The SLT Podcast (Serious Leaders Talking)

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The SLT Podcast focuses on the realities of being a Black senior leader in education and the unique challenges and responsibilities. that entail. Rena, Ziggy And Jordan discuss how they navigate systemic barriers, such as underrepresentation and biases, while striving to create inclusive environments. In additions to the pressure of being role models for both students and colleagues, advocating for equity and diversity.

  1. 3d ago

    The Leadership Network Education Was Missing

    Who develops the leaders in education? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Ben Hobbis, founder of Step Up Network, to explore leadership, networking, community, accessibility, career progression, and why educators need better spaces to connect and grow. Ben shares his journey from working in retail management to becoming a primary teacher, middle leader, assistant headteacher, and the founder of a growing education leadership network. He reflects on the transferable skills he brought from retail into school leadership, including customer service, team management, time management, prioritisation, and working with people. The conversation explores why being a great teacher does not automatically prepare someone to be a great leader, why middle leadership can be one of the hardest stages in education, and why schools need to think more intentionally about leadership development, talent management, succession planning, and access to opportunity. Ben also shares the story behind Step Up Network — why it was created, how it grew from a simple idea into a national community, and why smaller, more intentional networking spaces can be more powerful than large events. Together, Ziggy and Ben discuss representation, diversity, accessibility, leadership pipelines, LinkedIn, mentoring, positive disruption, and why education needs to take networking more seriously. This episode also marks the official partnership between the SLT Podcast and Step Up Network. 💬 “You can’t call yourself a leader until you’ve created another leader.” Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast. 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145 ⸻ ⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Introducing Ben Hobbis1:16 - What makes Step Up Network different?2:16 - Creating community and real networking spaces3:01 - Ben’s journey before education3:59 - From retail work to teaching5:21 - Moving into school leadership5:55 - What retail management taught Ben about leadership8:00 - Becoming a leader without being fully prepared9:26 - Balancing classroom teaching and leadership responsibility11:40 - Why great teachers do not automatically become great leaders13:29 - Leadership for impact, not status14:06 - What schools miss in leadership development15:41 - How Ben’s definition of leadership changed16:41 - Learning from good and bad leaders19:33 - Why Step Up Network had to exist20:22 - Burnout, retention, and needing a different space22:10 - How Step Up Network was built24:06 - Why Step Up events are intentionally intimate26:50 - The cost of building a network28:35 - Building a team beyond education31:35 - Why networking matters in education33:53 - Diversity, representation, and inclusive spaces38:18 - Is leadership accessible to everyone?42:27 - Talent management and succession planning in schools47:44 - Leaders creating other leaders48:14 - Where Ben sees himself in five years51:47 - Leadership book recommendations52:42 - Best leadership advice53:36 - LinkedIn: powerful tool or necessary evil?54:04 - Networking or mentoring?55:08 - Great leadership is…55:21 - SLT Podcast x Step Up Network partnership56:20 - Final reflections and outro ⸻ 📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.

  2. Sep 15

    Why Great Teachers LeaveAnd How We Keep Them?

    How do we build a profession that great teachers never want to leave? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Sufian for a powerful conversation about teacher development, leadership, belonging, networking, recruitment, AI, and the future of education. From his journey growing up in Luton to becoming a teacher, faculty leader, director of teacher development, system builder, speaker, and education leader, Sufian shares how teaching, community, business thinking, and national education work all connect. Together, they explore why teachers need to take LinkedIn, networking, personal branding, and professional visibility more seriously, especially global majority teachers who may face barriers when trying to progress in the profession. The conversation also unpacks why schools often overcomplicate teaching, why teacher development should respect wisdom and experience, and why not every teacher needs the same CPD diet. Sufian also reflects on teacher retention, belonging, accountability, Ofsted, attendance, AI, and why the future of education will require leaders who can think differently, move faster, and prepare young people for a world that is changing rapidly. This episode is a reminder that if we want to keep great teachers, we cannot only talk about workload and pay. We also have to talk about belonging, visibility, development, networks, opportunity, and whether teachers feel seen. 💬 “Connections make connections and open doors.” Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast. 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145 ⸻ ⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Introducing Sufian1:30 - Daidagogy, leadership, belonging and evidence2:15 - How do we build a profession great teachers never want to leave?3:00 - Sufian’s journey into teaching5:00 - From Luton to teacher development leadership7:00 - Being a businessman in education8:30 - Why educators need LinkedIn10:30 - Networking, visibility and global majority teachers13:00 - Why teachers must learn to sell themselves16:00 - Have we overcomplicated teaching?18:30 - Attention, meaning, thinking, practice, memory and understanding21:00 - Why schools chase new initiatives23:00 - What schools get wrong about teacher development25:00 - Respecting teacher wisdom and experience28:00 - Why one-size-fits-all CPD does not work31:00 - The value of teaching assistants and support staff33:00 - Why teacher retention is really about belonging36:00 - What education is getting right39:00 - Attendance, outcomes and accountability42:00 - The future of school leadership44:00 - AI and the future of education48:00 - What leaders need to understand about AI51:00 - Quick-fire education questions55:00 - Final reflections and outro ⸻ 📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today. #SLTPodcast #TeacherRetention #TeacherDevelopment #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #LinkedInForTeachers #TeacherCPD #AIinEducation #RepresentationMatters #SeriousLeadersTalking

