In this episode, we sit down with Gemma Gwilliam, head of digital learning, education, and innovation at the Portsmouth Education Partnership. Gemma shares insights into her unique role, leading the implementation of a digital strategy across all 62 schools in Portsmouth - a city where every school, whether part of a trust or local authority, is united under the same partnership.

She reveals her creative approach to leveraging technology in and beyond the classroom, explaining how she builds collaboration and gets everyone on board with her vision. Gemma also opens up about a pivotal moment in her career: a challenging lesson observation that almost made her leave education, and how it has shaped her professional journey. She discusses her forward-thinking ideas on using technology to transform lesson observations, and how schools and trusts can better support neurodivergent staff.

Additionally, Gemma shares her perspective on the controversial ban of mobile phones in schools, explaining why she disagrees and how technology can be a powerful tool for supporting neurodivergent students.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry.

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Gemma, visit her LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we chat with Phil Denton, former headteacher, leadership coach, and author of The First 100 Days: Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses, for an engaging discussion on leadership and the fascinating parallels between education and football management.

Phil shares the story of how his chance meeting with former Tranmere Rovers and Dundee United manager Micky Mellon sparked the idea for his book. What began as a casual conversation between a school headteacher and a football manager soon turned into a collaborative journey of exploration. Together, they met with top football managers, consulted experts, and explored the psychological, sociological, and philosophical principles behind effective leadership.

Phil reflects on his own experience as a new headteacher in Liverpool, comparing the lessons he learned to those shared by some of the Premier League’s top managers, including David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Pep Guardiola. He emphasises the importance of discovering your personal leadership purpose and offers actionable advice on how to achieve and sustain success.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry.

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Phil, visit his LinkedIn profile.

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Ellie Potter, Content Marketing and Social Media Lead at The Key

Phil Denton, former headteacher, leadership coach, and author of The First 100 Days: Lessons In Leadership From The Football Bosses.

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All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

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In the first episode of our series, we speak with Chris Goodall, Head of Digital Education at Bourne Education Trust, about his pioneering work in integrating AI across 26 schools.

Chris shares his strategies for getting staff on board with AI, offering practical tips and insights into how he conducts training sessions. He provides real-life examples of how AI is being used within the trust to reduce workloads, enhance teaching and learning, and drive leadership innovation.

Throughout the episode, Chris discusses both the risks and rewards of AI in education, including its impact on the digital divide. He also tackles the big question: Is AI a threat to the teaching profession? And, what might classrooms of the future look like?

In addition to his expertise in digital education, Chris opens up about his personal leadership journey, from lessons learned during his life coach training to his adventurous trek to Mount Everest's base camp.

At The Key, we're also excited to introduce our new AI feature, KeyGPT, which can assist schools and trusts in the ways Chris highlights in the episode. With KeyGPT, you’ll get personalised responses in seconds - whether it’s drafting a letter to parents, crafting questions for a staff meeting, or solving a complex timetable issue.

Try KeyGPT for free by signing up for a trial at key.sc/keygpt-trial.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry.

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Chris, visit his LinkedIn profile.

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Ellie Potter, Content Marketing and Social Media Lead at The Key

Chris Goodall, Head of Digital Education at Bourne Education Trust

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All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

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In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Jeffery Quaye OBE, national director of education, standards, and quality at Aspirations Academy Trust. Dr Quaye brings a wealth of experience from his decades-long career in education, which began as a classroom teacher and has taken him to a national leadership role. He talks candidly about the challenges and opportunities he encountered along the way, and how his commitment to being a lifelong learner has shaped his approach to education.

We delve into some of the most pressing issues facing schools today, starting with the critical role education plays in breaking down barriers to social mobility. Dr Quaye explains how high expectations and strong leadership can help students from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential, while also discussing the specific strategies schools and trusts can implement to close the attainment gap.

The conversation also focuses on student behaviour and the rise in exclusions in England. With permanent exclusions at a record high, Dr Quaye shares his perspective on why exclusion should not be the default disciplinary measure and how schools can approach challenging behaviour in a more constructive way. He explains the importance of understanding the underlying causes of behaviour issues and emphasises that improving the quality of teaching and learning can have a profound impact on how students engage and behave in the classroom. We explore alternatives to exclusion and how schools can create environments that promote positive behaviour while maintaining high standards.

