Beyond the Status Quo

Jade Garratt- Psychological Safety, Power and Hierarchy

Summary In this episode of Beyond the Status Quo, Jade Garratt talks to Tamara and Kathryn about why psychological safety matters so deeply in education and more widely, in leadership. Drawing on her experience as a teacher, researcher and co-founder of Psych Safety, Jade reflects on the power dynamics, accountability pressures and cultural norms that shape whether people feel able to speak up, take risks and learn together. Jade challenges the idea that psychological safety is about comfort or “bringing your whole self to work,” instead describing it as the shared belief that it is safe to speak up with ideas, questions, concerns and mistakes. The conversation explores how fear, hierarchy and high-stakes accountability can silence innovation, while trust, curiosity and thoughtful leadership can create environments where people collaborate, experiment and improve together. Take Aways: · Psychological safety means feeling safe to speak up. · Strong teams learn through challenge and honesty. · Power dynamics affect whether people contribute. · Fear and accountability can silence innovation. · Leadership behaviours shape team culture. · Curiosity and questions reduce hierarchy barriers. · Collaboration creates safer professional learning. · Middle leaders can build safe team cultures. · Psychological safety enables reflection and change. · Schools should extend this mindset to adults too. Links: Psychological Safety: Workplace Training, Online Workshops and Consultancy - Psych Safety [https://psychsafety.com/] Reducing Power Gradients - Psych Safety [https://psychsafety.com/reducing-power-gradients/] https://psychsafety.com/making-it-safer-to-fail-in-teaching/ [https://psychsafety.com/making-it-safer-to-fail-in-teaching/] Making it safer to fail in teaching- article about Joint Practice Development ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Jonny Uttley- Despite the System, Not Because of It

Summary In this episode of Beyond the Status Quo, Jonny Uttley reflects on challenging systems, from his upbringing to leading schools and multi-academy trusts. He explores the tension between education’s moral purpose and a system that often works against inclusion and equity. Jonny argues that many schools deliver inclusive education despite the system, not because of it. He examines how accountability measures, competition and narrow definitions of success can leave young people behind, while calling for a more collaborative and community-focused approach. At the same time, this conversation is hopeful. Jonny highlights the power of courageous leadership, thought partnership and human connection, and challenges leaders to move beyond fear, competition and short-term metrics towards systems built on trust, belonging and shared responsibility. Takeaways: · Education should challenge the status quo, not reinforce it. · Inclusive leadership often happens despite the system, not because of it. · Competition and accountability measures can create barriers to inclusion. · Staff wellbeing is essential to improving outcomes for children. · Sustainable improvement comes from shared thinking, not imposed solutions. · Context matters, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to schools. · Leaders need to communicate the “why” behind change. · Collaboration during COVID showed what schools are capable of without high-stakes pressure. · Shared accountability across communities could transform outcomes for young people. · Relationships, trust and human connection remain powerful forces for change. Links: Jonny Uttley Education [https://jonnyuttleyeducation.com/] Jonny’s Substack | Substack [https://jonnyuttley.substack.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Will Richardson- Confronting Education with Cathedral Thinking

Summary: In this episode of Beyond the Status Quo, we are joined by Will Richardson, who challenges the very foundations of modern education through the lens of “cathedral thinking.” He argues that we are living in a “time between worlds” yet schools continue to prepare young people for systems that are already breaking down. Will invites us to confront an uncomfortable truth: education is not just out-dated; it is often complicit in creating the very problems it claims to solve. Rather than chasing quick fixes or superficial reform, he calls for deeper honesty, long-term thinking, and the courage to rethink what school is for. This conversation pushes leaders to move beyond short-term outcomes and instead imagine futures rooted in relationships, wellbeing, and sustainability — even if they take decades to build. It’s not about fixing the system. It’s about questioning whether it still deserves to exist in its current form.  Takeaways: · We are preparing young people for systems that may no longer exist. · Schools often prioritise reputation and performance over wellbeing. · Education is complicit in sustaining outdated and harmful models. · This is not a problem to fix, but a complex predicament to navigate. · Short-term thinking is limiting meaningful change. · Honest, uncomfortable conversations are essential for progress. · Leaders need to develop imagination, not just strategy. · “Cathedral thinking” challenges us to think in decades, not years. · Small acts of relational change still matter. · New stories are needed to make change visible and possible. Links: Confronting Education — Future Serious School [https://futureserious.school/] Confronting Education — The Manifesto | Future Serious School [https://futureserious.school/manifesto/] Future Serious | Will Richardson | Substack [https://futureserious.substack.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Nilema Bhakta-Jones - Courageous Leadership: A Daily Practice

Summary:    In this episode of Beyond the Status Quo we are joined by Nilema Bhakta-Jones who shares her journey of courageous leadership, discusses the importance of challenging the status quo, the role of psychological safety in leadership, and the need for creativity and play in the workplace. She emphasizes the significance of empathy and storytelling in leadership and highlights her work with Courageous Leaders and Empathy Week, aiming to empower marginalized communities through education. Nilema encourages listeners to embrace courage as a virtue that enables them to be their authentic selves and make a positive impact in their communities.  Takeaways:   ·      Courage is a daily practice that leaders must embody.  ·      Challenging the status quo often begins in childhood.  ·      Psychological safety is crucial for open communication in teams.  ·      Creativity and play can enhance leadership effectiveness.  ·      Empathy is a skill that can transform communities.  ·      Leaders must navigate tensions and competing ideas.  ·      Education systems need to foster critical thinking and creativity.  ·      Storytelling is a powerful tool for leaders.  ·      Courage can manifest in quiet, everyday actions.  ·      Supporting marginalized communities through education is vital.  Links: Courageous Leaders [https://www.courageousleadersevent.com/] Empathy Week 2026 is coming! [https://www.empathyweek.org/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ewan McIntosh- Cutting Through The Tosh: Learning and Leading in a New Era

Episode Summary In this episode of Beyond the Status Quo, Tamara and Kathryn are joined by Ewan McIntosh, founder of NoTosh, an international education consultancy, for a practical conversation about learning and leading in education. Drawing on his work with schools and systems across more than 70 countries and his cross-sector experience, Ewan challenges the status quo from a global vantage point, seeing first-hand that the world is changing rapidly, and that how we learn and how we lead must evolve just as quickly. Together, they explore what happens when schools and organisations focus on performative tasks instead of meaningful learning. Ewan unpacks his idea of “stupid questions”: including the ones that feel risky to ask but reveal hidden assumptions and blind spots. The conversation also tackles AI’s impact on assessment and curriculum design, not from a place of fear, but through the lens of redesign. Rather than rushing to control, they discuss how leaders can create the conditions for better thinking: prioritising judgement, originality, empathy and craft. Finally, they zoom out to what courageous leadership looks like under constraint: holding structure lightly, focusing on purpose that actually guides decisions, and putting people first so schools (and teams) can thrive. Key takeaways • AI increases performance optimisation; task design must protect learning. • Use AI to accelerate low-value work and make space for judgement and originality. • Creativity is learnable and strengthened through complementary teams. • Purpose should guide decisions and clarify what you won’t do. • People-first leadership creates the conditions for better outcomes. • Hold structure lightly, and focus on what you can influence. • Policy (and strategy) works better when designed around real users, not silos. • Sometimes asking the “foolish” question reveals the real problem. Links: Inspired Strategic Planning with Community at its Heart | NoTosh [https://notosh.com/] Leadership Lessons | Yestothemess [https://www.yestothemess.org/more-about-me] Lament - YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eek-qWg5LL0] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.