Strategy

Today

13th Feb 2026

Why schools should ‘date’ MATs before a long-term commitment
Writing ahead of Valentine’s Day, one MAT leader explains how his trust gives schools plenty of time to see whether there is chemistry and compatibility before they take the plunge
School bell with roses

Thursday

5th Feb 2026

Creating a school culture where children want to be
Giving pupils a sense of belonging is key to improving attendance – and we can do this through designing a welcoming school culture, says this trust leader
Primary classroom pupils

Monday

2nd Feb 2026

Holistic education must be designed - not left to chance
If we want students to leave school with truly meaningful experiences and skills, we must ensure that these are built into school life in a logical, structured way
Students in school with blueprint overlay

Friday

30th Jan 2026

Parent anxiety is creeping into classrooms - here’s how to counter it
One deputy head reflects on why parents are growing increasingly anxious for their children – and says the best solution is more discomfort, not less
The Scream
5 leadership lessons from a year at the top
One year on from starting his first job as a headteacher, Tomas Duckling reflects on the key things he has learned – from the importance of laughter to always focusing on the ‘main thing’
View from Burj Khalifa

Thursday

29th Jan 2026

Your choices as a leader matter - but implementation matters more
School leaders fall into the trap of thinking that introducing a new approach will fix a problem – but often it isn’t the approach itself that is the issue, writes Thomas Kent
Colour swatches on wall

Wednesday

28th Jan 2026

4 pillars for a thriving resourced provision in schools
A headteacher who has had a resourced provision unit in her school for almost 20 years reflects on the fundamentals to ensure it’s a success
Students walking between pillars

Friday

23rd Jan 2026

The power of local collaboration to boost outcomes
Chair of The Education Exchange West Midlands explains how the collaboration was formed, how it works and, crucially, its impact so far
Jigsaw piece with people on top

Wednesday

21st Jan 2026

How agile working can streamline trust strategy
A MAT leader explains how the ‘sprints’ he used in his background as an IT director have helped to improve working practices for the schools in his trust
Agile working strategy

Tuesday

20th Jan 2026

What if... the DfE became the Department for Children again?
As part of our thought experiment series, trust CEO Owen Jenkins asks whether a broader remit for the Department for Education would help to solve the persistent issues in schools
Children running in field

Monday

12th Jan 2026

My week as... head of the oldest international school in the Philippines
The head of Brent International School in Baguio talks about a typical week leading the school she has worked in for over 20 years, where she started as a substitute teacher
My week as
Our journey to 5 ‘exceptional’ Ofsted outcomes
The principal of one of the first schools inspected under the new Ofsted framework reflects on how the report it received reflects seven years of hard work
How our school achieved 5 'exceptional' Ofsted outcomes