Parental engagement also emerges as a key theme in our discussion. Dr. Quaye reflects on how schools can better involve parents in their children’s education, particularly when dealing with behavioural issues or supporting students who may be struggling. He highlights practical approaches that schools can take to build stronger partnerships with families, which can be a crucial factor in both academic success and pupil wellbeing.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry.

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Dr Jeffery, visit his LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we sit down with Frances Akinde, an author, SEND expert, and co-founder of the BAMEd SEND hub, to explore the most pressing issues facing SEND provision in schools today. Frances shares her personal journey from classroom teacher to headteacher of a special school, reflecting on the challenges she faced and how they shaped her work as a leader in SEND.

Throughout our conversation, we address the impact of ongoing funding cuts on the quality of SEND support across UK schools. Frances offers her insights on how these financial constraints are affecting both students and staff, particularly SENCOs, who often bear the brunt of resource limitations. We discuss the long-term effects that these funding challenges may have on inclusive education, and how school and trust leaders can mitigate these impacts.

Frances also shares her thoughts on how trusts can better support SENCOs, ensuring they receive adequate training, resources, and mentorship. She emphasises the importance of consistent and equitable SEND provision across schools and explores strategies to ensure that even under financial pressure, schools can continue to deliver high-quality support to their most vulnerable students.

In addition to SEND, Frances speaks passionately about the need for anti-racism in education. She explains the importance of viewing school data through an equitable lens and offers practical steps that trust leaders can take to ensure data-driven decisions promote fairness for all students. We also touch on her upcoming book, Be an Ally, Not a Bystander, which focuses on teaching children about discrimination and promoting allyship. Frances provides actionable advice for trust and school leaders on how to embed these lessons into a school's ethos, ensuring that anti-racism is not just a policy, but a lived value across the school community.

Finally, we look ahead at the future of SEND and inclusive education. Frances shares her vision and ideas for a more equitable education system and the role school leaders must play in driving these changes, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or needs, has the opportunity to thrive.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry.

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Frances Akinde, visit her LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In the first part of this 2-part episode, we speak with Stephen Steinhaus, CEO of Solihull Alternative Provision Multi-Academy Trust, to dive into his remarkable journey and the groundbreaking work his trust is doing for its students. Stephen shares how his unique background, from an American footballer living in Chicago to an educator living in the UK, has shaped his approach to education leadership, bringing creativity and resilience into a system that urgently needs a new way of thinking.

We discuss the challenging circumstances that lead students to join the MAT, many of whom have faced significant struggles in both mainstream education and their personal lives. Stephen opens up about the trust’s unique approach to alternative provision, combining academic rigour with pastoral care and therapeutic support to create a “game changer” for students who don’t fit the mould of traditional schooling.

In this episode, Stephen also sheds light on the shocking statistics around outcomes for alternative provision students. He explains how the trust is working tirelessly to change these realities by giving students the support and skills they need to thrive. We also explore the alarming rise in permanent exclusions across England, and Stephen shares his perspective on why the education system is struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable students, especially in the face of budget cuts and overstretched resources.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry 

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Stephen Steinhaus, visit his LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Anita Notta, CEO of The Khalsa Academies Trust, who shares her inspiring leadership journey and the strategies she used to transform a struggling trust into a success story. Anita took on the role of CEO at a time when the trust was under a ‘notice to improve’ from the Department for Education (DfE), with serious concerns about its performance. In just over 14 months, Anita and her team closed off the notice, turning around the trust’s trajectory. In our conversation, she opens up about the challenges she faced, the rapid changes she implemented, and the leadership qualities that helped her overcome them.

Anita highlights the importance of building networks as a CEO and trust leader, particularly when facing external challenges. With no formal handover when she first stepped into the role, Anita had to quickly establish relationships with key stakeholders, including the DfE, local authorities, and other external partners. She shares practical advice on how to build developmental relationships with external organisations and why these networks are critical to long-term success. We also explore how professional relationships and effective communication with stakeholders helped strengthen the trust’s position and improve outcomes for the students and staff involved.

