Being The Head Podcast By Creators Jacqui Le Maitre and Jane McNally cover art

Being The Head

Being The Head

By: Creators Jacqui Le Maitre and Jane McNally
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A podcast that lifts the lid on school leadership, its pressures, its pitfalls, and the price we pay for keeping it all together. Comments so far.... "listening to this podcast has been a real game changer for me. It captures the real high and lows of being a head." "Ive just listened to your amazing podcast. It resonated so much and I felt like I was with you in the conversation." "Keep up the good work." "Thank you for investing your time in your leadership podcast. It has really resonated with me." "Its a great listen." "Your podcast is incredibly important. "Creators Jacqui Le Maitre and Jane McNally
Episodes
  • Episode 35 Leading Effective Transition What Great Schools Do to Support Pupils, Staff and Families with Michelle Windridge and Glen Duggan Seville

    Episode 35 Leading Effective Transition What Great Schools Do to Support Pupils, Staff and Families with Michelle Windridge and Glen Duggan Seville
    Mar 23 2026
    Leading School Transitions with Confidence and CompassionNavigating transitions in schools isn't just about logistics it's about understanding the emotional and relational shifts that students, staff, and families experience. Leaders who recognize transition as a ongoing process can create a more supportive and resilient school community.In this episode:Why school transitions are often misunderstood as single events, when they are ongoing processesThe impact of transition on vulnerable pupils, including SEND and disadvantaged studentsHow leadership approaches can reduce uncertainty and build trust during key transition pointsPractical strategies for early communication with parents and inter-team collaborationThe significance of relationships, environment, and continuity over pure curriculum changesInsights on continuous provision into year one and its influence on engagement and independenceThe importance of mapping vulnerability and readiness from early years to key stage threeHow to manage the emotional and social aspects of year six to seven transitionsThe role of systemic adjustments and relational plans in strengthening transition phasesStrong Foundations: A Framework for Transition in SchoolsResearch on Self-Regulation and Engagement Michelle Windridge - LinkedIn | TwitterGlenn Duggan - LinkedIn | TwitterTimestamps:00:00 - The hidden emotional side of school transitions00:31 - Transition as an ongoing process, not a single event01:05 - Leadership as infrastructure: understanding pressures and reducing anxiety02:12 - Grounding in UK evidence: transition points and pupil confidence03:00 - Disruption and mental health: the impact of transition vulnerabilities03:42 - Critical early transitions: reception to year one and supporting SEND pupils04:37 - Building readiness: from early years to key stages05:26 - Protecting vulnerable children during early transitions06:23 - The challenges of speech, language, and SEN needs in early years07:16 - Debates around continuous provision in year one and its effects on engagement08:36 - Strategies for implementing effective continuous provision models09:24 - Using clear markers and tracking to support smoother transitions10:47 - Managing increasing expectations 11:43 - The importance of relational rather than purely curriculum-focused transition12:00 - Misjudging transition: pedagogy, environment, or relationships?13:37 - The role of adult attachment and building trust with children14:50 - Building staff relationships 16:19 - The debate around cohort-specific continuous provision approaches17:16 - Impacts on behavior and engagement 18:36 - The importance of milestones and structured pacing at key transition points19:39 - Mapping vulnerabilities 20:38 - Clarifying expectations21:43 - Engagement and self-regulation22:13 - The risk of poorly executed continuous provision in Year 123:13 - The influence of curriculum focus 24:29 - The resource implications and the need for gradual implementation25:51 - Balancing standards with children's well-being27:44 - The challenge of low starting points 28:34 - The understanding shift needed for subject-based continuous provision in Year 130:05 - Transition from Year 3 to Year 430:43 - Mapping and supporting vulnerability across all primary years32:36 - Building inter-year and inter-stage understanding through moderation35:37 - The emotional component of transition38:22 - Preparing Year 6 pupils 39:00 - Developing independence 41:15 - Systematic approaches to transition44:17 - The importance of passing on children’s learning stories, not just attainment data47:22 - Transition as a process, not a single event51:22 - Top tips: examining transition models and eliminating wasted time52:29 - Systematic adjustments: embedding relational plans across transitions53:10 - The role of leadership in containing uncertainty 54:14 - The importance of continuous reflection 54:42 - Closing remarks
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    48 mins
  • Episode 34 The Power of Reflective Supervision in Education

    Episode 34 The Power of Reflective Supervision in Education
    Mar 16 2026

    Episode 34 The Power of Reflective Supervision in Education Leadership


    In this episode, Jane and Jacqui explore the crucial role of reflective supervision for school leaders, especially around safeguarding, emotional resilience, and leadership culture. Featuring insights from Corine a leader who has implemented supervision practices, the discussion highlights how creating protected spaces for reflection can transform leadership, improve decision-making, and foster a healthier organisational culture.

