Culture and Leadership in Education Podcast

Dovetail and Slate
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We're Dovetail & Slate, the education recruitment experts. In each episode of the Culture, EVP and Leadership in Education Podcast, our CEO, Guy Walker, hosts in-depth conversations with industry leaders and educators who share their firsthand experiences and insights. Tune in for practical advice, inspiring stories and the latest trends in education.

  1. Jul 23

    Values People Actually Remember: Leading Culture at Solihull College with Dr Rebecca Gater

    What does it take to build a college culture where people feel empowered to change lives? In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker chats with Dr Rebecca Gater, Principal & Chief Executive of Solihull College & University Centre. Rebecca shares her unconventional route into Further Education - from an unexpected career pivot 25 years ago to leading one of the West Midlands' most ambitious colleges across three campuses. She talks about rebuilding the college's values from scratch so people actually remember them, why "the 100 small things" matter as much as the big strategy, and how empowering staff and students alike has shaped a culture people stay in for decades. Key topics include: - Turning an accidental career into 25 years of Further Education leadership - Rewriting a college's values so they're actually lived, not laminated - Measuring culture formally and informally, and acting on what you hear - Why empowerment, not just opportunity, is at the heart of a thriving college - Rebecca's new book, "Inspiring Senior Leadership in Further Education: Stories from the Front Line." Whether you're an educator, a college leader, or simply curious about what makes some organisations places people never want to leave, this episode is full of practical strategies, honest reflection and brilliant stories.00:00 Intro 01:16 Meet Dr Rebecca Gater, Principal of Solihull College & University Centre 02:04 An unexpected route into Further Education 04:23 From hourly-paid lecturer to Principal & CEO 07:12 What's kept Rebecca in FE for 25 years 07:34 Time away in schools, and why she came back 09:07 Why FE needs "a special kind of weirdo" 10:22 Diversity, change and challenge: what it takes to thrive in FE 11:19 Advice for anyone looking to get into Further Education 13:39 The biggest misconception about FE 17:08 Proudest moments: Ofsted visits and a Hollywood Q&A 19:09 Writing "Inspiring Senior Leadership in Further Education" 22:18 Building a community culture across three campuses 23:01 Rewriting six values that people can actually remember 27:01 Consultation, workshops and the next strategic plan 29:36 Embedding values through a staff and student praise system 33:04 Measuring culture: formal tools and hard data 35:04 Measuring culture: walking the campuses and listening 37:07 The "100 small things" and why whiteboard pens matter 39:06 Why people choose to work at Solihull College 43:47 Sasha's story: empowering students to lead change 45:59 The one thing Rebecca would change 47:38 Role models and learning from everyone you meet 49:32 CEO programmes, peer networks and constant development 51:17 Advice for the next generation of FE leaders 53:04 Book recommendations: Powered by Purpose and All That We Aredovetailslate.co.uk #furthereducation #collegeculture #educationleadership #staffwellbeing #studentoutcomes #empowerment #eduleadership #learninganddevelopment #cultureineducation #leadershippodcast #solihullcollege

  2. Jul 17

    Why Every Student Deserves a Place: Charlie Deane on Culture & Leadership at Bury College

    What does it take to build a college culture rooted in accountability, relationships and genuine care? In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker sits down with Charlie Deane, Principal & Chief Executive of Bury College. Charlie shares his remarkable 36-year journey through Further Education — from teaching unqualified in 1990, to eight transformative years at Aberdeen College, to 15 years leading Bury College, home of the "Bury Guarantee": a place for every young person, regardless of their starting point. Charlie talks candidly about what it really takes to build culture, why policy (not posters) is the true engine of good behaviour, and why he'd rather have a competent surgeon than a passionate one. Key topics include: - The three things that make or break a college's culture - Why accountability matters more than perfection - How Bury College turns its mission into everyday policy - Coaching staff instead of micromanaging them - Measuring culture through staff surveys and first-year attrition rates - Honest advice for anyone considering a career in Further Education. Whether you're an educator, a college leader, or simply curious about what makes some organisations thrive while others drift, this is a conversation packed with hard-won wisdom, honesty and heart.00:00 Intro01:16 Meet Charlie Deane and the Bury Guarantee03:14 A campus built piece by piece: 15 years, £50 million04:31 36 years in Further Education: Charlie's career journey09:03 Why Charlie never left FE11:12 Relationships, accountability and the "Porsche" story13:40 Who really owns the culture16:10 Three pillars of a great college culture20:10 Coaching over directing: developing staff the right way22:33 Hiring for the long term and investing in people26:22 The dinner that brought a team together27:27 Why policy is the real driver of culture33:45 Mission over grades: what success looks like at Bury36:29 Tough love and the "Pulpit Paul" story41:22 Measuring culture: surveys, retention and first-year attrition47:48 Promoting from within50:12 Honest advice for anyone joining Bury College51:14 Role models, mistakes and the leadership "circle"53:26 Advice for the next generation of FE leaders56:13 Book recommendations and "management by absence"dovetailslate.co.uk#furthereducation #collegeculture #educationleadership #accountability #teacherdevelopment #eduleadership #culturematters #leadershippodcast #burycollege #studentoutcomes