A key theme in our discussion is Anita’s approach to leadership, specifically what it means to be a "vulnerable leader." Anita believes that embracing vulnerability and authenticity as a leader has been essential to her success, especially in times of crisis. She shares her thoughts on why being open and transparent with her team and stakeholders has helped build trust and resilience within the organisation. Anita also talks about the importance of mindset, explaining how cultivating a strong, positive outlook enabled her to navigate difficult community challenges and internal organisational shifts.

Whether you’re looking to turn around an underperforming school or seeking advice on building effective professional networks, this episode is packed with insights from a leader who’s been through it all. 

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry.

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Anita Notta, visit her LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In part 2 of our conversation with Stephen Steinhaus, CEO of Solihull Alternative Provision Multi-Academy Trust, we delve deeper into the challenges and changes shaping alternative provision and mainstream education today. If you missed part 1, we recommend catching up for context on Stephen’s unique journey and his experience in founding the MAT.

In this episode, Stephen sheds light on the troubling rise in permanent exclusions across schools, examining the factors driving these numbers and the need for a more supportive, integrated approach. We discuss how mainstream and alternative settings can build stronger partnerships to support students facing challenges in traditional school environments, offering practical strategies for collaboration that can benefit students, staff, and families alike. Stephen emphasises the importance of an adaptable, student-centred approach that meets young people where they are- rather than expecting them to conform to a one-size-fits-all model.

We also tackle the current recruitment crisis in education, a challenge impacting both mainstream and alternative provisions nationwide. Stephen shares his thoughts on why the teaching profession is struggling to attract and retain talent and what he thinks needs to change to encourage more young people into the profession.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry 

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Stephen Steinhaus, visit his LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Oliver, managing director at Ark Start, as she shares insights into Ark’s mission to transform early years education. With a deep commitment to making high-quality early education accessible for all, Katie brings her expertise to discuss Ark Start’s unique approach to supporting young learners and their families.

Ark Start is at the core of Ark’s 10-year strategy, focusing on creating early education programs that go beyond traditional childcare. Katie explains what makes Ark Start unique: from its emphasis on affordability and high standards to its year-round, community-focused operations. She shares how Ark Start nurtures each child’s development with a robust early learning model, ensuring that education, rather than just care, is at the heart of each nursery. Katie also highlights Ark Start’s emphasis on early intervention, as qualified staff are equipped to identify additional needs, providing crucial support from a young age.

We dive into Ark Start’s growth, with nurseries operating both inside and outside of Ark schools, and Katie talks about the opportunities and challenges of expanding Ark Start’s community reach. She shares the importance of balancing Ark Start’s unique identity while drawing on Ark’s broader values and resources, and what it means to create a supportive and consistent experience across all settings.

Katie also addresses current challenges in the early years sector, including the recruitment crisis and the need for more qualified EYFS professionals. She discusses Ark’s strategies to recruit and retain talent, and how the DfE’s recent push for more early years staff might support the sector’s growth. For other education leaders, Katie offers practical advice on building a sustainable, impactful early years model that prioritises both accessibility and excellence. Join us for this conversation as Katie unpacks Ark Start’s journey, vision, and what lies ahead in the mission to provide every child with the best possible start.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry 

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Katie Oliver, visit her LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this week’s episode, we welcome Neil Miley, the newly appointed CEO of Mercia Learning Trust, who shares a unique glimpse into his journey through his first 100 days in leadership. With a career rooted in education and a dedication to supporting staff and students alike, Neil reflects on the challenges and successes he’s encountered as he transitions into his role. We delve into Neil’s observations on building trust and cohesion among senior leaders and staff, his approach to understanding Sheffield’s educational landscape, and the adjustments he’s making to foster a supportive, innovative culture at Mercia.

Neil shares his experiences and insights from transitioning from Dixons Academies Trust to Mercia, comparing the distinctive cultures and strategies of each, including ground breaking initiatives like the 9-day working fortnight at Dixons. We explore whether similar flexible working policies could be on the horizon at Mercia and the importance of adapting leadership practices to fit community needs and local contexts.

