02 – Data Describes Patterns, Not Causes05:18 – Knowing the Child Changes Everything05:38 – The Role of SEND and Pastoral Leadership05:55 – Why Multi-Agency Working Matters06:13 – Relational Practice at Scale06:58 – Why Students Attend Schools Where They Feel Safe07:13 – The Problem With Quick Fixes07:33 – Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask07:52 – Behaviour and Attendance Are Reflections08:10 – Leadership Shapes Adult Practice
- Jun 5, 20268 min
Work-Life Balance Is Lying to Headteachers
Work-life balance sounds good in theory. But for most headteachers, it doesn't feel real.I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers navigating attendance pressure.It begins with a short strategic assessment.If eligible, this leads to a full review process including:• On-site school visit• Detailed, school-specific report• Follow-up strategy session• Practical leadership toolsApply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the biggest myths in school leadership: the idea that headship can be neatly balanced.Leadership at this level follows you home. Difficult decisions, safeguarding concerns, staffing challenges and accountability pressures rarely stop when the school day ends.This episode explores why sustainable headship is a better goal than work-life balance and the three shifts that help leaders remain effective over the long term:• Integration over separation• Protecting energy, not just time• Defining an identity beyond the roleWe discuss leadership sustainability, wellbeing, burnout prevention and why the strongest leaders are not always available — they are consistently effective.Sustainable leadership is not about perfect balance.It is about remaining effective without losing yourself. Timestamps00:00 – Why Work-Life Balance Feels Impossible02:21 – The Reality of Headship Beyond the School Day03:23 – Why Traditional Boundaries Often Fail03:43 – Stop Chasing Balance04:02 – Shift #1: Focus on Sustainability04:17 – Integration Over Separation04:58 – Shift #2: Protect Your Energy05:36 – Shift #3: Define Life Beyond the Role06:12 – Why Leaders Feel Guilty About Switching Off06:29 – Guilt Is Not a Leadership Strategy06:50 – Effectiveness vs Availability07:06 – Recognising Burnout Before It Arrives07:29 – Three Questions Every Headteacher Should Ask07:52 – Sustainable Leadership Matters More Than Balance
- May 29, 202632 min
Ross McGill on Teacher Workload, Leadership & What Schools Still Get Wrong
In this episode of Headship After Hours, Paul speaks with Ross McGill — teacher, former deputy headteacher, founder of Teacher Toolkit and one of the most influential voices in education.I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers navigating attendance pressure.It begins with a short strategic assessment.If eligible, this leads to a full review process including:• On-site school visit• Detailed, school-specific report• Follow-up strategy session• Practical leadership toolsApply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/Together, they explore:• teacher workload and why schools still struggle to reduce it• leadership, relationships and school culture• feedback, marking and professional trust• AI in education and the future of schools• SEND pressures, wellbeing and teacher retentionRoss reflects on his journey through leadership, social media, CPD and educational research — and why relationships remain at the centre of effective school leadership.This is a thoughtful and practical conversation for headteachers, senior leaders and educators navigating the realities of modern education.🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on school leadership, culture and sustainable headship.Timestamps00:00 – Leadership, Relationships & School Culture01:05 – Ross McGill’s Journey Into Teaching02:24 – Teacher Toolkit & Early Education Influencing05:22 – Why SLT Chat Went Viral06:13 – Why Ross McGill Connected With Teachers08:55 – The Biggest Lesson in Education10:26 – Difficult Conversations in Leadership11:17 – Learning From Leadership Mistakes14:02 – Teacher Workload & The Five Minute Lesson Plan15:57 – Why Teacher Workload Is Still Rising16:55 – Marking Policies That Damage Teachers17:43 – What Makes Feedback Actually Work19:14 – Metacognition & Learning How to Learn21:46 – Ross McGill’s Proudest Work23:54 – MRI Research, Learning & Cognition25:58 – AI, Literacy & The Future of Schools28:04 – SEND Crisis & School Pressure29:52 – Leadership Advice for Headteachers
About Headship After Hours
This podcast is for headteachers, executive heads & aspiring heads who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process. Paul Collin, former head and leadership coach, talks about isolation, pressure, governing bodies, staff dynamics & the inner work of staying grounded.
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