  3. Jul 9

    Building a Culture of Belonging and Wellbeing in FE | David Malone, Calderdale College

    What does it take to build a college culture where people genuinely belong, thrive, and feel supported?In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker travels to Halifax to chat with David Malone, Principal and Chief Executive of Calderdale College. David shares his rapid journey through Further Education, from his early days in performing arts to leading one of West Yorkshire's most community-anchored colleges. He reveals the practical steps Calderdale College is taking to prioritise staff wellbeing, including implementing the "Investors in Diversity" framework, launching Wednesday afternoon "firebreaks," and shifting the focus from standard metrics to genuine inclusivity.Key topics include:- Balancing rapid college expansion with intentional culture-building- Why adopting the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, Engagement) framework accelerated positive change- Practical staff wellbeing initiatives: from Wednesday afternoon choirs to surprise long weekends- Supporting staff progression, even if it means helping them grow into roles outside the organisation- Honest leadership, staying authentic, and learning from mistakes ("Black Box Thinking")Whether you’re an aspiring FE leader, an educator, or simply passionate about community-focused leadership, this episode is packed with real-world strategies and heartfelt stories from the frontlines of Further Education.T00:00:00Intro to Season 2 & Welcome00:01:37David’s fast-paced career journey and entry into FE00:10:02The magic of FE: Transforming lives with limited resources00:18:53Anchoring culture using the Investors in Diversity framework00:26:58Creating the 6 P’s and embedding the FREDIE principles00:36:35Concrete wellbeing strategies: Wednesday firebreaks and time back00:42:58Nurturing staff talent and the fearless approach to employee retention00:52:42Authentic leadership, role models, and ethical frameworks00:58:54Advice for future FE leaders and the importance of accountabilitydovetailslate.co.uk#educationleadership #collegeculture #furthereducation #staffwellbeing #studentoutcomes #teacherdevelopment #eduleadership #calderdalecollege #investorsindiversity #leadershippodcast

  4. Jul 9

    Why Every Student Deserves a Place: Charlie Deane on Culture & Leadership at Bury College

    What does it take to build a college culture rooted in accountability, relationships and genuine care? In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker sits down with Charlie Deane, Principal & Chief Executive of Bury College. Charlie shares his remarkable 36-year journey through Further Education — from teaching unqualified in 1990, to eight transformative years at Aberdeen College, to 15 years leading Bury College, home of the "Bury Guarantee": a place for every young person, regardless of their starting point. Charlie talks candidly about what it really takes to build culture, why policy (not posters) is the true engine of good behaviour, and why he'd rather have a competent surgeon than a passionate one. Key topics include: - The three things that make or break a college's culture - Why accountability matters more than perfection - How Bury College turns its mission into everyday policy - Coaching staff instead of micromanaging them - Measuring culture through staff surveys and first-year attrition rates - Honest advice for anyone considering a career in Further Education. Whether you're an educator, a college leader, or simply curious about what makes some organisations thrive while others drift, this is a conversation packed with hard-won wisdom, honesty and heart.00:00 Intro01:16 Meet Charlie Deane and the Bury Guarantee03:14 A campus built piece by piece: 15 years, £50 million04:31 36 years in Further Education: Charlie's career journey09:03 Why Charlie never left FE11:12 Relationships, accountability and the "Porsche" story13:40 Who really owns the culture16:10 Three pillars of a great college culture20:10 Coaching over directing: developing staff the right way22:33 Hiring for the long term and investing in people26:22 The dinner that brought a team together27:27 Why policy is the real driver of culture33:45 Mission over grades: what success looks like at Bury36:29 Tough love and the "Pulpit Paul" story41:22 Measuring culture: surveys, retention and first-year attrition47:48 Promoting from within50:12 Honest advice for anyone joining Bury College51:14 Role models, mistakes and the leadership "circle"53:26 Advice for the next generation of FE leaders56:13 Book recommendations and "management by absence"dovetailslate.co.uk#furthereducation #collegeculture #educationleadership #accountability #teacherdevelopment #eduleadership #culturematters #leadershippodcast #burycollege #studentoutcomes