In our conversation, Neil also reveals the impact of documenting his first 100 days - highlighting his reflections on establishing a leadership style, creating open communication channels, and developing a vision for sustainable, internally-driven growth at Mercia. Moving away from Ofsted-driven decisions, Neil shares his vision for fostering an educational environment that prioritises the growth and development of students and staff alike, beyond external frameworks and metrics.

Whether you're an educational leader, aspiring CEO, or someone passionate about trust leadership, this episode offers an honest look into what it takes to lead with vision, balance, and community awareness.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry 

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about Neil Miley, visit his LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In the final episode of series 1, we’re joined by James Pope, former headteacher and founder of HeadsUp4HTs, an innovative support network for school leaders. James reflects on his journey in education, including the challenges he faced as a first-time headteacher in a school grappling with systemic issues and a ‘Special measures’ grading from Ofsted which eventually led to his resignation - an experience captured in the BBC documentary series School.

Together, we delve into some of the most pressing issues facing education today including how to improve headteacher wellbeing, why education seems to have lost its sense of purpose, and what can be done to align schools with the rapidly evolving world outside the classroom. James shares insights on the common struggles of senior leaders, the role of MATs and LAs in supporting staff, and practical strategies for fostering wellbeing in school communities.

We also tackle larger systemic challenges, including the pressures of Ofsted, funding constraints, and a curriculum that doesn’t always cater to the full spectrum of students. James presents a vision for a more inclusive, purpose-driven education system that values broader measures of success and supports both student and staff wellbeing.

Tune in for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation that closes out series 1 with a bold call to action for the future of education.

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry 

Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters.

To find out more about James Pope, visit his LinkedIn profile.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

We’re kicking off Series 2 with a powerful conversation on a topic that often dominates school and trust leadership today: attendance.

Joining us is Jayne Lowe OBE, a national adviser to the Department for Education on attendance, behaviour, safeguarding, and education in youth custody. Jayne was instrumental in developing the Working Together to Improve School Attendance guidance and brings decades of experience as a teacher, headteacher, local authority leader, and trust board trustee.

In this episode, Jayne gives us a clear-eyed overview of the national attendance picture, explains why visible leadership is essential in shifting culture, and outlines what it means to build an ‘attendance-drenched’ environment. We explore the practical steps trust and school leaders can take to create calm, safe, and high-expectation spaces – even when facing complex barriers like SEND, mental health, or disengagement post-COVID.

From using data more effectively and rebuilding trust with families, to addressing term-time holidays, and the balance around rewarding attendance – this episode is packed with practical insights, strategic thinking, and real-world examples leaders can apply right away.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Jayne Lowe OBE on LinkedIn: Jayne Lowe OBE

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we shine a light on why younger, more diverse voices are essential at the governance table. Our guest is Ellie Gadsby, a 26-year-old trustee at Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust, and a former student of the same school. Ellie joined the board in 2022 and brings a unique combination of lived experience, professional insight, and a deep understanding of her community.

In a conversation full of honesty and inspiration, Ellie explains what it actually means to be a trustee in a multi-academy trust, how the opportunity came about, and why she believes it’s vital for boards to reflect the communities their schools serve. She speaks openly about navigating imposter syndrome, balancing her trustee role alongside her legal career, and what she’s learned from working with more experienced board members.

We also explore how young professionals can bring fresh thinking to decision-making, how schools and trusts can open up governance roles to more diverse candidates, and why inclusivity isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s essential for effective leadership. Ellie’s story is a compelling call to action: for boards to become more future-ready, for schools to create real pathways into governance, and for young people to recognise their potential to lead.

This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in governance, leadership, or curious about how to build more representative and purposeful trust boards.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn: Ellie Gadsby

In this episode, we’re joined by Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard, a writer, speaker, and school workshop leader on a mission to spark brave, honest conversations about masculinity, coercive control, and gender-based violence.

As toxic ideas from the online manosphere infiltrate classrooms and popular culture, and with Netflix’s Adolescence bringing national attention to the issue, Bernie’s work has never been more urgent. His powerful workshops draw on personal experience, including the story of his sister, to help young people question harmful beliefs and build empathy.

