A Headteacher's Perspective

Stepping into Leadership Module 1 Unit 4 Understanding the School’s Vision, Values, and Culture

Vision isn’t the statement on the wall.

It’s how people behave when things get busy or uncomfortable.

This unit explores how leaders (at every level) shape culture through the small, daily choices they make — often without realising it.

Here’s the piece:

paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

The Psychology of Headship #4 The Headteacher as Emotional Container Holding staff, pupils, parents, and systems without absorbing everything

New article in my series The Psychological Work of Headship.

This one focuses on the headteacher as an emotional container — holding staff, pupils, parents, and systems without absorbing everything.

Part 4 here:
paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

DfE Decoded #66 Free School Meals and No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) A quiet but important update school leaders should be aware of

I’ve only just spotted this change to PPG on the DfE website from June 2025

There’s been a quiet change to FSM / Pupil Premium eligibility for families with no recourse to public funds. Easy to miss, but significant for schools and children.

paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode...

Global Insights #17 Norway – Inclusion, SEND, and Belonging by Design When Inclusion Is Not an Add-On, but the Architecture

Norway doesn’t ask how children with SEND can fit into schools.

It asks how schools should be designed so everyone belongs from the start.

This piece explores inclusion as architecture.

Global Insights #17

Norway: Inclusion, SEND, and Belonging by Design
🔗 paulurry68.substack.com/p/global-ins...

Leadership feels different when values and culture pull in the same direction.

This clip explores alignment — not as comfort, but as integrity.
The longer piece reflects on why misalignment drains energy.

full article:
paulurry68.substack.com/p/becoming-a...

Stepping into Leadership Module 1 Unit 3 Exploring Your Leadership Identity and Style

Leadership isn’t a performance.

This clip explores why self-awareness matters more than style, confidence, or authority when stepping into leadership.

Clip + full article here:
paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

Leadership grows when identity is understood.

I used to go to find useful stuff or systems for school, now I go to look at and compare ideas.

This year I'm on the hunt for data visualisation ideas and budget friendly science ideas/kit.

Cheers Tim!

Schools don’t just respond to what leaders decide.

They respond to how leaders carry emotion

This latest article in my psychology of headship series looks at emotional regulation as a core leadership skill—and why calm matters more than charisma in headship

paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

Heading to the BETT Show this Wednesday with a simple intention:

to discover what I don’t yet know that I don’t know.
If you’ve seen something genuinely useful or future-facing at BETT, I’d love your recommendations.

#BETT #EdTech #Education #SchoolLeaders #ProfessionalLearning

This week’s DfE Decoded covered four different areas of policy — reading, attainment, elective home education and children missing education.

Together, they point to the same leadership challenge: visibility, belonging and early support matter more than ever.

paulurry68.substack.com/s/dfe-decoded

Yes - it is an idea that should be taken up here. I know different states approach it in a variety of ways, but the value of it - and for teaching - is strong for wellbeing.

Global Insights #16 Australia – Teacher Workload, Wellbeing, and System Coherence When Good Intentions Become Heavy Systems

Australia’s education system offers a familiar lesson for England:teacher wellbeing doesn’t fail because people care too little

My latest global education insights piece explores workload, professional agency,and why wellbeing must be designed, not delegated

paulurry68.substack.com/p/global-ins...

Moral leadership isn’t about statements or slogans.
It’s about what leaders do when decisions are difficult, pressured, or unpopular.
Unit 2 explores leadership as a moral responsibility — lived daily through judgement, integrity, and courage.

New leadership unit for deputy heads.

This resource explores the head–deputy relationship as a professional partnership,built on trust,discretion,honest challenge, and alignment rather than agreement.

Available as a full learning package:
• Video
• Podcast
• Written article
• Accompanying workbook

Teaching is one of the professions that is both moral and intellectual

Module 1, Unit 2 explores how excellent teachers protect dignity while designing learning with precision, balancing care and challenge, compassion and clarity, every day in the classroom

paulurry68.substack.com/p/excellent-...

The Psychology of Headship #2 Why your inner world shapes every leadership decision you make

My latest piece in The Psychological Work of Headship.

