Sustainable School Leadership

4. What can be done to make school leadership more sustainable?

As the demands on UK schools intensify, how can we ensure that school leadership remains a viable, sustainable, and fulfilling career? This final episode unpacks the findings of a major three-year study into the sustainability of school leadership, exploring the policy shifts and systemic changes required to support headteachers across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. From the rise of "vexatious complaints" and online abuse to the critical need for better workforce data and local succession planning, the panel confronts the urgent realities of the modern headship. To discuss these major research findings, hosts Dr Mike Collins and Professor Toby Greany are joined by a panel of education experts to conclude the series. The research emphasises that while leadership remains a uniquely rewarding career, systemic changes are essential for its future. Key insights from the study suggest that the UK's leadership population significantly lacks diversity and that the profession has been slow to adopt flexible working practices, which often drives talented teachers and school leaders away mid-career. Furthermore, the experts call for a move away from centralised, "one-size-fits-all" mandates toward local, context-specific solutions - particularly for new heads in rural or isolated schools who often feel the least supported. By rebuilding a concept of professional trust and diversifying leadership pathways, the panel argues that the education system can better sustain the passionate leaders who drive school success across the nations. Our guests in this episode:  * Baroness Mary Bousted: Former Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union (NEU) and a leading voice on educational policy and teacher wellbeing.  * James Bowen: Assistant General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), representing school leaders across the UK.  * Alison Mitchell: A former headteacher and now Professional Learning and Policy Officer at School Leaders Scotland with deep insights into the daily realities of school leadership.  You can find out more about the research project and its findings at sustainableschoolleadership.uk. [https://sustainableschoolleadership.uk/]   The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/education-research-programme/].  This is a Research Podcasts [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/] production.   You can read a transcript of the conversation here [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SSL-S1E4.pdf].     Episode Credits  Presenter: Mike Collins [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Education/people/mike.collins], University of Nottingham  Guests: Toby Greany [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/education/people/toby.greany], University of Nottingham, Baroness Mary Bousted, [https://members.parliament.uk/member/5385/contact] Teaching Commission, James Bowen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameskbowen/], NAHT and Alison Mitchell [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-mitchell-606190358/], School Leaders Scotland  Producer: Alex Canner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-canner/], Research Podcasts   Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

3. Why and how does school leadership today reflect an ethic of education and care?

As schools are increasingly forced to fill the gaps left by overstretched social services, how can headteachers balance the profound emotional labour of community care with rigid academic accountability? This episode explores how schools are operating as "community hubs" and safe havens, where the boundaries between education and social work have blurred, and where the primary mission often begins with the safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable pupils. To delve into this "new reality," hosts Dr Mike Collins and Professor Toby Greany continue the Sustainable School Leadership series. The conversation examines the intense "ethical dilemma" facing modern leaders: navigating a national policy framework that measures success through data and exam results while managing the rising complexity of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. The panel discusses the severe risk of leader burnout when the "emotional bucket" is constantly drained. By comparing the systems in England and Northern Ireland, the episode highlights the urgent need for a multi-agency approach, ensuring that the heavy lifting of social care does not come at the expense of sustainable educational leadership. Our guests in this episode:  * Professor Tony Gallagher: Professor of Education at Queen’s University Belfast and an expert on the role of schools in divided and disadvantaged communities.  * Carolyn Roberts: Former Headteacher of Thomas Tallis School in Greenwich and a leading voice on ethical leadership and the "human" side of school management.  You can find out more about the research project and its findings at sustainableschoolleadership.uk. [https://sustainableschoolleadership.uk/]   The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/education-research-programme/].  This is a Research Podcasts [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/] production.   You can read a transcript of the conversation here [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sustainable-School-Leadership-S1-E3-2.pdf].    Episode Credits  Presenter: Mike Collins [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Education/people/mike.collins], University of Nottingham  Guests: Toby Greany [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/education/people/toby.greany], University of Nottingham, Tony Gallagher [https://www.qub.ac.uk/News/find-an-expert/ProfessorTonyGallagher.html], Queen’s University Belfast, Carolyn Roberts [https://www.ptieducation.org/about/people], PTI  Producer: Alex Canner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-canner/], Research Podcasts   Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