We explore how schools and trusts can engage boys without blame, the importance of who delivers PSHE messages, and the practical steps leaders can take to create safe, inclusive school environments. Bernie also shares insight on navigating conversations around masculinity, helping pupils recognise coercive behaviours, and how to support parents in tackling digital influences at home.

From developing a gender-balanced curriculum to rethinking how we teach empathy, this episode is essential listening for trust and school leaders determined to lead change.

Please note: This episode includes references to domestic violence, coercive control, misogyny, and gender-based violence. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, a list of organisations is provided below:

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

NSPCC

Women’s Aid

Refuge

Respect

Galop

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn: Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

Ofsted’s new inspection framework marks one of the biggest shifts in education in a generation – but what does it really mean for schools and trusts?

In this special bonus episode of Trust Matters: Lessons in Leadership, Ellie speaks to Sir Martyn Oliver, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, about his ambition to build, in his words, “the most human version of Ofsted yet.”

Together, they explore:

• How Sir Martyn’s years leading schools in challenging contexts have shaped his approach to inspection
• Why he describes the disadvantage gap as “the problem of our time”
• The move from a single overall effectiveness grade to more nuanced judgments
• What it means to see vulnerability as a state, not a trait, and why belong, achieve, thrive runs through the framework
• How inspectors are being asked to use context, dialogue and professional curiosity to reduce “big reveal” moments
• What healthy “Ofsted readiness” looks like and what Ofsted is doing to reduce unnecessary stress for leaders and staff

This is a rare chance to step inside the thinking of the person leading Ofsted’s reform and to hear, in his own words, why “Ofsted must help, it mustn’t hinder” if the system is to serve all children, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

We’re closing series 2 of Trust Matters: Lessons in Leadership with a timely and powerful conversation with Leora Cruddas CBE, Chief Executive of the Confederation of School Trusts (CST) – and one of the most influential voices in the sector today.

Leora helps us make sense of the current political, fiscal, and policy landscape. We explore what effective leadership looks like in a time of economic and geopolitical uncertainty, and why values-based decision-making has never been more important.

Drawing on her own powerful personal story and career journey, Leora offers a compelling case for strategic, resilient, and deeply human leadership. She shares what gives her hope for the future of the sector – and how trust leaders can help create the conditions for every pupil and adult in the system to truly flourish.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Leora Cruddas CBE on LinkedIn: Leora Cruddas CBE

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode of Trust Matters: Lessons in Leadership, we’re joined by Laura McInerney – former teacher, education journalist, and co-founder of Teacher Tapp, the daily survey app used by over 10,000 teachers across the country.

Laura’s journey has taken her from East London classrooms to national commentary and now into the heart of teacher voice and data. With her unique perspective, we dive deep into the realities behind the stats: what teachers are really saying about workload, retention, behaviour, flexibility, and workplace culture.

We explore surprising insights from the data, emerging challenges school leaders may not yet see coming, and the urgent changes needed to make teaching sustainable and joyful again. From early career lessons to raw messages from the profession, Laura shares reflections every trust and school leader needs to hear.

If you want to understand what’s really driving teacher stress – and how leaders can act on it – this episode is essential listening.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Laura McInerney on LinkedIn: Laura McInerney

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we’re joined by Becci Owen, Assistant National Mental Health Lead at Oasis Community Learning – one of the largest trusts in the country. With a background in teaching, safeguarding, and emotional wellbeing, Becci now helps lead a multi-disciplinary mental health team supporting pupils, staff, and families nationwide.

Becci shares what it really takes to create a meaningful, sustainable, and scalable mental health offer – and the leadership mindset needed to make it happen. From using a “Mental Health Matrix” to understand needs, to supporting staff beyond signposting, to engaging families in meaningful ways, this episode is full of practical strategies trust leaders can use right now.

We also explore how trusts can measure impact, avoid tokenistic training, support emotionally based school avoidance, and foster reflective practice across their CPD offer.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: https://key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: https://key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Becci Owen on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

Welcome to Series 3 of Trust Matters: Lessons in Leadership - the podcast where we explore the big ideas, challenges and lived experiences shaping the future of trust and school leadership.

We’re opening the series with a powerful and timely conversation about one of the most urgent issues facing education today: how we make teaching an attractive, sustainable profession again.

