Reflecting on Step 2: Fostering a shared purpose with Dr Kulvarn Atwal

Step 3: Unleashing the capacity of your team with Donna Winters

In this episode of The No Silver Bullets Podcast, Paul speaks with Donna Winters, Executive Headteacher of the Spires Federation in Lincolnshire. Leading three small rural primary schools — Digby, Dunston and Nocton — Donna has developed a distinctive and highly effective leadership model that distributes expertise across the federation rather than replicating roles on each site. Donna explains how she reshaped the senior team into a three‑person structure working across all schools, why trust is the foundation of unleashing capacity, and how shared subject leadership has transformed curriculum quality. She also reflects on the federation’s remarkable improvement journey, including Digby’s move from double RI to Outstanding. Listeners will hear practical insights on: * Designing leadership structures that increase capacity without increasing cost * Building trust so colleagues feel empowered to lead * Creating consistent systems across multiple schools * Developing subject leadership across a federation * Managing communication, visibility and parental relationships as an Executive Head * Balancing strategic oversight with the realities of three small schools A thoughtful, grounded conversation full of real‑world examples from a leader who has built a federation model that genuinely works for staff, pupils and communities.

Reflecting on Step 2: Fostering a shared purpose with Dr Kulvarn Atwal

n this reflective episode of The No Silver Bullets Podcast: The Nine Steps to Executive Headship, Paul Ainsworth revisits his powerful conversation with Kulvarn Atwal, Executive Headteacher of Uphall Primary School and Highlands Primary School, and explores what leaders can learn from Step 2: Fostering a shared purposed. The conversation reflects on fostering a shared purpose in school leadership, emphasizing the importance of values, consistency, and emotional landscape. It also explores the challenges and strategies for building shared purpose in a federation of schools. Takeaways * Shared purpose is felt, not written * Consistency is a consequence of shared purpose, not a substitute for it * How these ideas connect to the forthcoming book The Nine Steps to Executive Headship (publishing end of 2026) Paul also previews next week’s episode with Donna Winters, focusing on Step 3: Unleashing the capacity of your team — the perfect follow‑on from today’s themes. Finally, Paul invites listeners to take part in recorded discussions about the episodes. If you’d like to receive an advance podcast and share your reflections on air, get in touch.

Step 2: Fostering a shared purpose with Dr Kulvarn Atwal

Fostering a Shared Purpose — Step 2 with Dr Kulvarn Atwal In this episode of The No Silver Bullets Podcast, Paul speaks with Dr Kulvarn Atwal, Executive Headteacher of Highlands and Uphall Primary Schools in Redbridge. Known for his values‑driven leadership and research into teacher learning, Kulvarn explores what it truly means to build a shared purpose across two large and very different school communities. He explains why shared purpose starts with values, not actions, and how leaders can model those values so they cascade through every layer of the organisation. Kulvarn shares the story of taking on Uphall — a five‑form‑entry, high‑disadvantage, double‑RI school — and how deep listening, trust‑building and a relentless focus on teacher learning led to remarkable improvement, including disadvantaged outcomes above national advantaged averages. Listeners will hear practical advice on: * Leading authentically across multiple schools * Building trust in a struggling setting * Creating one learning community while respecting context * Staying visible, calm and present as an executive leader * Designing sustainable structures that outlast individuals A powerful, honest conversation about leadership, values and the real work of bringing people together around a shared purpose. Links: The Thinking School: Developing a dynamic learning community [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-School-Developing-learning-community/dp/1912906023/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3L6QI2WNUFA2S&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AhfuhVBea7ZWRVuLC1WFXhjRLhk1oz-MRKwxRIbthis.IqH4PXOpRFVxBnYGhaXL0FaMi51SsszfVUz4Wwqria8&dib_tag=se&keywords=kulvarn+atwal&qid=1778850092&sprefix=Kulvarn+%2Caps%2C247&sr=8-1] The Thinking Teacher: How to transform your mindset and your teaching [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thinking-Teacher-transform-mindset-teaching/dp/191526166X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Follow Kulvarn on X [https://x.com/Thinkingschool2]

