Independently Speaking: The ISA Podcast

The Acting Head: How drama shapes authentic school leadership

In this episode, Helen Stanton-Tonner is joined by Faith Hagerty, founder of The Acting Head [https://theactinghead.co.uk], recorded live at the ISA Annual Conference in May 2026. Faith draws on her background as a trained actor, former headteacher and leadership coach to explore what authenticity really means for school leaders, and why it matters. They discuss imposter syndrome, the pressures facing independent schools, the value of coaching, and why drama is far more than a curriculum subject. A thoughtful conversation for anyone leading in education today.

Strengthening School Governance through Inclusive Recruitment

With nearly 50% of independent school pupils coming from ethnic minority backgrounds, why is this diversity not reflected at the governing board level? Johan Jensen and Leah Morris (Minority Ethnic Governors Network [https://www.linkedin.com/company/megn-minority-ethnic-governors-network/posts/?feedView=all]) join the podcast to challenge the sector to look deeper at school governance. We discuss the dangers of homogenous thinking in leadership, how to move past informal networks, and why inclusive governance is about raising standards. Whether you’re a current governor or a school leader, this episode provides the step-by-step tools needed to modernise your recruitment process. Discover practical advice on how to attract professional talent from wider backgrounds and ensure every voice at the table has the power to influence school strategy.

School Groups, The White Paper, and Specialist Provision

In this episode of Independently Speaking, Helen Stanton-Tonner is joined by Justin Spanswick (Chief Operating Officer, Inspired Learning Group [https://www.inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk]), Henrietta Jordan (Schools' Director, Melrose Education [https://melroseeducation.com]), and Hannah Lovegrove Campion (Head of SEND, ISA) to explore what the government's white paper, Putting Children and Young People First, means when viewed from the perspective of independent school groups. The discussion examines how reform lands not just at the individual school level, but across organisations responsible for strategy, staffing, and SEND provision at scale. Guests explore readiness for change across diverse settings, shifting referral patterns, the challenge of building specialist workforce capacity across multiple regions, and the critical role of local authority relationships in making the new framework work in practice.

School Spotlight: Summerhill School

In this Spotlight episode of Independently Speaking, Helen Stanton-Tonner visits the legendary Summerhill School [https://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/], founded in 1921 by A.S. Neill, and meets Zoë Neill Redhead, the principal and daughter of the founder. Discover how Summerhill’s pioneering philosophy of “freedom, not license” shapes a community where students and staff share equal voices, classes are optional, and personal responsibility drives learning. From the iconic school meetings to creative spaces and innovative traditions, hear how Summerhill nurtures confident, compassionate young people while challenging assumptions about education worldwide. Read more about Zoë's book, Barefoot in November, on the Summerhill website [https://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/barefoot-in-november/]. The book is also available on Audible [https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Barefoot-in-November-Audiobook/B0GP2FXZB9]. The drama Summerhill is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video [https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Summerhill/0HONRV8SUARB71LWPDTC95Q8N8].

SEND Reform: What does the white paper mean for specialist provision?

This episode is also available as a video on YouTube [https://youtu.be/v_SIzHHfFtE]. What does the white paper, Putting Children and Young People First, mean for specialist provision? In this roundtable episode of Independently Speaking, four experts from the independent sector discuss the Government's proposed SEND reforms, including the new tiered support model, EHCP changes, specialist provision packages, and what genuine inclusion actually looks like in practice. Featuring: Helen Stanton-Tonner, Director of Education & Inclusion, ISA Michelle Catterson, Executive Headteacher, Moon Hall School Jonathan Hetherington, Headmaster, More House School Michael Smith, CEO, Pivot Group Hannah Lovegrove Campion, Head of SEND, ISA. Whether you're a SENCO, school leader, parent, or SEND specialist, this is a conversation you won't want to miss.