Headship After Hours

Paul Collin

This podcast is for headteachers, executive heads and trust leaders who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process.
I'm Paul Collin, former head and leadership coach. I talk about isolation, pressure, governing bodies, staff dynamics, attendance and the inner work of staying grounded. I also run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for heads in complex schools — for when attendance feels fragile and rests on too few people.
Apply now → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/

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34 episodes
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Avg 24 min
English

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S1 · E28
June 12 · 9 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 tools Apply 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 scale We 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. Timestamps 00:00 – Behaviour and Attendance Start With Adults 02:17 – Why Behaviour and Attendance Remain Challenging 02:54 – Systems vs Student Experience 03:14 – What Relational Practice Really Means 03:53 – Consistency Is the Foundation 04:29 – Why Behaviour Systems Often Fail 04:46 – Stability Creates Improvement 05:02 – Data Describes Patterns, Not Causes 05:18 – Knowing the Child Changes Everything 05:38 – The Role of SEND and Pastoral Leadership 05:55 – Why Multi-Agency Working Matters 06:13 – Relational Practice at Scale 06:58 – Why Students Attend Schools Where They Feel Safe 07:13 – The Problem With Quick Fixes 07:33 – Three Questions Every Leader Should Ask 07:52 – Behaviour and Attendance Are Reflections 08:10 – Leadership Shapes Adult Practice
S1 · E27
June 5 · 8 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 tools Apply 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 role We 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. Timestamps 00:00 – Why Work-Life Balance Feels Impossible 02:21 – The Reality of Headship Beyond the School Day 03:23 – Why Traditional Boundaries Often Fail 03:43 – Stop Chasing Balance 04:02 – Shift #1: Focus on Sustainability 04:17 – Integration Over Separation 04:58 – Shift #2: Protect Your Energy 05:36 – Shift #3: Define Life Beyond the Role 06:12 – Why Leaders Feel Guilty About Switching Off 06:29 – Guilt Is Not a Leadership Strategy 06:50 – Effectiveness vs Availability 07:06 – Recognising Burnout Before It Arrives 07:29 – Three Questions Every Headteacher Should Ask 07:52 – Sustainable Leadership Matters More Than Balance
S1 · E25
May 29 · 32 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 tools Apply 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 retention Ross 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. Timestamps 00:00 – Leadership, Relationships & School Culture 01:05 – Ross McGill’s Journey Into Teaching 02:24 – Teacher Toolkit & Early Education Influencing 05:22 – Why SLT Chat Went Viral 06:13 – Why Ross McGill Connected With Teachers 08:55 – The Biggest Lesson in Education 10:26 – Difficult Conversations in Leadership 11:17 – Learning From Leadership Mistakes 14:02 – Teacher Workload & The Five Minute Lesson Plan 15:57 – Why Teacher Workload Is Still Rising 16:55 – Marking Policies That Damage Teachers 17:43 – What Makes Feedback Actually Work 19:14 – Metacognition & Learning How to Learn 21:46 – Ross McGill’s Proudest Work 23:54 – MRI Research, Learning & Cognition 25:58 – AI, Literacy & The Future of Schools 28:04 – SEND Crisis & School Pressure 29:52 – Leadership Advice for Headteachers
S2 · E24
May 22 · 40 min
Rowena Hicks: Why School Staff Burn Out
In this episode of Headship After Hours, Paul speaks with Rowena Hicks about burnout, workload, staff wellbeing and what it really means for educators to feel seen, heard and valued. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ Rowena reflects on more than 30 years in education, from teaching in challenging contexts to becoming a SENCO, deputy head, coach and wellbeing advocate. She shares openly about her own experience of burnout and why school leaders must pay attention not only to workload, but to identity, validation and emotional sustainability. This conversation explores how leaders can reduce unnecessary workload, listen properly to staff, take meaningful action, and build cultures where people notice what is going well — not only what is going wrong. For headteachers and school leaders, this episode asks a powerful question: Has your role become your identity? 00:00 – Why Staff Need to Feel Seen and Heard 02:06 – Introducing Rowena Hicks 02:47 – Rowena’s Journey in Education 03:24 – Burnout as a Deputy Head 05:18 – Supporting Vulnerable Children and Trauma 06:24 – Adults as the Regulating Force in Schools 38:31 – Has Headship Become Your Identity? 39:08 – Finding Value Beyond the Role 40:03 – How to Connect with Rowena Hicks
S1 · E24
May 16 · 8 min
Attendance Doesn’t Improve Through Systems Alone
