@headrestuk.bsky.social
A free and confidential wellbeing support service for headteachers. Co-founders @RosMcM and @AndrewDMorrish. Contact us: HeadrestUK.co.uk Order our book: Beyond Belief: Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it https://amzn.eu/d/87irpSi
It was great getting the @headrestuk.bsky.social team together for a catch-up today.
Lots to discuss, but 5 key themes emerged based on calls received:
1. Ofsted
2. MAT toxicity
3. Finance
4. Parental complaints (AI)
5. Small schools
Look out for some blogs to follow on these.
Headrestuk.co.uk
📣 Out now!
Our 2026 Headteacher Wellbeing Report.
Download it from our website. Please share widely. 🙏🏼 t.co/9vAqtyW4Fr
Thank you @tesmagazine.bsky.social for your support.
Our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is an important read.
Published on our website next week.
➡️ And ICYMI here’s what we had to say last year. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/headtea...
Look out for our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report coming soon.
We make 8 recommendations based on the calls we received anonymously throughout 2025.
You won’t want to miss it. ⤵️
We continue to receive calls in regard to the new inspection framework. Call us in confidence if you need support and a friendly ear. It’s completely free.
Colleagues - we are beginning to get some feedback on these pilot inspections. It is helpful for us to know how things are on the ground in order to support. Please send us any information you you have.
Absolutely 👏👏👏
Our Team know how to enjoy themselves @rosmcm.bsky.social and @kennyfrederick.bsky.social #Shetland2025
@moonrakerteacher.bsky.social still taking calls while Ros and Kenny are getting very wet!
This sums up the stress and the joy we listen to everyday. Thank you @keziak70.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
We have written to the appointments commission jointly with @headsroundtable.bsky.social opposing the peerage nomination of Amanda Spielman.
We’ve also sent a copy to No 10.
You can download our letter and send it to your MP and the commission as well.
The HeadteachersRoundtable and Headrest are organisations who understand. Read their joint statement
@headsroudtable.bsky.social @headrestuk.bsky.social headteachersroundtable.wordpress.com/o
The reported nomination of ex-Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman for the House of Lords is ‘inappropriate’ and ‘insensitive’, @headsroundtable.bsky.social and @headrestuk.bsky.social tell the appointments commission
We will be issuing a joint statement with @headsroundtable.bsky.social later this afternoon.
We will also publish a letter for you to send to the House of Lords Appointment Committee and your local MP.
It will be available to download on our website blog. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog
We will publish details of the petition mentioned in this article in due course.
"As a profession, we need to learn how to hold ourselves & others to account for the quality of our work, rather than having constantly to rely on outsiders." @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social & the @headrestuk.bsky.social team in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @johncattedu.bsky.social
So important that all colleagues respond to this.
www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25
Take a look at the @headrestuk.bsky.social blog. It contains all of our annual wellbeing reports as well as posts from a range of guest bloggers all focussing on wellbeing.
If you want to explore humane and intelligent alternatives to a high stakes accountability system, then this book from @headrestuk.bsky.social is a good starting point.
Full of examples of how it could work, backed with international research, real examples and best practice.
Out now. ⤵️
Brilliant this from fellow Headrestian and former special school head @moonrakerteacher.bsky.social.
We are not happy with Ofsted. Here’s the follow-up to our response yesterday to the unworkable report card proposals.
Excellent response. Thanks @headrestuk.bsky.social
This is brilliant from @headrestuk.bsky.social colleagues @rosmcm.bsky.social and @julespg.bsky.social.
I think it speaks on behalf of many.
Please ensure this is spread far and wide.
Our response to the latest Ofsted proposals.
Part 2 tomorrow.
www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/missed-...
A very relevant chapter from the new book Beyond Belief by @headrestuk.bsky.social featuring @naht.org.uk and their 2018 Accountability Commission.
‘The way schools are being held to account was doing more harm than good.’
Sadly, it seems nothing will change.
Tonight our hearts go out to all affected by the tragedy in Sheffield. We are all those parents; we are all those teachers and students. Sometimes headship is an unbearable burden.