    Key Topics

    • The distinction between supervision, line management, HR support, and coaching
    • The importance of protected reflective spaces for leaders handling complex safeguarding issues
    • How supervision supports emotional wellbeing and decision-making clarity
    • The impact of supervision on leadership culture, staff retention, and safeguarding effectiveness
    • Practical steps for schools and trusts to introduce reflective supervision
    • The cultural shift needed to normalize supervision within education systems
    • How supervision enhances confidence in safeguarding judgments
    • The benefits of internal versus external supervision for safeguarding professionals
    • Future prospects: expanding supervision awareness across teacher training and leadership development

    Timestamps:

    00:00 - The hidden emotional toll of leadership and why reflective supervision matters
    02:00 - Differentiating supervision from line management and HR support
    03:15 - The existing gap in protected spaces for school leaders compared to social care
    04:50 - How leaders manage risk and safeguarding internally without support networks
    06:43 - Corine’s journey into supervision: from self-reliance to external support
    08:09 - Differences between coaching, HR support, and reflective supervision
    10:34 - The significance of dedicated thinking time for leadership clarity
    13:00 - How supervision influences complex safeguarding decision-making
    15:10 - Emotional processing in safeguarding and its effect on judgment
    16:12 - The role of supervision in safeguarding consistency and staff wellbeing
    18:59 - The low awareness of supervision in the education sector and the importance of cultural change
    20:41 - Building a culture of supervision within organizations for better safeguarding and staff support
    24:39 - How supervision fosters open culture, safe challenge, and collaborative problem-solving
    28:34 - The impact of supervision on staff retention, recruitment, and overall organizational health
    30:10 - Summarising what supervision uniquely offers leaders
    33:07 - The need to embed supervision in teacher training and professional development
    38:03 - Key reflections: earlier understanding of resilience, vulnerability, and human-focused leadership
    40:48 - The societal shift needed to normalize conversations about vulnerability and wellbeing in leadership
    41:03 - Practical first steps for organisations to introduce supervision
    44:05 - Final call: embedding supervision as part of leadership infrastructure, not crisis support

    Resources & Links

    • Talking Heads Reflective Supervision
    • Corine Van Barneveld - LinkedIn
    • Being the Head Podcast
    • Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

    Connect with Corine Van Barneveld:

    • LinkedIn
    • Talking Heads

    Note: This episode emphasises that reflective supervision is a vital, yet underutilised, tool in education leadership that supports safeguarding, emotional health, and organisational culture. Encouragement is given to embed supervision at all levels to create resilient, well-supported leaders and staff.
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    35 mins
  • Episode 33 Leading Across Generations with Gemma Scotcher.

    Episode 33 Leading Across Generations with Gemma Scotcher.
    Mar 9 2026

    generational tension, school leadership, team dynamics, emotional intelligence, flexible working, staff retention, workplace culture, psychological safety, leadership training, educational leadership



    Summary


    This conversation explores the complexities of leading diverse teams in educational settings, focusing on generational tensions, emotional intelligence, and the importance of creating a supportive culture. The speakers discuss practical strategies for implementing flexibility in the workplace, the significance of psychological safety, and the need for clear expectations to foster a positive work environment. They emphasize that effective leadership is not just about managing age differences but about designing a culture where all staff can thrive and contribute to high-quality outcomes for students.



    Takeaways


    Generational tension often stems from differing expectations rather than age.

    Effective leadership requires understanding and navigating diverse career stages.

    Cultural dynamics can lead to performance issues if not addressed.

    Emotional intelligence is crucial for leaders to manage team dynamics.

    Flexibility in the workplace should be designed with clear principles.

    Creating a supportive culture involves open communication and shared accountability.

    Psychological safety allows for difficult conversations and growth.

    Leaders should be aware of their own biases and triggers.

    Clear expectations help prevent misunderstandings and resentment.

    Investing in leadership training is essential for sustainable school improvement.


    sound bites


    "Fairness is about consistency in principles."

    "Make your expectations really explicit."

    "Design flexibility, don't negotiate it."



    Chapters


    00:00 Understanding Generational Tensions in Schools

    03:31 Navigating Leadership Across Different Career Stages

    07:54 Cultural Dynamics and Performance Issues

    12:41 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

    16:39 Implementing Flexibility in the Workplace

    20:59 Creating a Supportive Leadership Culture

    25:49 The Importance of Psychological Safety

    30:37 Practical Tips for Effective Leadership
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    49 mins
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