Attendance doesn’t improve because of a new policy — it improves when the experience of school changes. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we go deeper into what actually shifts attendance in real schools with complex communities. Across UK schools, leaders are under increasing pressure to improve attendance through systems, tracking and intervention. But sustainable attendance improvement rarely comes through systems alone. This episode explores three key shifts that improve attendance over time: • Relationally visible leadership • Consistent and respectful attendance conversations • Intentional belonging and school culture We discuss why students respond to experience more than policy, how consistency creates emotional safety, and why belonging is one of the strongest attendance strategies schools often overlook. Sustainable attendance is not built through pressure alone. It is built through trust, culture and connection. Timestamps 00:00 – Attendance Follows School Experience 00:36 – The 3 Questions Leaders Should Ask 02:36 – Why Attendance Strategies Often Fail 02:54 – What Actually Shifts Attendance 03:14 – Relationally Visible Leadership 03:45 – Why Leadership Presence Matters 04:01 – Relationships Change Attendance 04:17 – Consistency Replaces Variation 04:33 – Why Consistency Creates Safety 04:49 – Belonging Improves Attendance 05:21 – Trauma-Informed Thinking in Schools 05:40 – Small Shifts That Change Culture 05:58 – Attendance Lives Inside Leadership Practice 06:16 – Attendance Is a Leadership Issue 06:33 – Culture vs Compliance in Attendance 06:51 – 3 Reflective Questions for Leaders 07:25 – What Sustainable Attendance Schools Do Differently
S1 · E23
May 9 · 8 min
Attendance Is a Connection Problem, Not a Compliance Problem
Attendance is not just about showing up — it’s about wanting to show up. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore why many school attendance strategies fail to create lasting change, despite increased tracking, monitoring and intervention systems. Across UK schools, attendance pressure is rising. But in many cases, attendance is being treated primarily as a compliance issue when, for many students, it is actually a connection issue. This episode explores the difference between enforcement and belonging, why culture shapes attendance more than systems alone, and how relational practice, visible leadership and consistency influence student engagement. We discuss trauma-informed thinking, emotional safety, student experience and why attendance improves when students feel connected to school. Sustainable attendance improvement is not built through pressure alone. It is built through culture, trust and belonging.
S1 · E22
May 1 · 38 min
Mary Myatt: What Schools Still Get Wrong with KS3 Transition.
In this exclusive episode of Headship After Hours, I’m joined by Mary Myatt — one of the most influential voices in curriculum, leadership and school improvement. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ We explore why Key Stage 3 has been described as “the wasted years”, how curriculum coherence breaks down between primary and secondary, and what schools can do to build more ambitious, meaningful learning experiences. Mary shares insights on high challenge, low threat, simplifying classroom practice, and why education does not need more complexity — it needs clarity. We also discuss leadership, professional culture, and how schools can focus on what truly adds value to learning. This is a practical and thought-provoking conversation for school leaders, teachers and anyone interested in curriculum design. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on headship, leadership and school improvement. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to Mary Myatt 01:15 – Mary’s Journey into Education 03:40 – Why Curriculum Became Her Focus 06:38 – The Problem with Key Stage 3 07:18 – From “Wasted Years” to “Ambitious Years” 10:00 – Primary to Secondary Transition Gaps 12:17 – Why Schools Repeat Learning 15:21 – The Reading Research Changing Classrooms 20:20 – High Challenge, Low Threat Explained 25:00 – What Makes a High-Quality Curriculum 30:46 – Building Culture in Classrooms 34:11 – What Leaders Should Prioritise 36:55 – What Schools Should Stop Doing 37:55 – Mary’s Final Leadership Advice
S1 · E21
April 24 · 9 min
Control vs Authority: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything
Control solves the moment — authority sustains the culture. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the most important distinctions in school leadership: the difference between control and authority. While control can create immediate compliance, it relies on presence and short-term intervention. Authority, however, is built through consistency, clarity and follow-through — and it shapes behaviour over time. This episode breaks down three critical leadership distinctions: – Control vs authority in shaping behaviour – Presence vs independence in leadership – Compliance vs commitment in school culture We explore why over-reliance on control creates fragile systems, how authority builds sustainable culture, and why consistent leadership matters more than reactive intervention. Sustainable headship is not about controlling every moment. It is about building authority that works even when you are not there. Timestamps 00:00 – Control vs Authority in Leadership 02:45 – Why Control Feels Powerful 03:17 – The Limits of Reactive Leadership 03:54 – How Authority Is Built Over Time 04:38 – Why Control Creates Dependency 04:57 – Building Authority Through Consistency 05:32 – How Students Read Leadership Signals 06:08 – Control vs Authority in Staff Culture 06:27 – Distinction #1: Immediate vs Sustained 06:42 – Distinction #2: Presence vs Independence 07:00 – Distinction #3: Compliance vs Commitment 07:18 – When Control Is Still Necessary 07:40 – Why Authority Creates Stability 08:03 – Questions for Reflective Leadership
