Tes Magazine Leadership Forum

A series of guides and interviews to help education leaders at all levels hone their skills and gain access to world-class expertise

Monday

3rd Nov 2025

My Week As... head of an international school in Japan
The principal of Kyoto International School discusses his typical week – from one-to-ones with teaching staff to recording video newsletters and aiming for early Friday finishes
Matt Topliss Kyoto

Friday

10th Oct 2025

How the global ‘polycrisis’ is changing school leadership
A combination of global social, economic and environmental crises is changing the role of schools – but are we giving leaders the time, skills and resources to respond?
Two girls at school desk

Tuesday

7th Oct 2025

Nicole McCartney: ‘Good leaders don’t hold the stick over people’s heads’
In our How I Lead series, we ask education leaders to reflect on their careers, their experience and their leadership philosophy. This month, we talk to Nicole McCartney, CEO of Creative Education Trust
Nicole McCartney

Friday

3rd Oct 2025

Is your ego holding back your school’s progress?
The best school leaders can stop their pride from getting in the way of effective collaboration, says this international assistant head – but it’s easier said than done
Leaders ego can hold back schools

Friday

12th Sep 2025

Why external partnerships are now a leadership essential
School and trust leaders may see working with other settings as a drain on time and resources – but external partnerships are a lever for improvement and sustainability in challenging times, says this academic
Couple on tandem bike

Monday

8th Sep 2025

My week as...CEO of St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust
In our ‘My Week As’ series, a senior sector leader reveals what a typical week looks like in their role. Here, we talk to Chris Foley, CEO at St Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Academy Trust
Chris Foley

Tuesday

2nd Sep 2025

Sir Jon Coles: ‘I don’t like the phrase impostor syndrome’
Our How I Lead series asks education leaders to reflect on their career, experience and leadership philosophy. This month, we talk to CEO of United Learning
Sir Jon Coles

Friday

29th Aug 2025

Why 20 years at a special school has been a joy and privilege
A teacher embarking on another year at a SEMH special school explains why we she fell in love with a challenging job – and keeps on coming back for more
Woman solving rubik's cube

Wednesday

27th Aug 2025

Becoming a headteacher: why I wanted to step up
A new head about to begin his first term in the hot seat reflects on why he wanted to make the move up at a time when leaders are under more pressure than ever
Baseball player at the plate

Monday

21st Jul 2025

4 ways to make the most of being an interim head
As his time at an international school in Mauritius comes to an end, Jonathan Taylor discusses the key ways a leader can have an impact during a short tenure
Model figures fixing bridge with jigsaw piece

Friday

18th Jul 2025

‘Thanks, teaching’: a love letter after a 36-year relationship
As she prepares to retire after almost four decades, MAT leader and former teacher Caroline Derbyshire pens a thank-you letter to a profession that has given her so much
Caroline Derbyshire: My love letter to teaching

Monday

14th Jul 2025

How to plan for change as a trust board
As Eko Trust and the Compass Partnership of Schools look ahead to a possible merger, the trusts’ leaders and trustees share what the process has taught them about how to plan for change
Paper arrow going forward