  3. Sep 2

    Why Representation Matters in Primary Schools

    Why does representation matter in primary schools?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Lawrence D’Souza, a primary school headteacher in the London Borough of Enfield, for a powerful conversation about leadership, representation, belonging, inclusion, aspiration, and the importance of positive male role models in education.Lawrence shares his journey from recruitment into teaching, why he chose primary education, and how his own lived experience shaped his desire to be present, visible, and impactful in the lives of young people.Together, they explore why there are still so few male teachers in primary schools, why Black male headteachers remain rare, and what difference representation can make for children who need to see possibility modelled in front of them.The conversation also looks at Lawrence’s leadership journey, the importance of relationships with families and communities, how schools can raise aspirations without rejecting where children come from, and why inclusion must go hand in hand with high expectations.From attendance and enrichment to community partnerships, social mobility, staff development, honesty, compassion, and accountability, this episode is a reminder that schools thrive when children, staff, and families all feel they belong.💬 “Disadvantage should never determine destiny.”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2...📲 Follow Us:Instagram:   / the_slt_podcast  TikTok:   / slt.podcast  Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6St...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Introducing Lawrence D’Souza1:16 - Representation, inclusion, and high expectations1:57 - Why Lawrence moved from recruitment into teaching3:29 - Choosing primary over secondary education4:49 - Why early intervention matters5:28 - Lawrence’s journey from teacher to headship7:14 - Applying for headship and facing rejection9:08 - What is meant for you will be for you10:07 - Joining Meridian Angel Primary School12:19 - Finding the right school community13:33 - What leadership has taught Lawrence13:42 - Why relationships are key to school improvement15:01 - Reopening the school gates to families16:27 - Why are there so few male teachers in primary schools?19:06 - Why young children need male role models20:27 - Modelling positive masculinity21:13 - Representation, aspiration, and social mobility24:18 - Disadvantage should never determine destiny25:12 - Exposing children to new opportunities26:20 - Why some children need wider life experiences27:11 - Universities, theatre trips, Harrow, and enrichment29:06 - Raising aspirations without rejecting community identity30:38 - Can kindness and accountability exist together?31:25 - Leading through difficult financial decisions33:46 - Attendance, relationships, and community trust36:23 - Inclusion without lowering standards37:29 - Inclusion, outcomes, and belonging38:31 - Developing staff who were “sleepwalking”39:28 - Families, partnership, and community trust41:40 - What should people feel when they visit the school?42:47 - Quick-fire leadership questions44:33 - The myth of teacher holidays45:06 - Final reflections and outro⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today.

  4. Aug 15

    Why Education Needs More Diverse Leaders

    What is the biggest problem in education that nobody is talking about? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Yamina Bibi — award-winning deputy headteacher, English teacher, coach, consultant, keynote speaker, author, and education project specialist — for a powerful conversation about leadership, representation, systemic barriers, coaching, and the future of education. Yamina speaks honestly about the lack of diversity at senior and executive leadership level, why representation matters for all young people, and why schools must move beyond surface-level conversations to confront systemic racism, discrimination, and barriers within the profession. The conversation also explores what separates good leadership from exceptional school leadership, the importance of values, systems, accountability, psychological safety, coaching, mentoring, and investing in your own development. Yamina also reflects on her own journey through education, the mentors and coaches who shaped her, the importance of networking, and why schools must do more to retain global majority teachers, early career teachers, women, and mother teachers. 💬 “The future of education depends on young people seeing themselves in their school teachers and leaders.” Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast. 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145 ⸻ ⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:15 - Welcome to the SLT Podcast1:16 - Introducing Yamina Bibi2:19 - Yamina joins the conversation3:06 - The biggest problem in education nobody is talking about3:45 - Systemic barriers and global majority teachers4:37 - Why representation in leadership matters6:07 - Diversity benefits every young person7:15 - White working-class pupils, London schools, and opportunity9:45 - What separates good leadership from exceptional leadership?10:56 - Values, systems, and accountability in schools12:07 - Radical candour: high support and high challenge14:16 - What would Yamina prioritise as a headteacher?15:28 - Psychological safety and school culture16:52 - Creating your own pathway in education18:10 - Mentorship, career clarity, and leadership development20:37 - Why coaches and mentors matter23:20 - Coaching and development in education24:04 - How coaching changed Yamina’s leadership style26:11 - Why teachers should consider coaching28:48 - Investing in yourself as an educator30:06 - Coaching, systemic barriers, and professional development32:45 - What excites Yamina about the future of education34:16 - The national policy Yamina would influence35:26 - Initial teacher training and the importance of support38:30 - Quick-fire leadership questions41:25 - The future of education depends on representation42:19 - Final reflections and outro ⸻ 📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today. #SLTPodcast #YaminaBibi #EducationLeadership #DiversityInEducation #SchoolLeadership #RepresentationMatters #TeacherDevelopment #CoachingInEducation #SeriousLeadersTalking