Joining us is Baroness Mary Bousted, Chair of The Teaching Commission and one of the most influential voices in education. Mary began her career as an English teacher before moving into teacher training and, ultimately, union leadership. She went on to serve as Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, representing more than half a million members, and has been a tireless advocate for teachers’ working lives, professional autonomy and wellbeing.

In this episode, we explore the findings of the Teaching Commission’s Shaping the Future of Teaching report, which reveals the scale of the recruitment and retention crisis - including the fact that 40% of teachers leave the profession within 10 years, and that it now takes 10 new teachers to replace every 7 who leave.

Mary reflects on her leadership journey, what she learned leading one of the UK’s largest unions, and what continues to drive her sense of purpose. We dig into the roots of excessive workload, the role of leadership culture in staff wellbeing, the impact of poverty and shrinking public services on schools, and why flexible working must become a serious part of the conversation.

This is a thoughtful, challenging and deeply informed conversation about leadership, trust, and what it will really take to rebuild teaching as a profession people want to stay in.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Mary on LinkedIn.

Read Mary’s book: Support Not Surveillance: How to solve the teacher retention crisis

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we’re joined by Sufian Sadiq, Director of Talent and Teaching School at Chiltern Learning Trust, and a national voice on equity, diversity and inclusion in education.

Sufian shares his journey from growing up in Luton to leading teacher development, recruitment and retention across a trust that has bucked national trends - and explains why the “secret” isn’t a single perk or policy. It’s people. Specifically, the everyday behaviours of leaders and line managers, and whether staff feel they belong, are supported, and are treated well.

We explore:

• Why retention lives and dies in the relationship between a staff member and their line manager
• What it means to be a “good egg” leader  and why you can’t just assume everyone is
• How Chiltern Learning Trust has strengthened recruitment through a community-first approach
• Why diversifying the workforce can’t be a numbers game, and what meaningful equity looks like in practice
• How networks shape who gets opportunities and how Sufian’s Racial Equity Network dinners are changing that
• Sufian’s perspective on the rise of extremism, normalised racism and political polarisation - and the responsibility of schools in responding to it

This is a powerful conversation about leadership as service, building belonging, and creating cultures where talented people want to stay and thrive.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Sufian on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we’re joined by Bradley Busch, co-founder of InnerDrive and a leading voice on the science of learning, memory and evidence-informed practice in education.

Bradley draws on his background in elite sport and educational psychology to unpack why so much of what feels like good learning often isn’t, and how understanding memory, cognitive load and thinking can radically improve classroom practice. He also explores some of the biggest and most contested issues facing schools right now, including mobile phones, AI, behaviour and assessment, through a research-informed lens.

We explore:

• Why memory is the residue of thought, and what this means for teaching and learning
• Common misconceptions around revision, studying and “effective” learning strategies
• What the evidence says about banning mobile phones in schools
• How AI can support performance, but undermine learning if it replaces thinking
• Behaviour, expectations and what research suggests really improves classroom culture
• Homework, assessment and fairness in an age of AI-generated work

This is a thoughtful, evidence-rich conversation for trust and school leaders who want to cut through noise and want to make more confident, evidence-informed decisions about teaching and learning.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Bradley on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

Only around 1% of headteachers in the UK are Black. What will it take to change that and what does leadership really look like when you’re one of the few?

In this episode, we’re joined by Nadine Bernard, headteacher, author and founder of Aspiring Heads, and a national voice on inclusive leadership, representation and belonging in education.

Nadine reflects on her journey to becoming one of the youngest Black headteachers in the UK, sharing the realities of stepping into leadership early, navigating visibility and bias, and leading a school through significant transformation to achieve strong outcomes. Drawing on her experience turning around a previously closed school, she explores how high expectations, inclusive culture and relationship-centred leadership can work together to deliver both belonging and achievement.