2. How does place shape school leadership?

How does a school's specific geography, history, and community fundamentally reshape the role of the headteacher? Moving beyond simple maps, this episode reveals how "place" creates entirely unique leadership conditions, from the intense care demands in urban centres to the professional isolation felt by leaders in remote rural villages. The panel examines why understanding these local nuances is essential for addressing the growing recruitment and retention crisis across the UK, highlighting that a headteacher’s daily reality is often dictated by the specific social and economic landscape just outside their school's front door. To unpack these localized dynamics, hosts Dr Mike Collins and Professor Pat Thomson continue the Sustainable School Leadership series. The conversation delves into the challenges of "policy blind spots," where national mandates often assume a uniformity that does not exist on the ground. The panel discusses how post-pandemic shifts have changed the professional landscape, with staff increasingly reluctant to travel and a rising demand for flexible working and part-time roles. From the complex, divided school system in Northern Ireland to the "all things to all people" demands placed on rural heads in the Scottish Highlands, the episode argues for "place-sensitive" policy. By moving away from over-centralisation and embracing local solutions, the experts explore how the education system can better support the emotional wellbeing and long-term sustainability of leaders in every corner of the country. Our guests in this episode:  * Brigid Heron: Principal of Sperrin Integrated College in Magherafelt, Northern Ireland, providing a perspective on leading within complex, divided communities.  * Laurence Findlay: Director of Education and Social Services in Aberdeenshire and President of the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland (ADES).  You can find out more about the research project and its findings at sustainableschoolleadership.uk. [https://sustainableschoolleadership.uk/]   The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/education-research-programme/].  This is a Research Podcasts [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/] production.   You can read a transcript of the conversation here [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sustainable-School-Leadership-S1E2.pdf].    Episode Credits  Presenter: Mike Collins [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Education/people/mike.collins], University of Nottingham  Guests: Pat Thomson [https://patthomson.net/about/], University of Nottingham, Brigid Heron [https://www.sperrincollege.com/principals-welcome.html] Principal Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland and Laurence Findlay [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurence-findlay-3160883b/], Aberdeenshire LA  Producer: Alex Canner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-canner/], Research Podcasts   Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

1. How does identity shape school leadership?

How do a school leader's personal values, background, and ethnicity fundamentally shape their resilience and approach to the role? This opening episode delves into the deeply personal and professional identities of those at the helm of our schools. By exploring the "human side" of the headship, the panel examines how leaders navigate the emotional weight of the job, why leadership is a true "vocation", and how identity acts as an anchor during times of intense systemic pressure. To unpack these dynamics, hosts Dr Mike Collins and Dr Tom Perry introduce the Sustainable School Leadership series. The discussion highlights a significant "diversity gap" within UK school leadership, particularly regarding gender and ethnicity, and how these factors shape career pathways and the daily experience of being a leader. The experts also discuss the importance of "community-anchored" leadership and the critical role of mentorship in building a sustainable pipeline of future heads. By acknowledging that leadership is not just a set of tasks but a deeply personal identity, the episode argues that sustaining the profession requires a better understanding of the emotional strain and the diverse lived experiences of those who lead our school communities across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our guests in this episode:  * Gurpall Badesha: Deputy Headteacher at Crofton School in Hampshire and Vice-President of ASCL (Association of School and College Leavers).  * Dr Caitlin Donnelly: Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and a specialist in educational leadership and school governance in Northern Ireland.    You can find out more about the research project and its findings at sustainableschoolleadership.uk. [https://sustainableschoolleadership.uk/]   The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/education-research-programme/].  This is a Research Podcasts [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/] production.   You can read a transcript of the conversation here [https://researchpodcasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sustainable-School-Leadership-S1E1.pdf].     Episode Credits  Presenter: Mike Collins [https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Education/people/mike.collins], University of Nottingham  Guests: Tom Perry [https://profiles.warwick.ac.uk/u2073581-tom-perry], University of Warwick, Gurpall Badesha [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gurpall-badesha-259046173/], ASCL and Caitlin Donnelly [https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/ssesw/study/postgraduate-research/find-a-phd-supervisor/dr-caitlin-donnelly.html], Queen’s University Belfast   Producer: Alex Canner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-canner/], Research Podcasts   Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.