SouthGlosHead
@southgloshead.bsky.social
Executive Headteacher. Head of Inclusion for Leaf Trust. Blog a bit. Author: Headteachering (published with Bloomsbury in Oct). Occasional speaker. Was Ultra Runner, now (bionic) cyclist.
Pinned
SouthGlosHead
@southgloshead.bsky.social
· May 26
Why we banned Smartphones
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” LP Hartley How will the school leaders of 2125 judge us? I have always been fascinated by what teachers a hundred year…
southgloshead.wordpress.com
NEW BLOG: How we banned Smartphones (and why we did). southgloshead.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/w...
Good to see Blackhorse’s DHT ‘on brand’ with her reading whilst out and about in New York! @bloomsburyed.bsky.social
October 26, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Good to see Blackhorse’s DHT ‘on brand’ with her reading whilst out and about in New York! @bloomsburyed.bsky.social
Two questions every school leader should be able to answer:
1. Why does my school exist?
2. How easy is it to be a good teacher at this school?
@bloomsburyed.bsky.social
1. Why does my school exist?
2. How easy is it to be a good teacher at this school?
@bloomsburyed.bsky.social
October 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Two questions every school leader should be able to answer:
1. Why does my school exist?
2. How easy is it to be a good teacher at this school?
@bloomsburyed.bsky.social
1. Why does my school exist?
2. How easy is it to be a good teacher at this school?
@bloomsburyed.bsky.social
HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has bought #HEADTEACHERING so far! More here from my Gen Z Social Media Marketing manager…
October 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has bought #HEADTEACHERING so far! More here from my Gen Z Social Media Marketing manager…
Been knocked off the top of the ‘School Governance’ chart by a much younger and much more handsome DHT’s new book. I feel like Cliff Richard having ‘Saviours Day’ knocked off #1 by Wham! And who buys a hard copy of the OFSTED framework?? That’s like been done over by Status Quo!!
October 18, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Been knocked off the top of the ‘School Governance’ chart by a much younger and much more handsome DHT’s new book. I feel like Cliff Richard having ‘Saviours Day’ knocked off #1 by Wham! And who buys a hard copy of the OFSTED framework?? That’s like been done over by Status Quo!!
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"..So hard as some days will be, remember that what you do matters deeply to our society. And then get on making your moment leading your school community sun shine brightly." Advice for school leaders, @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:55 PM
"..So hard as some days will be, remember that what you do matters deeply to our society. And then get on making your moment leading your school community sun shine brightly." Advice for school leaders, @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
Releasing the last set of posts from @southgloshead.bsky.social's new book today: 'Headteachering - A practical guide...with the mess bits left in', from @bloomsburyed.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
Hope those who have read them have found the advice & insights interesting & useful.
Hope those who have read them have found the advice & insights interesting & useful.
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Releasing the last set of posts from @southgloshead.bsky.social's new book today: 'Headteachering - A practical guide...with the mess bits left in', from @bloomsburyed.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
Hope those who have read them have found the advice & insights interesting & useful.
Hope those who have read them have found the advice & insights interesting & useful.
Huge thanks to Jill who had kindly (and voluntarily 😂) been bigging up the book over the last couple of weeks!
"..So hard as some days will be, remember that what you do matters deeply to our society. And then get on making your moment leading your school community sun shine brightly." Advice for school leaders, @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Huge thanks to Jill who had kindly (and voluntarily 😂) been bigging up the book over the last couple of weeks!
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"I absolutely love my job. It is the best job in the world. The relentless demands of the role are exciting… but they can also be all-consuming. So if you want to be doing the job happily, for many, many years, as I have, then you need to take your wellbeing seriously." @southgloshead.bsky.social 👇
October 13, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"I absolutely love my job. It is the best job in the world. The relentless demands of the role are exciting… but they can also be all-consuming. So if you want to be doing the job happily, for many, many years, as I have, then you need to take your wellbeing seriously." @southgloshead.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"..issue which has no good solution, only the least-worst one. So, as headteacher, you need to cultivate this relationship as you will rely upon it more than you think." @southgloshead.bsky.social is really good on governance, in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"..issue which has no good solution, only the least-worst one. So, as headteacher, you need to cultivate this relationship as you will rely upon it more than you think." @southgloshead.bsky.social is really good on governance, in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"..Governors offer a vital alternative perspective and are grounded in the communities which we seek to serve." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out now from @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
"..Governors offer a vital alternative perspective and are grounded in the communities which we seek to serve." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out now from @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"..So when it comes to having to make that difficult phone-call, there is at least some trust and good will to draw upon." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
"..So when it comes to having to make that difficult phone-call, there is at least some trust and good will to draw upon." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., @bloomsburyed.bsky.social 2/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"We as leaders need to know the mood in camp. Whether morale is good, bad or indifferent, unless we have access to this information we are forever working in the dark. So knowing this information is key to an effective & happy staff team" @southgloshead.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
October 10, 2025 at 3:08 PM
"We as leaders need to know the mood in camp. Whether morale is good, bad or indifferent, unless we have access to this information we are forever working in the dark. So knowing this information is key to an effective & happy staff team" @southgloshead.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"I am increasingly of the opinion that the most dangerous moment for any successful school is the year after a successful Ofsted inspection. I am also of the opinion that the second most dangerous moment for any successful school is following a run of good results." @southgloshead.bsky.social 👇
October 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
"I am increasingly of the opinion that the most dangerous moment for any successful school is the year after a successful Ofsted inspection. I am also of the opinion that the second most dangerous moment for any successful school is following a run of good results." @southgloshead.bsky.social 👇
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"If you are flying high on great results then long may it continue.
