Headship After Hours

Paul Collin
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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. I am 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, on-site visit, executive reporting, clear 90-day plan. Apply Now - https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/

  1. Ross McGill on Teacher Workload, Leadership & What Schools Still Get Wrong

    6 days ago

    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 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

    32 min
  2. Rowena Hicks: Why School Staff Burn Out

    22 May

    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 Heard02:06 – Introducing Rowena Hicks02:47 – Rowena’s Journey in Education03:24 – Burnout as a Deputy Head05:18 – Supporting Vulnerable Children and Trauma06:24 – Adults as the Regulating Force in Schools38:31 – Has Headship Become Your Identity?39:08 – Finding Value Beyond the Role40:03 – How to Connect with Rowena Hicks

    40 min
  3. Attendance Doesn’t Improve Through Systems Alone

    16 May

    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 Experience00:36 – The 3 Questions Leaders Should Ask02:36 – Why Attendance Strategies Often Fail02:54 – What Actually Shifts Attendance03:14 – Relationally Visible Leadership03:45 – Why Leadership Presence Matters04:01 – Relationships Change Attendance04:17 – Consistency Replaces Variation04:33 – Why Consistency Creates Safety04:49 – Belonging Improves Attendance05:21 – Trauma-Informed Thinking in Schools05:40 – Small Shifts That Change Culture05:58 – Attendance Lives Inside Leadership Practice06:16 – Attendance Is a Leadership Issue06:33 – Culture vs Compliance in Attendance06:51 – 3 Reflective Questions for Leaders07:25 – What Sustainable Attendance Schools Do Differently

    9 min
  4. Attendance Is a Connection Problem, Not a Compliance Problem

    9 May

    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.

    9 min
  5. Mary Myatt: What Schools Still Get Wrong with KS3 Transition.

    1 May

    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

    39 min
  6. Control vs Authority: The Leadership Shift That Changes Everything

    24 Apr

    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 Leadership02:45 – Why Control Feels Powerful03:17 – The Limits of Reactive Leadership03:54 – How Authority Is Built Over Time04:38 – Why Control Creates Dependency04:57 – Building Authority Through Consistency05:32 – How Students Read Leadership Signals06:08 – Control vs Authority in Staff Culture06:27 – Distinction #1: Immediate vs Sustained06:42 – Distinction #2: Presence vs Independence07:00 – Distinction #3: Compliance vs Commitment07:18 – When Control Is Still Necessary07:40 – Why Authority Creates Stability08:03 – Questions for Reflective Leadership

    9 min
  7. When Staff Confidence Drops, Everything Gets Harder

    17 Apr

    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 Problem02:32 – Why Time Isn’t the Real Constraint03:15 – The Emotional Load of Leadership04:07 – Why Efficiency Doesn’t Create Energy04:43 – Energy Drain #1: Decision Overload05:18 – Energy Drain #2: Emotional Containment05:59 – Why Leadership Without Reflection Becomes Isolation06:17 – Energy Drain #3: Reactive Leadership06:37 – Designing Your Week for Energy06:54 – Energy Is a Leadership Signal07:28 – Where Should Your Energy Be Invested?08:12 – Three Questions for Sustainable Leadership08:28 – Managing Energy With Intention #Headship#SchoolLeadership#Leadership

    9 min
  8. Headship Is Not a Time Problem — It’s an Energy Problem

    10 Apr

    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 Problem02:32 – Why Time Isn’t the Real Constraint03:15 – The Emotional Load of Leadership04:07 – Why Efficiency Doesn’t Create Energy04:43 – Energy Drain #1: Decision Overload05:18 – Energy Drain #2: Emotional Containment05:59 – Why Leadership Without Reflection Becomes Isolation06:17 – Energy Drain #3: Reactive Leadership06:37 – Designing Your Week for Energy06:54 – Energy Is a Leadership Signal07:28 – Where Should Your Energy Be Invested?08:12 – Three Questions for Sustainable Leadership08:28 – Managing Energy With Intention

    10 min
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About

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. I am 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, on-site visit, executive reporting, clear 90-day plan. Apply Now - https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Collin
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul Collin
  • Show Website
    Headship After Hours