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

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

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

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

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

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