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Headship After Hours

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by Paul Collin

31 episodes

Updated Daily

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Podcast Overview

This podcast is for headteachers, executive heads and trust leaders who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process. I'm Paul Collin, former head and leadership coach. I talk about isolation, pressure, governing bodies, staff dynamics, attendance and the inner work of staying grounded. I also run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for heads in complex schools — for when attendance feels fragile and rests on too few people. Apply now → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/

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Publishing Since

2/12/2026

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Recent Episodes

July 3, 2026

Pressure Doesn't Break Schools. It Changes Leaders.

Pressure rarely arrives dramatically. It accumulates quietly.In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the most overlooked realities of school leadership: pressure changes leaders long before it changes schools. Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance. The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works. That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools. It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process:<ul><li>On-site school visit</li><li>Detailed, school-specific report</li><li>Follow-up strategy session</li><li>Practical leadership tools for a clear 90-day plan</li></ul> Typically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools.Apply here → <a href="https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/">https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/</a> As accountability, attendance, behaviour, staffing and parental expectations continue to increase, many leaders unknowingly shift from reflective to reactive leadership. Over time, that pressure changes relationships, decision-making, emotional regulation and ultimately the culture of the school. In this episode, we explore:• Why leadership pressure quietly reshapes school culture • Emotional regulation versus emotional suppression • Psychological safety and staff retention • Why behaviour and attendance improve when people feel safe • How leaders can create emotional predictability during challenging timesSchools don't simply respond to strategy.They respond to emotional climate.This episode is for headteachers, senior leaders and trust leaders who want to lead sustainably while protecting both themselves and the cultures they are building. Timestamps00:00 – Pressure Changes the Leader First 01:03 – Why This Podcast Exists 02:08 – Leadership Behaviour Shapes School Culture 02:52 – When Schools Begin Operating Through Anxiety 03:09 – Attendance and Leadership Alignment 04:12 – The Hidden Weight of Modern Headship 04:59 – How Pressure Changes Leadership Behaviour 05:52 – Why Schools Feel Pressure So Deeply 06:29 – Systems vs Emotional Culture 07:05 – Toughness Is Not the Same as Resilience 07:44 – Psychological Safety in Schools 08:12 – Schools Need Regulated Leaders 08:45 – Emotional Safety Changes Everything 09:07 – Emotional Containment Explained 09:51 – When Leaders Stop Processing Pressure 10:25 – Why Urgency Destroys Culture 11:06 – Leadership Drift Under Pressure 11:43 – The Question Every Leader Should Ask 12:02 – Schools Respond to Emotional Climate