We explore:

• What stepping into headship at 31 taught her about leadership, visibility and resilience
• The non-negotiables she put in place to lead school turnaround and sustained improvement
• Why belonging and relationships sit at the heart of behaviour and pupil success
• Balancing compassion, nurture and strong academic outcomes
• The systemic barriers facing aspiring leaders from under-represented backgrounds
• What meaningful allyship looks like in school leadership
• How leadership systems can better support sustainable careers, including motherhood and wellbeing

This is a powerful and reflective conversation for trust and school leaders who want to build inclusive cultures, support diverse leadership pathways and create schools where both staff and pupils can thrive.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Nadine on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we’re joined by Robyn Ellis, school and college trust leader at Dixons Academies Trust, whose career spans both global corporate leadership and education system transformation.

Drawing on her experience leading leadership development at Booking.com and now working across a major multi-academy trust, Robyn shares what education can learn from the corporate world, and where schools must lead differently. She explores how leadership systems, culture and organisational design shape staff experience, and why bold decisions — including removing job titles, introducing coaching-led performance development, and implementing a 9-day fortnight — can transform how organisations operate.

We explore:

• What education can learn from global corporate leadership development
• Why relationships, coaching and organisational health sit at the heart of effective leadership
• Dixons’ decision to remove traditional job titles and what it changed about culture and collaboration
• The thinking behind the 9-day fortnight for teachers and what has been learned about making flexible working viable in schools
• Why leaders should focus on protecting energy, not just time
• Leadership habits that matter most in high-pressure environments
• Why joy, purpose and mission are essential to sustaining leadership over time

This is a thoughtful and practical conversation for trust and school leaders thinking about leadership development, flexible working, culture and building sustainable organisations where both staff and pupils can thrive.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Robyn on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we’re joined by Cathie Paine CBE, Chief Executive of REAch2 Academy Trust, the largest primary-only trust in England.

Cathie has been part of REAch2 since the very beginning, joining as the trust’s first employee in 2012. Since then, she has helped grow the organisation from 4 schools to a national organisation of 65 schools across 20 local authorities, many of which joined the trust after experiencing significant challenges.

Drawing on more than 30 years in education, Cathie reflects on what it takes to scale a trust while maintaining a strong culture, clear purpose and unwavering focus on children. She shares lessons from leading school improvement at scale, why leadership remains the most important lever for transformation, and how Reach2 is working to ensure every child receives the best possible start in life.

We explore:

• How REAch2 grew from 4 schools to one of the largest trusts in the country while maintaining a strong sense of belonging and purpose
• Why leadership is the single biggest factor in school improvement
• The importance of early years education and why getting the foundations right changes outcomes for children
• What strong multi-academy trusts look like in practice and why culture matters as much as structure
• Cathie’s perspective on SEND reform and the opportunities and challenges facing schools
• Why REAch2 moved to GAG pooling and what it means for equity, sustainability and collaboration across schools
• How trust leaders can balance individual school identity with a shared organisational mission
• The thinking behind REAch2’s ‘11 Before 11’ promises and the experiences every child should have before leaving primary school
• Why school leaders should think beyond autonomy and embrace the opportunities of being part of something bigger
• Cathie’s vision for the next decade of REAch2 and the future of primary education

This is a thoughtful and inspiring conversation for trust leaders, school leaders and anyone interested in culture, school improvement, inclusion and what it takes to build a trust where every school can thrive.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport 

Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters 

Connect with Cathie on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we're joined by John Yarham, Chief Executive of The Careers & Enterprise Company, the national organisation working to help every young person access high-quality careers education, employer experiences and pathways into future employment.

With more than 25 years' experience across education, skills and careers, John shares his perspective on one of the biggest challenges facing schools today: preparing young people for a future of work that is changing faster than ever.

We discuss why traditional work experience placements are becoming harder to sustain, what a modern approach to work experience could look like, and how schools can help prevent more young people from becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).

John also explores the growing importance of essential skills, the role of confidence in career success, and how schools should respond to the opportunities and challenges created by AI.