  5. Mar 12

    How to Lead a College to Ofsted Outstanding with John Evans

    What does it take to go from an apprentice motor mechanic to leading some of the largest colleges in the UK? In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker sits down with John Evans, a veteran of the Further Education sector who has successfully navigated five separate college journeys to an "Outstanding" Ofsted rating.John shares his unique philosophy on education, viewing the student as the customer and teaching, learning, and assessment (TLA) as the core product. He pulls back the curtain on how he transformed struggling institutions - tackling millions in debt and broken staff cultures - by winning hearts and minds through relentless, visible leadership.Key topics include:- The "Apprentice to Principal" Journey: Why vocational experts make some of the best leaders in FE.- Transforming "Inadequate" to "Outstanding": The practical steps to shifting culture and accountability across multiple campuses.- The Jim Collins Connection: How the "Good to Great" philosophy applies to college leadership (and the time John cold-emailed Jim Collins).- Recruiting Trade Experts: Innovative strategies to bring industry professionals into the classroom.- Leading Without Ego: Why the best CEOs aren't afraid to help set out chairs or pick up litter.Whether you’re a middle manager looking to become an "agent of change" or a CEO navigating the "loneliest job in the world," John’s insights offer a masterclass in passionate, values-driven leadership.00:00 Intro00:01:30 From car mechanic to college principal: John’s career journey00:04:00 The "Student as Customer" philosophy00:08:45 Why middle managers are the true agents of change00:11:30 Turning around struggling colleges: Swindon and Cornwall cases00:18:00 The "Good to Great" influence and a surprise from Jim Collins00:24:00 How culture shows up in the "pub" and the reception desk00:37:30 Putting TLA (Teaching, Learning, and Assessment) at the heart of culture00:45:00 The "standard you walk past is the standard you accept"00:55:40 Advice for future FE leaders: Moral compass vs. Ego01:04:20 Innovative recruitment: Getting tradespeople into teachingdovetailslate.co.uk#FEleadership #FurtherEducation #CollegeCulture #TeachingAndLearning #Apprenticeships #EducationLeadership #JohnEvans #GuyWalker #OfstedOutstanding

  6. Feb 5

    Bold Leadership in Further Education: Julia Gray on Transforming City of Bristol College

    What does it take to transform a college that's struggled for years into a top 20% performer? And how do you build a culture where staff and students genuinely feel they're the most important people in the room?In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker returns to his hometown of Bristol to sit down with Julia Gray, Principal & CEO of City of Bristol College. Julia shares her unconventional journey from equine sport science to land-based education, through to leading one of Bristol's most vital institutions through rapid transformation.Julia doesn't hold back about the challenges, starting her CEO role on January 1st and getting an Ofsted call just five working days later. She talks candidly about inherited culture fractures from multiple mergers, staff fatigue from constant change, and the work required to make people proud of where they work again.But this is a story of bold transformation. Julia explains how Bristol College moved from the bottom of national league tables to the top 20%, how they achieved 99% appraisal completion (from chaos), and why their values just happen to spell B.R.I.S.T.O.L.Key topics include:- Why FE is like a "homemade speedboat" (and why that's exciting, not scary)- Building BRISTOL values: Boldness, Respect, Inclusion, Sustainability, Teamwork, Openness, Learning- The power of telling students "you are important" (not special—important)- Transforming appraisal from a dreaded tick-box to 99% completion and genuine engagement- Community Campus Leads: the role that changed everything across four campuses- Why you can't just promote brilliant teachers into leadership without training- Servant-based leadership: removing barriers so people can do their jobs brilliantly- The truth about FE funding and why pay is the one thing every principal would change- Finding your authenticity as a leader (even if you started as "a pretender in the horsey world")- Why place matters more than timeline when choosing your next leadership roleWhether you're an aspiring leader wondering how to progress, a principal navigating multi-site complexity, or anyone who believes young people deserve better than "they're just lazy"—this conversation is for you.00:00 Intro00:03:45 Julia's journey: from equine sport science to FE leadership00:08:20 What keeps Julia in FE after 22 years00:12:30 The "speedboat vs cruise ship" analogy for FE00:16:50 Challenging misconceptions about FE students and ambition00:20:05 The proudest moment: national league tables and what it meant00:24:15 How BRISTOL values came to be (and that happy accident)00:28:45 Making values stick through behaviours, not just words00:32:29 Managing culture across four campuses with different personalities00:36:39 "You are important, not special": what students need to know00:42:33 Appraisal transformation: from chaos to 99% completion00:48:19 Servant-based leadership and building autonomy00:52:18 Management Academy: training aspiring leaders properly00:56:43 Role models: Rachel Hannigan, authenticity, and finding your path00:59:05 Advice for future principals: skills over timeline, and why place matters01:05:09 Recommended books: Michael Porter and getting to root causesdovetailslate.co.uk#educationleadership #collegeculture #furthereducation #bristolcollege #staffwellbeing #studentoutcomes #teacherdevelopment #eduleadership #culturechange #leadershippodcast #appraisals #servantleadership #multiplecampuses #authenticleadership

