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The Monthly Coach
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The Judge, Inspector and Inner Critic
Education is one of the most judged professions: the behaviour and results of the children; the WhatsApp groups of their parents; the support & challenge of governors; the book scrutinies, lesson observations and classroom drop-ins; staffroom whispers, open days, results days, press reports, social media and of course the inspections, both for schools, and soon for trusts. It is high-stakes, high-pressure, high-profile.
Nov 28 min read


Constructing Culture - October 2025
This month, as the whirlwind of the new academic year starts to settle, let’s take a moment to reflect on the culture that remains around...
Oct 15 min read


Energy in Motion - September 2025
Welcome back! I hope that you were able to make good use of the summer break, enjoying rest, recreation and reconnection in whichever ways work for you. In the same way, transitioning back to our “work self” is a highly personal experience: some will be chomping at the bit to get back into routine and crack on with the fresh challenges and opportunities of the new academic year; others will be reluctant and low, sad to leave their “summer self” behind as they start to feel th
Sep 15 min read


Working on your Self - July 2025
As the summer break approaches, education colleagues across the country will begin that familiar descent into the brief, but essential,...
Jul 14 min read


Team Meetings with Meaning - June 2025
As the academic year slips towards the post-exam reflection and planning space, many of us will be taking stock of what has worked,...
Jun 15 min read


Weighing-up Questions - May 2025
As we head into exam season, schools become focused, rightly so, on answers. For students, this is the time when their knowledge, recall...
May 16 min read


Magic Moments - April 2025
Spring is here, sprinkling dandelion yellow by our feet, blooming soft pink blossom overhead and piercing bright sunshine through the...
Apr 14 min read


Decisions, Decisions... - March 2025
If I asked you, "How many difficult decisions have you made so far this term?", I guess there would be too many to count, right? Responding to urgent student issues and parental complaints; challenging, appeasing and supporting colleagues; determining long-term strategy and short-term processes; judging the best way to communicate information and expectations to different stakeholders, and of course, allocating finite budget and resource to infinite requirements... the list g
Mar 26 min read


Re-Viewing Reviews - February 2025
It’s that time of year when line managers traditionally conduct mid-year reviews to assess staff progress against the targets set for...
Feb 35 min read


Optimism - January 2025
Meet Hugo. We brought home this 12-week-old Bernedoodle on New Year's Day. Having not lived with a dog before, there’s a lot to learn,...
Jan 45 min read


Grief, Comfort and Joy - December 2024
Christmas is often described as the most wonderful time of the year, a season of togetherness, celebration, and joy. For many, it is a...
Dec 1, 20246 min read


Careering Ahead - November 2024
We hope you’ve enjoyed your well-deserved half-term break and feel re-energised for the push to Christmas. As the year moves on, we invite you to pause and reflect - not just on the needs of others, whom you’re always serving - but on yourself, to consider a different perspective, regain a sense of control, realign with your purpose, and connect with your own potential. Before too much of the year gets away, let’s get intentional about your professional growth. Being forward-
Nov 1, 20245 min read


Watch That Door! - October 2024
And just like that, we are back into the thick of things! A never-ending to-do list, unexpected emergencies, tons of necessary admin...
Oct 1, 20245 min read


Family First - September 2024
Welcome back after your summer break! We hope you filled it with whatever brings you health and happiness. This transition from summer...
Aug 30, 20244 min read


Messy Experiments - July 2024
We’re all in the learning business, right? We all know that learning involves the discomfort of challenge, the fear of risk-taking and...
Jul 1, 20244 min read


Speak Up With Pride - June 2024
International Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969: a pivotal event in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. On that...
Jun 3, 20244 min read


Keep the Wheels Turning - May 2024
As exam and interview season are upon us, we are starkly reminded of the vulnerability of our organisation: our children’s outcomes rely...
Apr 29, 20244 min read


Gratitude - April 2024
"Rest and be thankful" - William Wordsworth As we break from the demands of school life, and the days get lighter, the air warmer and the...
Mar 31, 20244 min read


How Big is Your Umbrella? - March 2024
With Neurodiversity Celebration Week coming up on 18-24th March, let’s take this opportunity to reflect on not only how we create...
Mar 6, 20244 min read


Hate the way “self-love” sounds? - February 2024
“I hate the way “self-love” sounds. I hate that I need some right now. I hate this dumb self-love song. Cause I'm the only one I don't...
Feb 4, 20243 min read
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