  5. Aug 2

    Burnt Out or Ready to Leave Teaching?

    Are you burnt out — or is it time to leave teaching? In this Q&A episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down again with Hugo Trace, the former teacher known as “The One Who Got Away,” for an honest conversation about what happens when teachers start thinking seriously about leaving the classroom. Hugo talks openly about burnout, money fears, career change, starting a business, using AI to plan your next move, and whether teachers regret leaving education. He also shares why teachers should not underestimate the skills they already have, and why betting on yourself may feel risky — but staying stuck can be risky too. This episode is for teachers who are asking questions they may not want to say out loud: Am I just tired, or do I need to leave?What if I cannot afford to leave teaching?Should I build something on the side first?Will I regret leaving the classroom?What else can teachers actually do? Whether you are ready to leave, thinking about a career change, or simply questioning your next step, this conversation gives a real, honest look at life beyond the classroom. 💬 “I don’t think you can ever really regret betting on yourself. Who else are you going to bet on?” Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast. 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145 ⸻ ⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Welcome back: Hugo Trace, “The One Who Got Away”2:00 - How Hugo helps teachers thinking about leaving4:00 - How to contact Hugo Trace5:00 - Are you burnt out or do you actually need to leave?8:00 - The “crushing feeling” many teachers experience11:00 - Is it the school, the environment, or education itself?13:00 - I want to leave, but I’m scared about money16:00 - Why teachers may be more valuable than they realise18:00 - Should teachers build something on the side first?21:00 - Using AI to plan your next career move24:00 - Betting on yourself instead of the system27:00 - Will I regret leaving teaching?30:00 - The difficult stage after leaving33:00 - What teachers should do before resigning36:00 - Final advice for teachers thinking about leaving38:00 - Share the podcast and final reflections ⸻ 📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community. #SLTPodcast #LeavingTeaching #TeacherBurnout #TeacherRetention #TeacherLife #CareerChange #EducationPodcast #TeacherWellbeing #SchoolLeadership #SeriousLeadersTalking

  6. Aug 1

    Should Under-16s Be Banned From Social Media? | What Parents & Schools Need to Know

    Should under-16s be banned from social media? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy and Rena discuss the proposed under-16 social media ban and what it could mean for young people, parents, schools, and safeguarding. The conversation explores whether a ban can realistically be enforced, how children may try to find loopholes, and what happens when social media — one of the main ways many young people socialise, build identity, and stay connected — is suddenly removed. Ziggy and Rena also unpack the deeper question: if social media is taken away, what replaces it? From family routines and after-school activities to school buildings, community partnerships, youth provision, pastoral support, online bullying, phone use, and the pressure placed on schools to solve wider societal problems, this episode asks what adults need to do before the ban arrives. This is not just a conversation about apps. It is a conversation about safeguarding, parenting, community, identity, attention, and the future of childhood in a digital-first world. 💬 “You cannot remove something without replacing it.” Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast. In partnership with Step Up Network. 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145 ⸻ ⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Welcome back to the SLT Podcast1:57 - New partnership announcement: Step Up Network4:23 - Today’s topic: the under-16 social media ban5:14 - What apps could be affected?6:10 - Questions around enforcement and loopholes7:23 - Is the ban too late?8:26 - Can a social media ban actually work?9:28 - Social media addiction and family life10:33 - You cannot remove something without replacing it12:36 - What will children do without social media?13:47 - The opportunity for parents and schools14:41 - Project-based learning and rethinking homework16:14 - How could this affect schools pastorally?17:33 - After-school provision, clubs, and community use of schools20:16 - What should headteachers and MAT leaders consider?22:30 - How will children feel about the ban?23:27 - Social media, identity, and daily routines25:48 - What young people may lose socially27:55 - Adolescence, Netflix, and social media conversations28:36 - Attention spans, scrolling, and adverts29:24 - Treating social media loss as a real adjustment31:15 - Phones, parents, and school rules33:10 - Final thoughts on spring 202734:10 - Why SLT Podcast avoids rage-bait controversy37:26 - Like, share, subscribe, and final reflections ⸻ 📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today. #SLTPodcast #SocialMediaBan #OnlineSafety #Safeguarding #EducationPodcast #Parenting #SchoolLeadership #DigitalSafety #Under16SocialMediaBan #SeriousLeadersTalking

