Sustainable School Leadership

As the demands on UK schools intensify, how can we ensure that school leadership remains a viable and fulfilling career? In this episode, Dr Mike Collins and Professor Toby Greany are joined by education experts to unpack the findings of a major three-year study into the sustainability of school leadership. From the rise of "vexatious complaints" and online abuse to the critical need for better workforce data and local succession planning, we explore the policy shifts and systemic changes required to support headteachers across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The research emphasises that while leadership remains a uniquely rewarding career, systemic changes are needed to ensure its future sustainability. Key insights from the study suggest that the UK's leadership population 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 England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 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.  The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme. This is a Research Podcasts production.  You can read a transcript of the conversation here.   Episode Credits Presenter: Mike Collins, University of Nottingham Guests: Toby Greany, University of Nottingham, Baroness Mary Bousted, Teaching Commission, James Bowen, NAHT and Alison Mitchell, School Leaders Scotland Producer: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts  Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive 

In episode 3 of the Sustainable School Leadership podcast, Dr Mike Collins and Professor Toby Greany explore how the role of the headteacher has expanded far beyond traditional academic instruction to become a vital anchor of community care. The discussion examines how schools are increasingly operating as "community hubs," filling the gaps left by overstretched social services, mental health provisions and local authorities. The panel reflects on the profound emotional labour required to lead in this "new reality," where the boundaries between education and social work have blurred, and where the primary mission of a school often begins with ensuring the safety and wellbeing of its most vulnerable pupils. The conversation delves into the "ethical dilemma" facing modern leaders: how to balance the intense demands of an ethic of care with a national policy and accountability framework that still largely measures success through data and exam results. Experts discuss the rising complexity of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on school life, and the 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 that supports schools in their role as safe havens, 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.  The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme. This is a Research Podcasts production.  You can read a transcript of the conversation here.  Episode Credits Presenter: Mike Collins, University of Nottingham Guests: Toby Greany, University of Nottingham, Tony Gallagher, Queen’s University Belfast, Carolyn Roberts, PTI Producer: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts  Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive 

In this episode of the Sustainable School Leadership podcast, Dr Mike Collins and Professor Pat Thomson explore how the specific context of a school - its geography, history, and community - fundamentally reshapes the role of the headteacher. Moving beyond simple maps, the discussion reveals how "place" creates 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 of their school's front door. The conversation delves into the challenges of "policy blind spots," where national mandates often assume a uniformity that does not exist on the ground. Experts discuss 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 panel explores 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.  The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme. This is a Research Podcasts production.  You can read a transcript of the conversation here.  Episode Credits Presenter: Mike Collins, University of Nottingham Guests: Pat Thomson, University of Nottingham, Brigid Heron Principal Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt, Northern Ireland and Laurence Findlay, Aberdeenshire LA Producer: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts  Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive 

In the opening episode of the Sustainable School Leadership podcast, Dr Mike Collins and Dr Tom Perry delve into the personal and professional identities of those at the helm of our schools. The discussion explores the idea of leadership as a "vocation" and how a leader’s personal values, background and ethnicity fundamentally influence their resilience and approach to the role. By looking at the "human side" of the headship, the panel examines how leaders navigate the emotional weight of the job and why identity is often the anchor that keeps them grounded during times of intense systemic pressure. The research 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 discuss the importance of "community-anchored" leadership and the 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.  The project, and this production, is funded by the ESRC Education Research Programme. This is a Research Podcasts production.  You can read a transcript of the conversation here.   Episode Credits Presenter: Mike Collins, University of Nottingham Guests: Tom Perry, University of Warwick, Gurpall Badesha, ASCL and Caitlin Donnelly, Queen’s University Belfast  Producer: Alex Canner, Research Podcasts  Music: Jahzzar - Leith Walk, courtesy of Free Music Archive