Self-awareness before strategy — why your inner world shapes judgement, tone, and decision-making far more than we like to admit in school leadership.

paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

DfE Decoded | A Headteacher's Perspective | Substack Education policy moves quickly — and school leaders don’t always have the time to read every guidance document in full. This section breaks down the latest Department for Education updates into clear,...

DfE Decoded is published weekly on Sundays.
Clear, calm analysis of new DfE policy — written for school and trust leaders who want understanding.

Each one with a leadership reference, challenge and action guide

paulurry68.substack.com/s/dfe-decoded

DfE Decoded #56 Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill What This Legislation Really Asks of School Leaders

My DfE Decoded #56 unpacks the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill as a leadership issue, not a compliance one.
It reframes safeguarding, attendance and wellbeing.

There’s also a leadership reference sheet for heads and governors.

paulurry68.substack.com/p/dfe-decode...

Becoming a Future Head Module 1 Unit 1 Clarifying Your Core Leadership Values and Purpose

Before leadership becomes visible, it becomes personal.

Module 1, Unit 1 of Becoming a Future Head creates space to reflect on purpose, values, and what truly anchors leadership
Not techniques.
Not performance.

Just clarity of why — before questions of how.

paulurry68.substack.com/p/becoming-a...

Perspective #76 A Snow Day Away From Screens: Why This Is Thoughtful Leadership, Not Lost Learning When a school closes because of snow, leaders are often met with an unspoken expectation:

Looks like we will miss it this time. Last year we did this instead of online learning - children and parents loved it - we post pictures and videos online all day paulurry68.substack.com/p/perspectiv...

The Art of the Deputy Module 1 Unit 1 Defining the Deputy’s Role – Leadership through Influence, Not Title

Deputy headship is one of the most influential leadership roles in a school—but it’s often misunderstood

Module 1 of The Art of the Deputy Head explores leadership through influence rather than title

For deputies who want to lead consciously, calmly and well
paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

Stepping into Leadership Module 1 Unit 1 The Difference Between Management and Leadership

New leadership resource for teachers stepping into responsibility. Self or group study weekly course

This first unit explores the difference between management and leadership.

Available as:
• Video
• Podcast
• Written article
• Accompanying workbook
paulurry68.substack.com/p/stepping-i...

#13 The Art of the Deputy Why the deputy headteacher role is the toughest job in the school — and why it’s the glue that holds everything together.

forgot to say - this is still my most read article - it defines the role quite succiently

paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-art-of...

Headship | A Headteacher's Perspective | Substack Candid reflections and practical insights from the front line of school leadership. This section explores the realities of being a headteacher — the decisions, the pressures, the purpose, and the joy....

Congratulations! There are some articles here that I have written after being a head for 20 years that may be of use as you start. paulurry68.substack.com/s/perspectives

The Art of the Deputy | A Headteacher's Perspective | Substack Deputy headship is one of the most demanding — and most influential — roles in education. This section explores the realities of being second-in-command: from safeguarding and behaviour to curriculum ...

Congratulations Claire - I have written some articles that may be of use and am starting 'the art of the deputy' course on Thursday. Articles and more info here

paulurry68.substack.com/s/the-art-of...

Excellent Teacher Course Module 1 Unit 1 What makes a Great Teacher?

Today we begin The Excellent Teacher Programme.
An 8-module course with 5 units per module, released every Tuesdays.

Every unit includes a video, podcast, written article, and workbook.

A thoughtful, research-informed journey into excellent teaching.

paulurry68.substack.com/p/excellent-...

I’m starting a new series today: The Psychological Work of Headship
It explores the inner, often unspoken work of school leadership—pressure,decision-making,behaviour,mental health & sustainability

Why Headship Requires Psychological and Psychiatric Awareness
paulurry68.substack.com/p/the-psycho...

Perspective #76 A Snow Day Away From Screens: Why This Is Thoughtful Leadership, Not Lost Learning When a school closes because of snow, leaders are often met with an unspoken expectation:

If your school is closed with snow tomorrow, this is an invitation to think differently.

Shared story time, outdoor play, and family connection can be real learning — and thoughtful leadership — not a fallback from it.

paulurry68.substack.com/p/perspectiv...

I am starting a free 20 article series on the psychology of leadership on Monday 5th January - podcast and written

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