But keep your feet on the ground." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social TOMORROW!
But keep your feet on the ground." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social TOMORROW!
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM
"If you are flying high on great results then long may it continue.
But keep your feet on the ground." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social TOMORROW!
But keep your feet on the ground." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach..., out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social TOMORROW!
It’s the final countdown to #HEADTEACHERING 9/10!
October 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
It’s the final countdown to #HEADTEACHERING 9/10!
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"...and that this research has never been more easily accessible to educators." Absolutely, @southgloshead.bsky.social. I started teaching in 1980, so I feel this even more acutely! (And I remember my own secondary schooling in the 70s.) I think of this whenever anyone lambasts education today. 2/2
October 6, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"...and that this research has never been more easily accessible to educators." Absolutely, @southgloshead.bsky.social. I started teaching in 1980, so I feel this even more acutely! (And I remember my own secondary schooling in the 70s.) I think of this whenever anyone lambasts education today. 2/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"There is no such thing as ‘best practice’, only ‘best bets’. Leaders need to carefully look at the available evidence to decide whether the proposed change will have the desired impact in their setting." @southgloshead.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 7, 2025 at 5:54 PM
"There is no such thing as ‘best practice’, only ‘best bets’. Leaders need to carefully look at the available evidence to decide whether the proposed change will have the desired impact in their setting." @southgloshead.bsky.social www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach... @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"I believe that a headteacher who still teaches from time to time sends out a powerful message to the staff, to the children and to the parents." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach.... I agree! I've written about it here: jillberry102.blog/2017/12/02/s...
Should heads teach?
A recent Twitter conversation about the advantages and disadvantages of heads having a teaching commitment made me thoughtful. I was a teacher for thirty years, and a head for the last ten of thes…
jillberry102.blog
October 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
"I believe that a headteacher who still teaches from time to time sends out a powerful message to the staff, to the children and to the parents." @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach.... I agree! I've written about it here: jillberry102.blog/2017/12/02/s...
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"I believe that teaching has improved dramatically since I started my career in the late 90s, when you could pretty much teach anything you wanted, however you pleased. I also believe that we live in a golden age of research into the science of teaching & learning..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
October 6, 2025 at 2:41 PM
"I believe that teaching has improved dramatically since I started my career in the late 90s, when you could pretty much teach anything you wanted, however you pleased. I also believe that we live in a golden age of research into the science of teaching & learning..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"For staff to buy in to school improvement, they need to know two things:
1. Why it is important to both the future of the school as a whole & to them as individuals.
2. How safe they will be (professionally speaking) during the messy early phases of implementation..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
1. Why it is important to both the future of the school as a whole & to them as individuals.
2. How safe they will be (professionally speaking) during the messy early phases of implementation..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
October 6, 2025 at 2:46 PM
"For staff to buy in to school improvement, they need to know two things:
1. Why it is important to both the future of the school as a whole & to them as individuals.
2. How safe they will be (professionally speaking) during the messy early phases of implementation..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
1. Why it is important to both the future of the school as a whole & to them as individuals.
2. How safe they will be (professionally speaking) during the messy early phases of implementation..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"Audit which children attend clubs & other activities & which don’t. Cross-reference this with their level of attendance & their conduct. Is there a link between a lack of belonging & low attendance/poor behaviour?" Advice from @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
Headteachering
The honest guide to the messy job of being a headteacher, including real stories of mistakes made and lessons learned, case studies and practical advice.These a…
www.bloomsbury.com
October 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
"Audit which children attend clubs & other activities & which don’t. Cross-reference this with their level of attendance & their conduct. Is there a link between a lack of belonging & low attendance/poor behaviour?" Advice from @southgloshead.bsky.social in www.bloomsbury.com/uk/headteach...
October 4, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"...The best visions are coloured by the present but nod to brighter days on distant shores." @southgloshead.bsky.social in 'Headteachering', out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social on Thursday 9th October. 2/2
October 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
"...The best visions are coloured by the present but nod to brighter days on distant shores." @southgloshead.bsky.social in 'Headteachering', out from @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social on Thursday 9th October. 2/2
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"Discretionary effort comes more from feeling than cold logic. And how people feel about the school’s vision & the journey you & they are embarked upon has as much impact as the practical, sensible, logical things which you as leader are doing to improve the school." @southgloshead.bsky.social
October 4, 2025 at 9:04 AM
"Discretionary effort comes more from feeling than cold logic. And how people feel about the school’s vision & the journey you & they are embarked upon has as much impact as the practical, sensible, logical things which you as leader are doing to improve the school." @southgloshead.bsky.social
Reposted by SouthGlosHead
"It is worth creating a short plan which covers your first term as headteacher…A 100 day plan will be a very useful tool in ensuring all the pieces of school improvement work get done & aren’t crowded out by the constant ‘white noise’ of ‘stuff’..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2
October 3, 2025 at 4:11 PM
"It is worth creating a short plan which covers your first term as headteacher…A 100 day plan will be a very useful tool in ensuring all the pieces of school improvement work get done & aren’t crowded out by the constant ‘white noise’ of ‘stuff’..." @southgloshead.bsky.social 1/2