Embracing Pragmatism in Teaching, Coaching, Wellbeing… and Life

When I became a doctoral researcher 14 years ago, one of the first steps to examine my ontological and epistemological assumptions. Sorry,…

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs: Embracing New Perspectives for Personal and Professional Growth

We all have beliefs about ourselves that shape our thoughts, actions, and ultimately, our careers and lives. Some of these beliefs serve us…

The Values Compass: A Guide to Personal and Professional Alignment

In our journey through our careers and lives, we often find ourselves at crossroads, facing decisions that shape our personal and…

Sarah on a patio in the sun.

Removing OFSTED Single-Word Judgements. What Is the Big Deal?

A guest blog by Sarah Hussey. For a brief time, this morning (2nd September), the news headlines about the immediate changes to OFSTED…

Black and white photo of Harry and his child looking out at a lake.

Beyond Boundaries: Embracing Co-Parenting with Dad’s Co-Pilot

A guest blog by Harry Lock. As a dad, I've learned firsthand the profound impact our relationships have on our children. It's not just…

Grit and Growth: The Joys of Girls’ Football

I'm proud of my first non-teaching-related piece in a long time, so re-blogging it here. Originally posted here:…

Portrait photo of Sarah Hussey looking out of a window.

Self-limiting Beliefs

A guest blog by Sarah Hussey. Performance coaches, ADHD coaches, executive coaches, in fact all coaches, spend a lot of time exploring the…

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The Art of Letting Go

A guest blog by Aini Butt. The biggest mistake we make is when we put terms and conditions on the act of letting go; that in itself is a…

Sarah and Holly on holiday by the sea.

ADHD – A Woman’s Story

A guest blog by Sarah Hussey. The day that Holly got her ADHD diagnosis was bittersweet to say the least. She was 28 years old and we were…

Julie wearing a pink jumper eating afternoon tea.

Headship – A Few Tips to Help You Rise and Thrive

A guest blog written by Julie Cassiano. Follow Julie on X (Twitter) @julie_cass1. Firstly, a huge congratulations on securing your first…

Real Lives of Teachers and School Staff: Navigating the Highs and Lows of Schools Today. A New Book!

What’s it really like to work in schools today? How do the ‘critical incidents’ in our lives and our work influence our sense of identity…

Portrait photo of Helen Stevenson

We Can Never Be Employers of Choice Until We Promote Being a Sector of Choice

A guest blog by Helen Stevenson. Helen (a former teacher and MAT Executive Leader) is the Founding Director of Satis Education which deals…

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Clarity, Connection and Coaching

Dr Emma Kell in conversation with Sarah Hussey. Reflections on her recent health scares, tips for current school leaders and the power of…

Sarah Hussey sat outside with her dog.

Possibilities and Perspective

A guest blog by Sarah Hussey. Possibilities and Perspectives or What You Get When You Begin to Heal. My little blog, How Headship Broke My…

Classroom desk with books piled on top and a backpack hanging from the chair.

What It’s Also Like to Be a Teacher

This blog is reproduced here with permission. Written by Ian McDaid on his blog on 15th May 2023. Preface from Emma I’m constantly struck…

A day in the life of a teacher

I teach part-time in an Alternative Provision setting - all of these things have happened, just not all in the same day. I have blurred…

Painting of a red water Lilly with green leaves.

Muddy Waters

A guest blog by Aini Butt. ‘Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the…

Portrait photo of Sarah Hussey looking out of a window.

How Headship Broke My Heart

A guest blog by Sarah Hussey. Preface by Emma Kell Presenting to large groups of people is (and arguably, should always be)…

Shards of broken glass scattered on the floor

Shards

A guest blog by Aini Butt. You seek validation from the mirror, a forced smile to please its reflection. Your tears blurring your vision, a…

Portrait photo of Abigail Grey.

My Response to the Plan

A guest blog by Abigail Gray. The day before the new SEND Improvement plan was published, I was at the Outstanding Schools Conference at…

Large banner images of women in old fashioned dresses

A Day in the Life of a Happy Vice Principal

A guest blog by Madeleine Fresko-Brown. There’s a lot of negativity in discourse around education at the moment. Times are tough, and it…

Young women with her hands on her head looking stressed.

