Patrick Cozier, headteacher of Highgate Wood School and author of Calm Leadership, shares what it means to lead with steadiness, self-awareness and humanity in education.

In this episode, Patrick reflects on his journey into headship and explores his four-phase model of calm leadership, from confronting imposter feelings to developing self-awareness and aligning with core values.

Patrick also shares practical approaches to managing stress, maintaining perspective and leading with authenticity, alongside reflections on identity and the importance of being unapologetically yourself.

Explore more: Calm Leadership by Patrick Cozier

This episode explores themes of death, grief and loss. Please listen with care if these topics feel sensitive for you.

Lucy Green, a psychodynamic therapist with a special interest in grief and loss, explores how we talk about death and support others through bereavement.

In this episode, Lucy discusses why death can feel difficult to talk about, including fear, lack of control and the way it is often medicalised or avoided in everyday language.

Lucy shares practical guidance for supporting grieving colleagues, including the importance of honest language, avoiding clichés, and approaching conversations with compassion.

Resources mentioned:

Death Cafe - https://deathcafe.com/

Cruse Bereavement Care - https://www.cruse.org.uk/

Child Bereavement UK - https://www.childbereavementuk.org/

Dual Process Model of Grief -https://whatsyourgrief.com/dual-process-model-of-grief/

Dr Emma Kell, director of Those That Can, teacher, performance coach and author, shares insights into teacher wellbeing and sustainable careers in education.

In this episode, Emma reflects on her journey in and out of the classroom and what she learned from working in challenging school contexts.

She explores what wellbeing really means in schools, moving beyond bolt-on initiatives to focus on culture, policies and everyday interactions, and discusses the difference between resilience and endurance.

Emma also shares the thinking behind Real Lives of Teachers, reflects on post-COVID challenges in education, and offers simple, realistic ways to support wellbeing, including noticing small wins and having something to look forward to.

Read Real Lives of Teachers

Learn more about Those That Can

Simon Botten, executive headteacher in Bristol and author of ‘Headteachering’, shares practical insights into sustainable leadership and staff wellbeing in schools.

In this episode, Simon reflects on his journey into headship and explains why he embraces the complexity and uncertainty of leadership.

He explores the first 100 days in a role, including building trust, creating clarity of purpose, and securing early wins through culture, environment and behaviour.

Simon discusses how to develop happy, effective teams through psychological safety, honest communication and strong relationships, alongside practical strategies for managing stress, maintaining boundaries and staying connected to the joy of working with children.

Learn more about Simon’s work here: https://headteachering.uk/

Sue Ackroyd, CEO and executive principal of the William Henry Smith Foundation, shares insights from her 37-year career supporting children and young people with social, emotional and mental health needs.

In this episode, Sue discusses trauma-informed leadership, designing curriculum that gives students real “currency” for life, and building a culture focused on quality of life for both students and staff.

Sue also outlines practical approaches to staff support, including wellbeing activities, clinical supervision, therapy access, and menopause support, and highlights why self-care without guilt is essential for retention and sustainable practice.

Louise Shields, School Business Manager and Senior Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead at Beacon of Light Alternative Provision School, shares how schools can build a strong culture of staff wellbeing in demanding environments.

In this episode, Louise reflects on 25 years of working across different education settings and explains how she reshaped the school’s wellbeing policy, introducing dedicated staff wellbeing days and creating a wellbeing team.

She discusses the emotional demands of alternative provision, the value of daily briefings and safeguarding support, and practical initiatives, from walks and quizzes to menopause awareness, that help strengthen staff morale and connection.

Haley White, founder of Menospace, and Victoria Brookbank, founder of Minds That Work, discuss menopause, mental health and workplace wellbeing.

In this episode, Haley shares her experience of perimenopause and how it led her to develop menopause training for organisations, while Victoria reflects on her work in psychotherapy and workplace culture change.

Together they explore common psychological symptoms such as anxiety, low mood, sleep disruption and brain fog, and why stigma and lack of awareness can prevent people from getting the support they need.

They also discuss practical workplace adjustments, how managers can foster psychologically safe conversations, the importance of including men in these conversations, and the growing focus on menopause support in workplace policy.

Helena Marsh, experienced school and trust leader and teaching head at Linton Village College, discusses relational leadership, emotional intelligence, and how coaching conversations can help shift school culture away from top-down problem-solving.

In this episode, Helena explores collaborative leadership, developing a workload and wellbeing charter into a wider culture code, and the role of shared responsibility across schools.

She also reflects on co-founding WomenEd, changes in the profession over the past decade, including flexible working, and practical ways leaders can sustain wellbeing through strong networks, reflection, and support.