Why excellent schools look like they have extra budget

Here’s something I see in outstanding schools almost everywhere I go: They look like they have money. But they don’t. They have more Superstars on their payroll. What do I mean by superstars? People who are brilliant at their job and great cultural fit for your school. Put simply, you’d clone them if you could! And that alone gives them the equivalent of £200k extra for every £1m of payroll.

The four numbers that make your school budget go further

School budgets can feel so out of your hands — formulas, pay rises, energy costs… all set elsewhere. And when we talk about budgets, we usually dive straight into codes and spreadsheets. The best heads I work with look past the spreadsheet. They keep focusing on four human numbers that tell them whether their school is getting real value from their biggest spend — payroll.

For the leader who’s given their all this term (again)

We always talk about “the Christmas holidays”…but let’s be honest — for those who work in schools, Christmas doesn’t always feel like a holiday.

A wellbeing boost that puts responsibility in the right place

School plays. Religious festivals. End-of-term deadlines. And Christmas chaos on top. Everyone’s busy. Everyone’s tired. Here’s a light-touch wellbeing boost that works — without burning you out

Sickness rates creeping up? Here’s how to stay calm and in control.

It’s that time of year again. The bit between half term and Christmas — when coughs, colds, and viruses seem to sweep through schools (it even got me!). And while most absences are completely genuine, it can still feel frustrating and exhausting — especially when you’re already running on fumes.

Morale boosters that actually work

Is morale dipping? And the usual things aren’t working? Morale isn’t built in away days, sugar highs, or quick “pick-me-ups.” Those can be nice in the moment — but they fade fast. Lasting morale comes from tiny moments of care, consistently given. Things that tell your team: “I see you, I value you, and I’m here with you.”

Why Outstanding Schools Have Lower Staff Absence

How healthy is your school — not in fruit bowls and yoga mats, but in the strength of your team? You see, every school has an organisational health check hiding in plain sight. There are two numbers that tell you more than you might think. Numbers you already have, but probably don’t look at in this way. In this week’s short video, I’ll show you: What those numbers are Why they’re powerful indicators of organisational health And how you can use them to get perspective on where your school really stands It’s simple, practical — and might just change how you see your school’s data.

Why everything suddenly feels harder right now (and what to do about it)

Feeling like things have gone a bit wobbly lately? Maybe your team isn’t clicking quite as well as they were before half-term? Staff are a bit more tired, a bit more tense. Behaviour feels trickier. Parents are knocking a little louder. It can feel like the wheels are starting to come loose — but there’s a reason this happens every year around now.

The parent who keeps coming back — and how to stop the cycle

Every headteacher knows that parent. The one who keeps coming back. Again. And again. You do your best to help, but it never feels resolved. You might even feel your stomach sink when you see them approaching. In this week’s short video, I share a simple framework that keeps you in control.

One quick calculation that calms parent overwhelm

Looking back over this half-term, you might feel like you’ve been dealing with one parent issue after another. It can feel like every parent has a problem. Or that too many parents are frustrated with what the school is doing.

Author: Sonia Gill

Categories