Holding Your Breath Until Wednesday Lunchtime

A guest blog by a headteacher who wishes to remain anonymous. As a school leader I read lots of tweets and talk to lots of colleagues about…

The View Down the Mountain

Here in England, October half term has finally arrived. If you're feeling shellshocked, numb, grumpy, irritable and/or as if you've been…

Painted portrait

The Reality of Life as a Woman with ADHD

A guest blog by Krystina Cheshire. I have such a fear of letting people down. Sometimes I feel like I'm seen as a problem by other people…

Kerry and Cruz as superheroes in a fiery landscape

Having It All

A guest blog by Kerry Rice. Mums can't have it all, yet we continue to try.... to work like we don't have children and parent like we don't…

Magnifying glass on a desk in front of two open books.

A Tale of Two Ofsteds

An anonymous guest blog. In the last 12 months I have had the pleasure (not always) of working in two comparable schools within the same…

Portrait of Sarah Hussey

The Joy of Headship

A guest blog by Sarah Hussey. Teaching is tough, headship is hard – those of us who work in education know these things to be true! As a…

Kintsugi bowl

Golden Seams

A guest blog by Aini Butt. We live in a world where achievement is applauded not the progress itself; beauty standards are set by the…

Olivia Taylor stood outside black and gold gates of public building

Don’t Call Me ‘Disadvantaged’

A letter from the little girl who grew up. A speech by Olivia Taylor.

Three Flamenco dancers. Two in red dresses and one in yellow.

Matter over Mind: Trusting Your Body

A guest blog by an anonymous Early Career Teacher. Most of my education and my upbringing focused on the mind. School, sixth-form,…

Finding My Work-Life Balance as a New Teacher

A guest blog by an anonymous Early Career Teacher (ECT) I’m coming to the end of my first year of teaching – it’s had its ups and downs,…

Abigail Grey portrait with painting of fruit tree in background.

Missing My Stop

A guest blog by Abigail Gray. In my second year of Deputy Headship, on the first day of the Easter Holidays, I found a lump in my…

Aurora portrait

Leadership Unmasked

A guest blog by Aurora Reid. It’s time I wrote about my own mental health…. Actually, I started this blog in December so it’s really time I…

Rumi quote - These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.

Learning to Unlearn

This blog is reproduced here with permission. Written by Aini Butt on her blog Aini's Reflections on 9th June 2022. “Why do you do this to…

Baby picture of one of Emma's children

On feelings of failure – and redefining success

This photo was taken fourteen-and-a-half years ago. It's of our eldest daughter. The transition to parenthood had been as tough as it was…

Teaching with my eyes shut written on a blackboard

Teaching with my eyes shut

A guest blog by Sarah Ruse – Eyes Shut Teacher @eyesshutteacher. I’ve been teaching in Scotland for over 12 years now having changed career…

Dad holding toddler up in the air.

Fatherhood and the Struggles of Teaching

This blog is reproduced here with permission. Written by Michael Nott @MrNott117 on his blog stealingbiscuitsiswrong? on 26th April 2022.…

A selection of red and green apples and a measuring tape.

The Greed Behind Starvation

A guest blog by Mae, aged 16. The female body; a beautiful, life-creating hub of a soul, made to seem disgusting by male-run corporations…

Large eagle doing a stupid walk.

A stupid walk for my stupid mental health

A guest blog written by Emily Ashton @Emilyjashton. It’s a lovely misty morning, warm enough for a light jacket and I am going for a short…

Inna, English teacher in Ukraine

What’s life for children in Ukraine in May 2022?

Insights from Inna, an English teacher in Ukraine. Please get in touch if you have messages, pictures or thoughts to share with Inna’s…

Woman opening a door

‘Leave your lives at the door’. WHAT TOSH. A rant.

I have been lucky enough to connect with a vast number of UK teachers in the last few years. Of these, a significant minority have been…

Emma holding her book

Serendipity, audacity… and bloody hard work. Becoming a published author.

Every time I think I’ve responded to all the messages about the book launch, I blink and there are 15 more. I’m realising that, like the…

Woman Leaping

Vertigo, Valiance and Vin: a leap into the unknown

It’s a while since I’ve blogged about myself. I’m so used to having a goal, an audience and an aim, but the wonderful Georgia Holleran…

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