    Bold Leadership in Further Education: Julia Gray on Transforming City of Bristol College

  7. Jan 28

    From Army Officer to FE Commissioner: Shelagh Legrave on Building Outstanding College Culture

    What does it take to transform a college from 'requires improvement' to outstanding—not once, but twice? And how do you sustain that culture of excellence across an entire sector?In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker sits down with Shelagh Legrave, the FE Commissioner, at Chichester College Group - where Shelagh spent nearly 20 years, including 12 as Principal.Shelagh shares her remarkable journey from army officer to investment banking, then into education finance, before becoming one of the sector's most respected leaders. Now overseeing 200+ FE colleges, she brings hard-won insights on what makes culture stick, why middle leadership matters more than we think, and how personalisation, meeting people where they are, drives real outcomes.Key topics include:- Why culture pervades everything and can't be separated from strategy- The "serve to lead" leadership model that shaped her approach- How to develop middle managers beyond just promoting good teachers- Moving from autocratic to empathetic, democratic leadership- Balancing financial pressures with outstanding student experience- The crucial role of onboarding, mentoring and professional development- Why place matters, and why no two college cultures are exactly the same- Recruitment, retention and selling the FE sector properly- Embracing change, technology and the next generation of leadersWhether you're an educator, college leader, aspiring principal, or passionate about how culture shapes student success, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, honest reflections and inspiration from someone who's lived it at every level.00:00 Intro00:03:45 Sheila's varied career journey: army, banking, finance to FE leadership00:08:20 The shift from CFO to Principal at Chichester College00:12:30 Becoming FE Commissioner and supporting colleges sector-wide00:18:15 Why culture is essential for outstanding student experience00:22:40 The challenge and importance of developing middle leaders00:28:45 Meeting students where they are: personalization as a core value00:32:10 How culture adapts to constant change in FE00:38:50 Changing college culture: vision, mission, values and lived behaviours00:45:30 Leadership competencies and learning from Good to Great00:52:20 Recruitment, retention and making staff feel valued00:58:15 Advice for aspiring FE leaders: ambition with humility01:02:50 Looking ahead: technology, adaptability and the future of FE leadershipdovetailslate.co.uk#educationleadership #collegeculture #furthereducation #fecommissioner #staffwellbeing #studentoutcomes #teacherdevelopment #eduleadership #learninganddevelopment #cultureineducation #leadershippodcast #middlemanagement #recruitmentandretention

    From Army Officer to FE Commissioner: Shelagh Legrave on Building Outstanding College Culture

  8. 11/13/2025

    Building a College Culture That Works | Lisa Capper MBE on Leading with Care

    What does it take to build a college culture where people belong, grow and lead with care? In this episode of The Culture & Leadership Podcast, host Guy Walker chats with Lisa Capper MBE, Principal & CEO of the Sandwell Collegse Group. Lisa shares her journey from adult education and government policy to leading one of the UK’s most diverse and ambitious colleges. She talks about creating the “One Team” culture, embedding the CARE values, and why wellbeing and empowerment are central to success. Key topics include: Balancing big-picture strategies with hands-on action to make real change Building a “One Team” culture that unites staff and campuses  Why values-driven leadership empowers both staff and students Creating inspiring learning environments that keep students motivated and thriving Adapting Further Education to meet changing demands for young people and adults Whether you’re an educator, college leader, or interested in how education can shape communities, this episode is packed with practical strategies, inspiring stories and insights from the heart of the Sandwell Colleges. 00:00 Intro 00:03:45 Lisa’s career journey and leadership philosophy 00:08:20 Building a “One Team” culture and strategic plan 00:14:10 Embedding CARE values in staff and students 00:19:35 Staff wellbeing, mentorship, and professional development 00:25:50 Innovation in learning environments and student retention 00:31:15 Preparing for demographic changes and adult learning 00:36:40 Leadership lessons and advice for future FE leaders dovetailslate.co.uk #educationleadership #collegeculture #furthereducation #staffwellbeing #studentoutcomes #teacherdevelopment #eduleadership #learninganddevelopment #cultureineducation #leadershippodcast

    Building a College Culture That Works | Lisa Capper MBE on Leading with Care
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We're Dovetail & Slate, the education recruitment experts. In each episode of the Culture, EVP and Leadership in Education Podcast, our CEO, Guy Walker, hosts in-depth conversations with industry leaders and educators who share their firsthand experiences and insights. Tune in for practical advice, inspiring stories and the latest trends in education.

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