  7. Jul 1

    The One Who Got Away: Why Good Teachers Leave Education

    Why are good teachers leaving education? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Hugo Trace, a former Head of Humanities who left teaching and moved into digital marketing as the founder of his own company. Titled “The One Who Got Away: Why Good Teachers Leave,” this conversation explores the reality behind teacher retention, burnout, school culture, workload, pay, staffroom politics, and why some talented educators decide to build a new path outside the classroom. Hugo reflects honestly on what he loved about teaching, why working with young people was the best part of the job, and why the wider system eventually became too heavy to stay in. He also shares the transferable skills teachers often underestimate, including communication, versatility, relationship-building, storytelling, and leadership. This episode also looks at the future of work, AI in schools, personal branding, business, startups, and what teachers can do if they are thinking about transitioning out of education. 💬 “Teachers can go and do anything afterwards.” 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145 ⸻ ⏰ Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: The One Who Got Away 0:30 - Why good teachers are leaving education 1:00 - Are teachers respected but still replaceable? 3:00 - Finding the right school and classroom fit 4:30 - Why Hugo walked away from teaching 6:00 - Loving the students but struggling with the system 8:00 - Staffroom politics and teacher frustration 10:00 - Do teachers feel undervalued? 12:00 - Pay, workload, and the reality of teacher life 14:00 - Is teacher retention a people problem or a system problem? 17:00 - Why education feels behind the real world 19:00 - AI, admin, and outdated school systems 23:00 - Transferable skills teachers do not realise they have 25:00 - Communication, versatility, and people skills 28:00 - Storytelling and leadership beyond the classroom 31:00 - Teachers who want to leave but feel scared 33:00 - Building a business before leaving teaching 35:00 - Personal branding and career transition 37:00 - Would Hugo ever go back to teaching? 39:00 - Final reflections and outro ⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community. #SLTPodcast #TeacherRetention #TeacherBurnout #EducationPodcast #TeacherLife #LeavingTeaching #CareerChange #DigitalMarketing #SchoolLeadership #SeriousLeadersTalking

  8. Jun 15

    Are You Leading Or Just Managing Pressure?

    Are you actually leading — or just managing pressure? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Adrian McLean, executive headteacher, TEDx speaker, consultant, governor, trustee, and advocate for more diverse leadership in education. Adrian shares his journey from PE teacher to executive headteacher, reflecting on ambition, imposter syndrome, leadership progression, values, character, and the difficult decisions that shape who we become as leaders. Together, they explore why education may not have a values problem — but a pressure problem. From behaviour, staffing, safeguarding, outcomes, inclusion, accountability, and school culture, this conversation challenges senior leaders to ask whether their values still hold when the pressure rises. The episode also unpacks how to challenge SLT when something does not feel right, why curiosity is often more effective than confrontation, and whether leaders can genuinely lead on race and inclusion without first confronting their own biases. 💬 “Values are what we say is important to us. Virtues are how we act.” 📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz 📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Intro: Adrian McLean introduces himself 0:33 - Who is Adrian McLean? 1:13 - Mentoring, advocacy, and supporting Black men in education 2:30 - Adrian’s journey from PE teacher to executive headteacher 5:53 - Kicking the door open in leadership6:13 - Moving into SEMH, behaviour, attendance, and school improvement 8:01 - Leaving roles that do not align with your values 10:28 - The 10 Character Commandments of Leadership 11:13 - Are you leading or just managing pressure? 11:40 - Education does not have a values problem — it has a pressure problem 13:50 - Values vs virtues: what leaders say vs what leaders do 14:37 - How do you challenge SLT when something is not right? 15:18 - Why curiosity works better than confrontation 17:39 - When leaders say the right things but actions do not match 19:42 - Integrity, courage, and accountability in leadership 21:36 - Why pressure changes how some leaders behave 22:05 - Can leaders lead on race and inclusion without doing the personal work? 23:05 - Why bias must be confronted before inclusion work can succeed 24:53 - A real classroom example of unconscious bias 27:33 - What senior leaders should reflect on this term 29:06 - Final thoughts and outro⸻ 📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community. #SLTPodcast #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #AdrianMcLean #SeriousLeadersTalking #LeadershipInEducation #SeniorLeadership #BlackEducators #TeacherLeadership #SchoolCulture #InclusionInEducation

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The SLT Podcast focuses on the realities of being a Black senior leader in education and the unique challenges and responsibilities. that entail. Rena, Ziggy And Jordan discuss how they navigate systemic barriers, such as underrepresentation and biases, while striving to create inclusive environments. In additions to the pressure of being role models for both students and colleagues, advocating for equity and diversity.

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