Good to Great Education Leaders Series‪!‬ Good to Great Education Series

"Have a good think about what is it because some people see special needs schools as something which they’re not, and there’s a variety of special needs schools. So the biggest thing for me would be to have a good look around, you know, visit schools, you know, and then use that time to really think about, first of all, what is the right type of school for you is” – Chris Rue

Listen to Chris Rue's amazing journey within Special Needs Education, which started with him dropping a suitcase off, having one interview, and is now a successful Head Teacher within Epinay Business and Enterprise School. Chris gives a truly heartfelt insight into his learns and progression within a career he never expected to have!



SHOW NOTES:

[00:35] Chris’s route into teaching.

[02:07] Learning and working up from the very bottom

[05:36] Moving from teacher to middle leadership fast

[07:03] Chris gives advice to NQT’s

[08:51] Learns as a Middle Leader.

[10:08] Becoming ambitious, developing the skills and experience to make the move into Headship.

[11:55] 20 years of history, moving onto pastures new!

[13:51] Big achievements.

[15:35] Current initiatives at Epinay.

[17:24] How Chris gets away from teaching.

[19:14] Education post-COVID-19.

[22:43] The biggest influencers in Chris’s teaching career so far.

[23:40] If Chris hadn’t been a teacher.



SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Chris's LinkedIn Profile

Follow Epinay on Twitter

Follow Epinay on Facebook

Epinay Business and Enterprise School website 

"In life, if an opportunity comes your way, you need to take it." - Nick Bevington



Listen as Nick Bevington's interview where he speaks of his route from Finance graduate to Head of Town Close School, the boredom of working in Finance and how summer camp work had lit the torch paper of his love of helping and teaching young people. Nick's early advice of taking an opportunity has stood him in very good stead.

In fact, this advice leads to Nick progressing quicker than normal to his first Deputy Headteacher role. He describes how he handled the responsibility of this post when relatively inexperienced compared to other more established staff.

Nick has lost none of his enthusiasm and passion for education and had some amazing examples of current initiatives in Town Close school. Enjoy!



SHOW NOTES:
[00:30] Nick's route into teaching.

[01:50] The biggest influencers in Nick's early teaching.

[04:50] Becoming a Deputy headteacher

[06:17] Learns as a Deputy.

[08:00] Making the move into Headship.

[09:54] New Head, new experiences.

[11:29] Implementing change as a Head.

[13:08] Current initiatives at Town Close School.

[15:49] Genderleass uniform.

[22:11] What makes a good SLT.

[24:06] Nick's advice to NQT's.

[27:02] Nick's advice to aspiring Head Teachers.

[28:39] How Nick gets away from work.



SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Nick's LinkedIn Profile

Nick's Twitter

Town Close School website

Town Close Facebook

The Restless School - Roy Blatchford

Nick Corston 

Here is a truly inspirational journey, Marie Neave’s career from teacher to Executive Head, from History to Autism. Marie is a go-to Leader in the Lewisham and Autistic niche with years of experience to call upon. The work she is doing with Drumbeat is nothing less than fantastic. Enjoy the webinar.

It’s, it’s about getting your best players in place. It’s about giving those best players the opportunity to actually do what they’re good at.”

Jonathan always knew he was going to be a Teacher, from the off following in his father's footsteps. Listen to his path from NQT to Headship, where he shares insights and advice to all levels of Education. Feel Jonathan’s enthusiasm for the new Discovery Plus initiative in d’Overbroecks and how the school help and support Mental Health issues.

SHOW NOTES:
[00:33] Jonathan’s route into teaching.

[01:38] Jonathan’s NQT Learns.

[02:27] Progression into Middle Leadership

[03:24] Jonathan’s Path to Headship.

[06:10] Advice for NQT’s.

[07:11] d’Overbroecks New Discovery Plus Initiative.

[09:09] The Future of Education.

[11:38] Supporting Mental Health in d’Overbroecks.

[13:54] d’Overbroecks Growth and Progression.

[14:51] Building a Successful Team.



SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
Jonathan Cuff – LinkedIn

Jonathan’s  Twitter Account

d’Overbroecks website

d’Overbroecks Facebook Page 

Due App

"Don't get too far ahead of yourself, because if you're always looking at the next thing, you'll never be happy in your current role." - James Hodgson

James Bedford if the Headteacher at Bedford School, Bedfordshire. He has over Listen to how James began his teaching career after the dream of being a professional cricketer didn't materialise. He initially worked for Ernst and Young and after learning how much he hated that job, he decided to find a working environment that he would love and appreciate. 

Listen to Jame's path from teaching Classics in Australia to Headship at Bedford School and the fantastic "Movember" YouTube videos you'll need to watch. 

SHOW NOTES 

[00:35] James route into teaching

[08:36] James route to middle management 

[10:11] Enjoying Senior Leadership and never planning for it. 

[11.31] Who moulded James SLT path

[14:17] Going into SLT with your eyes open!

[16:36] Initiatives in school Digitally preparing pupils for the working world, Partnerships with local schools, charities and business, Entrapreunerialism in school

[29:13] Movember at Bedford School


SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Contact James at school here

Bedford School Twitter - Facebook   

Movember YouTube video



   

After leaving school at 16 Mike fell into Outdoor Pursuits and subsequently into Teaching. Listen to his unique path to Executive Headship and becoming a CEO. Identifying a true "gap in the education market" Mike set up as a charity, that formed into the school Releasing Potential and now offers a teacher training business with one goal, to enrich all children's lives.

Mike has truly learned the hard way, Releasing Potential is going from strength to strength listen to his fantastic account of what you can achieve if you put your mind to it!



SHOW NOTES:
[00:36] Mike's insights into becoming a teacher.

[03:53] The Launch of Releasing Potential.

[05:00] Is teaching a vocation?

[06:19] Biggest advice to NQT's.

[08:19] Becoming a Head Teacher and building Releasing Potential.

[13:15] Current initiatives.

[18:34] Advice to aspiring SLT.

[23:47] The next steps for Releasing Potential.



SELECTED LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
Mike King - LinkedIn

Releasing Potential Website

Releasing Potential Facebook Page 

Releasing Potential Twitter Account

Institute for Outdoor Learning