S1 · E20
April 17 · 9 min
When Staff Confidence Drops, Everything Gets Harder
You can feel it before anyone says it — staff confidence has shifted. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the most underestimated indicators in school leadership: staff confidence. When confidence drops, expectations soften, consistency drifts and culture begins to loosen. And importantly, this rarely happens suddenly — it erodes gradually through uncertainty, pressure and accumulated challenges. This episode explores three critical leadership moves to rebuild confidence: re-establishing clarity, increasing visible support, and naming the moment honestly. We discuss why pressure does not restore confidence, how leadership tone shapes belief across staff, and why confidence is rebuilt through certainty, not complexity. Sustainable headship is not about pushing harder. It is about leading with clarity, presence and steady support. Confidence doesn’t grow through pressure — it grows through clarity and support. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Headship Is an Energy Problem 02:32 – Why Time Isn’t the Real Constraint 03:15 – The Emotional Load of Leadership 04:07 – Why Efficiency Doesn’t Create Energy 04:43 – Energy Drain #1: Decision Overload 05:18 – Energy Drain #2: Emotional Containment 05:59 – Why Leadership Without Reflection Becomes Isolation 06:17 – Energy Drain #3: Reactive Leadership 06:37 – Designing Your Week for Energy 06:54 – Energy Is a Leadership Signal 07:28 – Where Should Your Energy Be Invested? 08:12 – Three Questions for Sustainable Leadership 08:28 – Managing Energy With Intention #Headship#SchoolLeadership#Leadership
S1 · E19
April 10 · 9 min
Headship Is Not a Time Problem — It’s an Energy Problem
Headship is not a time problem — it is an energy problem. 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 tools Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore why many school leaders feel constantly overwhelmed, despite trying to manage their time more efficiently. Leadership is not just about tasks — it is about emotional presence. Every conversation, decision and challenge draws from the same resource: energy. This episode explores the energy economy of headship and the three biggest drains on leadership capacity: unstructured decision-making, emotional containment and reactive leadership. We discuss how leaders can protect, invest and restore their energy, why efficiency does not create sustainability, and how leadership energy becomes a signal that shapes culture across staff and students. Sustainable headship is not about doing more. It is about managing your energy with intention. Timestamps 00:00 – Headship Is an Energy Problem 02:32 – Why Time Isn’t the Real Constraint 03:15 – The Emotional Load of Leadership 04:07 – Why Efficiency Doesn’t Create Energy 04:43 – Energy Drain #1: Decision Overload 05:18 – Energy Drain #2: Emotional Containment 05:59 – Why Leadership Without Reflection Becomes Isolation 06:17 – Energy Drain #3: Reactive Leadership 06:37 – Designing Your Week for Energy 06:54 – Energy Is a Leadership Signal 07:28 – Where Should Your Energy Be Invested? 08:12 – Three Questions for Sustainable Leadership 08:28 – Managing Energy With Intention
S1 · E18
April 4 · 8 min
The School Didn’t Change First — I Did
The school didn’t change first — the leader did. I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers in complex school contexts. It begins with a short assessment and, if eligible, leads to a structured strategic review including an on-site visit, executive reporting, and a clear 90-day plan. Apply now – https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore how leadership posture shapes school culture, especially in challenging environments where progress feels fragile. When behaviour rises, attendance plateaus and staff morale dips, leaders often respond with urgency, pressure and increased control. But reactive leadership can unintentionally destabilise culture. This episode explores three key leadership shifts: visibility, clarity and consistency. Not as strategies, but as signals that shape trust, stability and momentum. We discuss why calm authority is more powerful than constant intervention, how simplifying priorities reduces noise, and why consistency builds confidence across staff and students. Sustainable headship is not about doing more — it is about showing up differently. Culture stabilises when leaders are stable. Timestamps 00:00 – The School Didn’t Change First 02:41 – Reactive Leadership vs Resetting Posture 03:23 – How Leadership Tone Shapes Culture 03:44 – Shift #1: Visibility Builds Confidence 04:22 – Why Presence Stabilises Schools 04:40 – Shift #2: Clarity Over Complexity 05:24 – Shift #3: Consistency Builds Trust 05:42 – How Stability Restores Momentum 06:01 – Leadership Is Not Constant Intervention 06:38 – Letting Go of Control in Headship 07:17 – Slow Down, Simplify, Steady 07:36 – Calm Authority in Challenging Schools
S1 · E17
March 26 · 8 min
When Everything Feels Like It’s Slipping in Headship
