A practical way to stop emotionally charged emails hijacking leadership

Have you had that moment when you open your inbox and amongst the sea of emails there’s one name that might as well be in neon lights? And not for good reasons. I think every head I speak to has a few parent emails that emotionally infiltrate the day before they’ve even been opened. So in my latest blog I share: two practical email rules heads are using and how to stop emotionally charged emails driving your response Tiny tweaks. Huge difference.

When a parent sends a 50-page email… do this first

A very long parent email can take up emotional energy before you’ve even replied. Here is a coaching technique that can completely change how you respond.

How to shape parent culture early — without adding more work

Welcome back! It’s a new school year and that always brings energy with it. New classes.New relationships.New opportunities to strengthen what already works well. And whilst September is undeniably busy, I think most school leaders also enjoy this time of year. There’s momentum.Fresh starts.The chance to build culture intentionally from day one. And that September […]

3 schools, 3 brilliant ideas for your new year

Three schools, three brilliant ideas for your new year There's something about the run-up to September that feels different from any other time of year. New pens. Fresh planners. That flicker of possibility. One of my favourite things to do this time of year is look at what excellent schools are doing differently.

Difficult Parents. This isn’t about blame. It’s about clarity.

The first two weeks of September shape far more of the parent culture than we realise. Not through policy. Through lived experience. If parent issues felt heavy at times this year, this might help you head into September differently.

Your staff matter… but does the space show it? 3 simple, cheap tips to show the love

“I used to avoid the staffroom on purpose.” A head said this to me. She didn’t want to intrude. She wanted it to feel like their space. But one day, she really looked at it. Old sofa. Cluttered surfaces. A noticeboard layered with old messages. “Nothing awful,” she said. “But it didn’t reflect how highly I think of my staff.”

For the head who feels ‘good but stuck’ right now

When you’re in the thick of school life, it’s easy to forget this simple truth: You’re closer to great than you think. I’m reminded of it every time I walk into one of the schools in Outstanding Against the Odds. None of them started in an easy place. Many began where you might be now. And yet they moved.

What does it mean to be ‘Outstanding Against the Odds’?

In education, the word “outstanding” has long been tied to Ofsted — once a single judgement, now a set of gradings across areas, with a new scorecard soon to come. But beyond frameworks and metrics, when we talk about being Outstanding Against the Odds, we mean something deeper. It’s not about flawless performance or ticking every box for inspection. It’s about thriving for your children, even in circumstances that make excellence very hard to achieve. And schools are doing it — right now.

Tag: Practical tips from great schools

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