How many meetings do you have each week? How easy is it for someone to call a meeting? If your school is like many, probably "too many!" and "too easy". While meetings seem like an efficient way to keep everyone informed, they rarely are. Conversations meander. Attention

A school is essentially two things: people and decisions. An institution built, literally and figuratively, around its people and the decisions they make. The people are obvious: students, teachers, support staff, admin staff, parents, governors, and so on. Some decisions are

Don’t ask a barber whether you need a haircut. Don’t ask a car mechanic if a part needs changing. And don’t ask a real estate agent if it’s a good time to buy. As a leader you want good advice, but you need good advice from the right people. So, when asking for advice consider

A young teacher, aspiring to leadership, recently messaged me for career advice. I've reached an age where it's a question I'm often asked. It's both flattering and, well, ouch! Bruised ego aside, my advice is generally that you don't need advice, you need experiences. You don't

I can’t claim credit for this one—that honour goes to Jimmy Carr : “Students use AI to write essays. Teachers use AI to mark them. When those students graduate, AI gets the job.” A useful bit of wit and wisdom. It’s also helpful as a provocation; perhaps even as a conversation

Continuing the theme of wit and wisdom, another quote I can’t claim credit for: “You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.” (Charlie Monger) It’s one of those phrases that’s easy to nod at and much harder to live by. Because when tension rises—when a comment

To be an effective school leader, you have to believe that what you’re doing makes a difference—even while knowing that you might falter, stumble…perhaps even fail. That’s obvious, of course. We became teachers to make a difference. Yet, as every school leader knows, the

New Book 📣📖🔖📖📣 “A truly ground-breaking, empowering book and an essential read for any woman who ever felt overwhelmed by the competing demands made on her by society; any woman who sought love and found only disappointment; any woman who doubted she was strong enough to

What a list of names! 📋📋📋 Proud and honoured to be amongst them, and delighted to be on a panel at the 'Leeds Festival of Ideas 25' Leeds International Festival of Ideas Come join us: leedsinternationalfestival.com/programme/

It's that time of year 🛫🏖️🌇🏔️🛬 A time when many teachers are planning and packing for the BIG MOVE - the move to international school teaching. If that's you (or a friend/relative) don't forget to grab a copy of 'International Schooling: The Teacher's Guide'. It's full of

With new international school announcements emerging almost weekly, I’m resurfacing another old article that feels more relevant than ever. As the number of international schools grows, more markets are showing signs of saturation—or at least early-stage maturity. But how can

Teachers like to moan. So do school leaders. And they both like to moan about each other. There’s a lot of moaning. When you’re working in education—with all its emotional labour, policies, bureaucracy, and issues—it’s easy to become jaded with a school, perhaps even with all

"Where have all the good men gone?" Dr Stephen Whitehead warms up with Larry Budd ahead of the Leeds International Festival of Ideas Leeds International Festival of Ideas youtube.com/watch?v=GDv6ez…

Bangkok schools: Change management workshop available 6th Nov (maybe 5th pm). I'm there for Valentina David masterclass + Festival of Ed but got one day free. Workshop or strategy session with your leadership team? DM fast. Share with Bangkok mates!

After a decade living in SE Asia, sociologist Dr Stephen Whitehead expected a divided, declining Britain. What he found instead was a confident, multicultural nation—a country richer, fairer and far more interesting than the one he left behind. bit.ly/3JfPMvb

Why don't schools advertise like this iconic 1981 LEGO ad? It's brave, smart, sassy, and emotionally connected—celebrating real, messy childhood over glossy perfection. Time for honest education marketing? Thoughts? foxly.link/uiqYrc #EdMarketing #LEGO

As ever more international schools open (often for-profit), and as UK independent education evolves (increasingly into the hands of for-profits), I was going to repost an old piece on the ‘morality of profit’. But I reread it and, frankly, was embarrassed. Suitably shamed by what

As a writer today, everyone suspects AI — especially if you use ‘that’ dash... It’s the AI giveaway; it’s the sign of the times. But, the em dash has long been a habit of mine, and I don't intend to give it up. Read why here: foxly.link/nTrKqN

Japan’s heavy metal-loving Prime Minister is redefining what power looks like.. Read why here: foxly.link/uHt4Mv (Photo by Tianshu Liu on Unsplash)

Last minute Christmas gift? Some holiday reading? All our ebooks now discounted. The Wisdom of Heads - £1.99 International Schooling - £4.99 My Educated Life - £1.99 That's less than the price of a Starbucks, especially with the 'egg nog' add on. 🎄🧋🎅 amzn.to/4qbzKSJ