The School Leadership Podcast

What is professional supervision, and why are more school leaders turning to it for support?

In this episode in NAHT’s podcast series, James Bowen, NAHT assistant general secretary, speaks to Faye McGuinness, director of programmes at Education Support, about the role of professional supervision and the charity’s programme for school leaders.

They discuss the challenges school leaders bring to supervision sessions, from safeguarding concerns and difficult relationships to workload, school finances and inspections. They also explore how having a confidential space for reflection can help school leaders navigate these issues and the growing complexities of the role.
 
You can find out more about Education Support’s supervisionprogramme at educationsupport.org.uk/supervision.

What does a culture of belonging really look like in schools – and where should leaders begin? In this episode of NAHT’s School Leadership Podcast, we’re joined by Hannah Wilson, founder of Belonging Effect and a leading voice in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).

From ensuring adults’ experiences align with what we want for pupils to rethinking how schools communicate with their staff, this conversation offers practical insights and honest reflection for school leaders.

Hannah Wilson is the founder, director and lead trainer at Belonging Effect and led a workshop session at the Inspiring Leadership Conference earlier this month.

If you’re an NAHT member and are interested in the Amplifying Diverse Voices session on Tuesday 7 July, email policy@naht.org.uk. This is a unique opportunity bringing together NAHT’s networks in one space that will explore whose voices are heard in our profession, whose are missing and how we can work together to ensure all voices are not just included, but influential. Led by Bennie Kara and Hannah Wilson, it will offer a supportive space to reflect, build confidence, and develop practical approaches to allyship, advocacy and inclusive leadership.

Learn more about Belonging Effect’s DEIB calendar.

Hannah’s book, A Little Guide for Teachers: Cultivating Belonging in Schools, is available now.

Follow Hannah Wilson on LinkedIn.

For more insightful and engaging discussions on key issues in education and school leadership, explore NAHT’s online magazine ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leadership Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Experienced school leader Joanna Povall speaks to NAHT assistant general secretary James Bowen about the transformative power of kind leadership.

Sharing some candid reflections, she talks about how being honest, embracing feedback and recognising that ‘not everybody is like you’ can build trust, strengthen teams and create an inclusive school culture where everyone thrives.

Joanna’s book Kind Leadership: Leading schools with empathy, honesty and impact is available from Crown House.

For more insightful and engaging discussions on key issues in education and school leadership, explore NAHT’s online magazine ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leadership Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Following Ofsted’s consultation on its new inspection framework in early 2025, and its limited rollout later last year, the new framework has been fully in place for school inspections across England since January 2026.

Throughout this period, NAHT has consistently challenged the framework and highlighted the risks it poses to school leaders. Working both publicly and behind the scenes, the union has secured several important improvements – but significant concerns remain.

In this episode, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman discusses the impact of the new inspection framework so far, some of the challenges school leaders are experiencing, and NAHT’s ongoing work with Ofsted and the government to secure a fairer, safer system.

Find out more about NAHT’s campaign on inspection reform.

See NAHT's advice for school leaders around the new inspection framework.

For more insightful and engaging discussions on key issues in education and school leadership, explore NAHT’s online magazine ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leadership Focus⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Recent research suggests that nearly three million schoolchildren in the UK have experienced hygiene poverty in the past year. This means everyday essentials such as shampoo, toothpaste and laundry detergent have become unaffordable for their families.

The consequences are significant: hygiene poverty can affect confidence and the ability to learn, and in some cases lead to children avoiding school altogether. And while the wider causes of hygiene poverty require systemic solutions, we’re increasingly seeing school staff stepping in to support students and their families.

In this episode, Sam Wass, director of the Institute for the Science of Early Years at the University of East London, and Gemma Humphreys, senior campaigns manager at smol, join NAHT assistant general secretary James Bowen to explore how schools can recognise and respond to this issue. They discuss what to say (and what not to say), handling peer comments, protecting a child’s dignity, and how to have sensitive conversations with compassion and confidence.

The new smol hygiene poverty resource for school staff is available at smol.com/teacherresource.