June 26, 2026

Steve Willshaw: What Secondary Schools Miss About Reading

What do schools really know about their readers?In this episode of Headship After Hours, Paul is joined by Steve Willshaw to explore reading culture, literacy leadership, school transition and the importance of recognising the rich reading histories that pupils bring with them into secondary education. Most heads aren't short on effort when it comes to attendance. The harder truth: so much of it often rests on one or two people — and when that's the case, it never feels steady, however hard everyone works. That's the work I do. I run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for headteachers and trust leaders in complex schools. It starts with a short strategic assessment. For eligible schools, it opens into a full process: <ul><li>On-site school visit</li><li>Detailed, school-specific report</li><li>Follow-up strategy session</li><li>Practical leadership tools for a clear 90-day plan</li></ul>Typically valued at £1,000 — currently funded for eligible schools. Apply here → <a href="https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/</a> In this episode, Steve shares the story behind the nationally recognised Rooted in Reading project and explains why reading passports, transition work and intellectual equity matter more than ever in today's schools. Together, they discuss how schools can create stronger reading cultures, support literacy development and ensure that young people are not treated as blank slates when they move between phases of education. The conversation also explores Steve's four leadership pillars: • Radical Simplicity • Intellectual Equity • Relational Agency • Professional Craft Alongside a deep dive into Functional Fluency, coaching, behaviour, relationships and how educators can move from reacting to responding. This episode is for headteachers, literacy leaders, English teachers, curriculum leaders and anyone passionate about reading, equity and school improvement. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, culture, attendance, behaviour and sustainable school improvement. 00:00 – The Reading Histories Schools Miss 01:12 – Steve Willshaw’s Journey Into Education 03:03 – Inclusivity, Equity and Early Leadership Lessons 05:26 – Keeping Leadership Simple 06:43 – The Four Leadership Pillars 08:32 – The Story Behind Rooted in Reading 12:53 – Reading Passports and Literacy Culture 16:24 – Why Reading Transition Matters 19:30 – Professional Craft and School Context 20:31 – What Is Functional Fluency? 25:11 – Radical Simplicity Explained 26:20 – Intellectual Equity and Ambitious Curriculum 30:41 – Relational Agency in Schools 32:34 – Professional Craft and Teacher Development 36:32 – The Functionally Fluent Teacher 43:31 – Steve’s Advice for School Leaders 46:20 – Respond More, React Less #HeadshipAfterHours #Literacy #SchoolLeadership #ReadingForPleasure #EducationPodcast #SchoolImprovement #Curriculum #ReadingCulture #Transition #SteveWillshaw

June 19, 2026

The School Always Knows

Before attendance drops, before behaviour shifts, before staff morale declines, the school already knows.I am currently offering a funded £1,000 Senior Attendance & Leadership Review for headteachers navigating attendance pressure. It begins with a short strategic assessment. If eligible, this leads to a full review process including: • On-site school visit • Detailed, school-specific report • Follow-up strategy session • Practical leadership tools Apply now – <a href="https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/</a> In this episode of Headship After Hours, we explore one of the most overlooked aspects of school leadership: emotional climate.Schools are highly sensitive environments. Students, staff and families respond not only to systems and policies, but to leadership presence, consistency and emotional regulation.This episode explores why leadership is not just strategic — it is atmospheric.We discuss:• How schools absorb leadership emotionally • Why culture changes before leaders notice • The role of trust, consistency and psychological safety • Why behaviour and attendance often reflect emotional climate • How leaders unintentionally transmit pressureSustainable school improvement is not just about systems.It is about creating a culture where trust, stability and emotional consistency can thrive. Timestamps 00:00 – Before the School Tells You, It Knows 02:43 – Schools Are Emotionally Sensitive Systems 03:20 – Leadership Presence vs Leadership Strategy 03:57 – The Signals Leaders Transmit 04:42 – How Culture Changes Quietly 04:58 – Why Trust Starts to Erode 05:15 – Emotional Problems vs Operational Problems 05:33 – Systems Are Interpreted Through Culture 05:57 – Children Experience Systems Through Relationships 06:17 – Students Detect Inconsistency Fast 06:55 – Leadership Is Atmospheric 07:14 – What Pressure Does to Leaders 07:32 – When the Weather Changes in a School 07:48 – Why Psychological Safety Matters 08:28 – Leadership Is More Than Formal Moments 08:48 – The Power of Micro Interactions 09:25 – Schools Stabilise Through Predictable Leadership 09:44 – The School Always Knows 10:20 – What Emotional Climate Are You Creating?

31 total episodes available

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What is Headship After Hours?: This podcast is for headteachers, executive heads and trust leaders who want to lead well without losing themselves in the process. I'm Paul Collin, former head and leadership coach. I talk about isolation, pressure, governing bodies, staff dynamics, attendance and the inner work of staying grounded. I also run a funded Senior Attendance & Leadership Resilience Check for heads in complex schools — for when attendance feels fragile and rests on too few people. Apply now → https://atrejwhi.formester.com/f/hwL9GCyin/
How often does this podcast release new episodes?: This podcast updates daily.
Where can I listen to this podcast?: This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
Does this podcast accept guests?: Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.

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