Reflecting on Step 1: Building one vision with Anthony Benedict

n this reflective episode of The No Silver Bullets Podcast: The Nine Steps to Executive Headship, Paul Ainsworth revisits his powerful conversation with Anthony Benedict, CEO of Ambition Community Trust, and explores what leaders can learn from Step 1: Building One Vision. Anthony’s clarity of purpose — “I came into teaching to change the world” — sets the tone for a discussion about why executive leadership must begin with a deeply personal and child‑centred “why”. Paul unpacks how Anthony’s approach to relational inclusion, staff culture, and co‑constructed vision aligns with the core arguments of Step 1. This episode explores: * Why your personal ‘why’ matters more than any document or strategy * Vision as a lived practice, not a laminated poster * How Anthony built a culture rooted in relational inclusion * The role of collaboration, co‑construction, and shared language * Why a vision only becomes real when staff, pupils, and parents echo it back * How these ideas connect to the forthcoming book The Nine Steps to Executive Headship (publishing end of 2026) Paul also previews next week’s episode with Dr Kulvarn Atwal, focusing on Step 2: Fostering a Shared Purpose — the perfect follow‑on from today’s themes. Finally, Paul invites listeners to take part in recorded discussions about the episodes. If you’d like to receive an advance podcast and share your reflections on air, get in touch. Links * Educating Everyone by Anthony Benedict - Educating Everyone: An Introduction to Relational Inclusion in Schools [https://www.routledge.com/Educating-Everyone-An-Introduction-to-Relational-Inclusion-in-Schools/Benedict-Braven/p/book/9781032874838] * Anthony’s Substack on relational inclusion - Anthony Benedict | Substack [https://anthonybenedict.substack.com/] * Trauma Informed Schools UK - Trauma Informed Schools UK [https://www.trauma-informed.uk/] * The Nine Steps to Executive Headship — publishing end of 2026

Step 1: Building one vision with Anthony Benedict

Series 1: The Nine Steps to Executive Headship Episode 1 — Step 1: Building a Vision (with Anthony Benedict) In this episode, Paul Ainsworth speaks with Anthony Benedict, CEO of Ambition Community Trust and former Executive Headteacher of Tameside PRU. Anthony is also the author of Educating Everyone and a leading voice on relational inclusion. Together, they explore Step 1: Building a Vision — how Executive Heads create a clear, values‑driven vision across multiple schools, and what it takes to make that vision lived rather than laminated. Anthony shares his personal “why,” shaped by years working with disadvantaged pupils and a desire to change the system from within. He reflects on stepping into Executive Headship during Covid, leading two PRU centres while also working to reduce permanent exclusions across the local authority, and realising how much he still had to learn. The conversation covers practical strategies including developing a 100‑day plan, investing in meaningful CPD, and building a culture rooted in relational inclusion. Anthony explains how he co‑constructed policies with staff, introduced daily regulation routines, and created Relational Inclusion Champions to support pupils at risk of exclusion. This episode offers a powerful look at how clarity, humanity and moral purpose can shape leadership across complex settings. ---------------------------------------- Key Themes * Finding your personal “why” * Leading across multiple sites * The role of a 100‑day plan * Trauma‑informed and relational practice * Moving from behaviour policies to relational policies * Co‑constructing culture with staff * Daily regulation routines * Relational Inclusion Champions * Creating a trust‑wide vision that is lived, not laminated ---------------------------------------- About the Guest Anthony Benedict is CEO of Ambition Community Trust, serving PRU and SEMH schools across Greater Manchester. A former mainstream English teacher, head of department, deputy head and headteacher, he moved into Executive Headship to make a deeper impact on vulnerable young people. He is the author of Educating Everyone and writes a widely read Substack on relational inclusion. ---------------------------------------- Timestamps 00:00 — Introduction 01:20 — Anthony’s “why” 03:30 — Leading more than one school 06:00 — CPD that shapes leadership 08:20 — Becoming Executive Head of Tameside PRU 10:30 — Balancing two centres and LA‑wide work 12:00 — The 100‑day plan 14:00 — Building a trust‑wide vision 16:00 — Guiding principles and relational inclusion 20:00 — Bringing the vision to life 23:00 — Co‑constructing culture 25:00 — Daily regulation routines 27:30 — Relational Inclusion Champions 30:00 — Staying grounded as a leader ---------------------------------------- Links * Educating Everyone by Anthony Benedict - Educating Everyone: An Introduction to Relational Inclusion in Schools [https://www.routledge.com/Educating-Everyone-An-Introduction-to-Relational-Inclusion-in-Schools/Benedict-Braven/p/book/9781032874838] * Anthony’s Substack on relational inclusion - Anthony Benedict | Substack [https://anthonybenedict.substack.com/] * Trauma Informed Schools UK - Trauma Informed Schools UK [https://www.trauma-informed.uk/] ----------------------------------------