In this episode of Being the Head: The Human Cost of Leading Schools, Jacqui and Jane are joined by Trevor Davies to explore the evolving landscape of school leadership. They dive deep into leadership, culture, and accountability, offering insights on the new Ofsted framework, the upcoming curriculum changes, and practical strategies for school leaders.

Key topics include:

• The New Ofsted Framework: How inclusion and strong foundations in early years are central to inspection. Why governors and leaders need to focus on vulnerable groups and pupil premium spending.

• Leadership in Action: The importance of classroom presence, building a strong learning culture, and empowering staff through distributed leadership.

• Preparing for Inspection: Trevor’s top three priorities for heads:

  1. Ensure all leadership roles are effectively covered.

  2. Make teaching and learning a clear strength through classroom ethos, environment, and quality of work.

  3. Maintain high-quality triangulation in monitoring pupil progress.

• Attendance Matters: Best practices for monitoring attendance, early intervention, and engagement with families, including strategies for vulnerable children.

• Curriculum Updates: Insights on the 2028 curriculum rollout, including emphasis on:

  • Foundational literacy and numeracy skills

  • Writing, grammar, and punctuation

  • Digital literacy and citizenship

  • Financial education and sustainability

  • Expressive and creative arts

• General Updates: Guidance on EYFS, employment law, funding, and digital infrastructure.

Trevor shares practical examples of high-performing schools and innovative approaches to preparing for inspection, including the “famous five” strategy for tracking individual pupils. Jackie and Jane highlight the importance of proactive leadership, early intervention, and relationship-building with families and staff.

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Being the Head Contact – For more information or to request resources

• DfE Guidance & Resources – For curriculum, attendance, EYFS, sustainability, and employment updates

Quotes from the Episode:

• “If children don’t get the right start in life in reception and early years, then when they get to Key Stage 2, they’re not going to be able to access the riches of the full curriculum.” – Trevor Davies

• “What gets monitored gets done.” – Jacqui L.

• “We see you, we stand with you.” – Jane

Who Should Listen:
School leaders, heads of department, governors, and anyone involved in education leadership looking for practical strategies and up-to-date guidance on Ofsted inspections and curriculum changes.

Follow Us:
Join the conversation on LinkedIn and share this episode with colleagues who lead in schools.