There are moments in headship when everything feels like it is slipping — behaviour, attendance, staff morale and momentum. I am currently offering a funded £700 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers carrying attendance pressure. It begins with a short assessment and leads to a private strategy session. Apply now - https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore what leadership looks like when progress feels fragile and doubt begins to surface. In complex schools, improvement is rarely linear. When pressure rises, leaders often feel the need to tighten control, react faster and push harder. But pressure without calm destabilises culture. This episode explores why composure matters more than control, how leadership tone shapes emotional climate, and why stability compounds when leaders remain steady. Through a real leadership moment, we discuss visibility, clarity, staff morale and how small shifts in leadership posture can restore momentum. Sustainable headship is not about eliminating pressure — it is about how you respond when everything feels uncertain. Leadership requires composure, not control. Timestamps 00:00 – When Headship Feels Like It’s Slipping 02:40 – Leading in Complex School Environments 03:49 – Leadership Doubt Under Pressure 04:28 – The Internal Narrative of Headship 05:07 – Pressure Without Calm Destabilises Culture 05:25 – Increasing Visibility Without Control 05:40 – Simplifying Leadership Messaging 05:56 – Protecting Staff Morale Publicly 06:12 – Why Stability Compounds 06:31 – Turnaround Requires Steadiness 06:51 – Composure vs Control in Leadership 07:13 – Reacting to Noise vs Reinforcing Clarity 07:34 – How Leadership Posture Changes Culture
S1 · E16
March 20 · 10 min
Schools Are Not CAMHS
Schools are not CAMHS — and expecting them to operate like clinical services is exhausting staff and diluting the core purpose of education. I am currently offering a funded £700 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers carrying attendance pressure. It begins with a short assessment and leads to a private strategy session. Apply now - https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore the growing pressure on schools to absorb responsibilities they were never designed to hold, especially around student mental health and specialist intervention. We discuss the difference between support and replacement, why compassion without boundaries leads to institutional exhaustion, and how school leaders can protect staff capacity while still serving students with care and clarity. This episode explores three truths school leaders must hold together: schools play a crucial role in mental health support, schools cannot replace specialist services, and leadership requires clear boundaries. Sustainable headship means leading with compassion, but also with alignment, referral clarity and realistic system awareness. 00:00 – Schools Are Not CAMHS 03:13 – The Mental Health Pressure Schools Now Carry 03:45 – Why Schools Cannot Replace Specialist Services 04:21 – When Families Expect Schools to Fix Everything 04:57 – Compassion Without Boundaries Leads to Exhaustion 05:31 – Three Truths School Leaders Must Hold 06:06 – When Staff Become Emotionally Overextended 06:23 – Defining the Role of School Leadership 06:41 – Support, Adaptation and Clear Boundaries 07:03 – Why Boundaries Create Stability 07:47 – Responsibility vs Control in Headship 08:08 – Protecting Staff Capacity Strategically 08:47 – Schools Build Belonging, Not Clinical Services 09:06 – Belonging as Prevention in Schools
S1 · E15
March 13 · 9 min
Why Attendance Problems Are Actually Culture Problems
Attendance is not just a system issue — it is a leadership identity issue. In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore why attendance challenges in schools are often rooted not only in policy or systems but in leadership culture and belonging. I am currently offering a funded £700 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers carrying attendance pressure. It begins with a short assessment and leads to a private strategy session. Apply now - https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/ Attendance is frequently framed through data, thresholds and escalation processes. Yet students and families respond less to spreadsheets and more to meaning, relationships and trust. When attendance conversations feel punitive, attendance becomes a battle. When attendance conversations feel relational, attendance becomes shared responsibility. In this episode we explore three leadership shifts that strengthen attendance culture: reframing the narrative from enforcement to presence, making belonging visible across the school community, and aligning leadership signals so that tone, relationships and expectations reinforce one another. Attendance improves when culture improves — and culture begins with leadership. 00:00 – Attendance Is a Leadership Identity Issue 03:09 – Attendance, Belonging and School Culture 03:40 – When Parents Perceive Attendance as Punitive 04:03 – Attendance Is About Trust and Relationships 04:41 – Culture Strengthens Attendance 05:18 – Why Leadership Tone Matters 05:37 – Shift #1: Reframe the Attendance Narrative 05:59 – Shift #2: Make Belonging Visible 06:15 – Shift #3: Align Leadership Signals 06:48 – Attendance Is Strengthened in Relationships 07:25 – The Story Schools Tell About Attendance 08:07 – Attendance Reflects Culture and Trust

Showing 21–34 of 34 episodes