We explore:

• Why the traditional work experience model is no longer enough
• Whether the government's ambition for every young person to complete 2 weeks of work experience is realistic
• How schools can build meaningful employer encounters from Year 7 onwards
• The early warning signs that a young person may be at risk of becoming NEET
• What schools with exceptionally low NEET rates are doing differently
• The barriers SEND students and pupils in alternative provision face when accessing work experience
• Why confidence is often as important as capability when preparing young people for employment
• What employers mean when they talk about "skills gaps" and the essential skills they value most
• How AI is reshaping the future of work and what schools should prioritise in response
• The importance of helping young people see opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings
• Why careers education should be embedded into a school's wider strategy, not treated as an add-on

This is a practical and thought-provoking conversation for trust leaders, school leaders, careers leaders and anyone interested in helping young people make successful transitions into education, employment and future careers.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport 

Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters 

Connect with John on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Becky Francis CBE, Chief Executive of the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and one of the leading voices in England on educational inequality and the attainment gap.

Across her career in research, policy and education leadership, Becky has focused on one central question: why do educational outcomes remain so closely tied to disadvantage – and what would it actually take to change that?

In this conversation, Becky reflects on what first drew her to this work, why the attainment gap remains so stubborn, and what it would mean for the system to genuinely treat closing it as its “north star”. She explains why high-quality teaching remains the single biggest lever schools have to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, but also why schools cannot tackle educational inequality alone when poverty, attendance, language development and wider family hardship sit outside the school gates.

We also explore the Curriculum and Assessment Review that Becky chaired, including the idea of “high standards for all”, the challenge of curriculum overload, and why England needs an education system that offers both excellence and equity.

We explore:

• What first drew Becky to the issue of educational inequality, and why it has remained central to her work
• Why the attainment gap narrowed for a period, but has since stalled and widened again
• What it would mean for closing the attainment gap to become the education system’s true “north star”
• Why high-quality teaching has the biggest impact on outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
• What great teaching looks like in practice – and the misconceptions schools need to avoid
• Why disadvantaged schools face a “double penalty” when it comes to teacher recruitment and retention
• What the evidence says about attracting and retaining excellent teachers in the schools that need them most
• Why early language development and early intervention are so crucial in tackling inequality
• How much schools can realistically do on their own when child poverty and wider disadvantage are driving educational outcomes
• What Becky has learned about the relationship between research, policy and political decision-making
• The key themes that emerged from the Curriculum and Assessment Review, including curriculum overload and the balance between breadth and depth
• What Becky means by “high standards for all” – and why different routes for disadvantaged pupils can risk entrenching inequality
• How the attainment gap grows from early years through to secondary school, and why acting early matters so much
• Why attendance is such an important part of the picture for disadvantaged pupils
• Looking ahead to 2035: what success would look like if England genuinely began to shift educational inequality

This is a thoughtful and timely conversation for trust leaders, school leaders and anyone interested in what the evidence really tells us about educational inequality and what it will take to build a system that delivers both excellence and equity for every child.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport 

Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters 

Connect with Becky on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we're joined by Michael Kane, Policy Manager at Public First and one of the lead researchers behind the Commission into Countering Online Conspiracies in Schools.

Drawing on new national research with pupils, parents and teachers, Michael explores the growing spread of misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy beliefs among young people, and what this means for schools.

From deepfakes and AI-generated content to online conspiracy theories and extremist narratives, schools are increasingly finding themselves on the front line of a rapidly changing digital landscape. As smartphones become more common at younger ages and social media continues to shape how young people consume information, teachers are being asked to navigate complex conversations that many feel underprepared for.

Michael shares insights from the Commission's latest report, including the impact misinformation is having on classrooms, the challenges teachers face when responding to false or misleading content, and why media literacy is becoming an increasingly important part of education.

We explore:

• Why young people are finding it harder than ever to tell what's real and fake online
• The growing influence of AI-generated content, deepfakes and misinformation
• What teachers are hearing from pupils in classrooms across the country
• Why misinformation and conspiracy theories are becoming a bigger issue in schools
• The impact smartphones and social media are having on younger children
• Why many teachers feel underprepared to tackle these conversations
• The challenges schools face around political impartiality and safeguarding
• What the latest updates to Keeping Children Safe in Education mean for schools
• The role parents play in helping young people navigate online information
• Why media literacy needs to be a whole-school priority
• What practical steps leaders can take to better support staff and pupils

This is a timely and thought-provoking conversation for trust leaders, school leaders and anyone interested in helping young people navigate an increasingly complex digital world.

LINKS

For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport 

Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters 

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn.

All views expressed in this episode are the guest’s own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.