What really happens when a teacher leaves the classroom and builds an education business?

In this episode, Claire Riley is joined by John Nichols, President of The Tutors’ Association and founder of an international education consultancy, to unpack the uncomfortable truths about teaching, tutoring, and entrepreneurship in education.

John shares his unconventional journey from Teach First science teacher to full-time tutor, and eventually to leading one of the UK’s most influential professional bodies in tuition. Along the way, he talks candidly about why classroom teaching didn’t suit him, why tutoring worked immediately, and why many education businesses struggle when they try to scale — especially in edtech.

This is a grounded, no-hype conversation about responsiveness, mindset shifts, boundaries, and what teachers must unlearn if they want to succeed in business. If you’re a former teacher building (or thinking of building) an education business, this episode will challenge how you think about work, value, and impact.

00:01:30 - John’s Exit from Teaching

00:05:20 - Discovering Tutoring — and Earning More Fast

00:11:40 - Teaching vs Tutoring: What Actually Changes

00:06:30 - From Tutor to Business Owner

00:07:30 - The Reality of Building an EdTech Company

00:17:40 - Managing Multiple Roles and Businesses

00:20:30 - Teams, Expectations, and Cultural Differences

00:28:30 - Responsiveness as a Business Superpower

00:35:00 - The Future of Education and Private Provision

All About John:

John Nichols is a former teacher, tutor, President of The Tutors' Association (TTA) and co-founder of the education technology and consulting company, Get My Grades Limited. He has a wealth of experience in education with over 13,000 hours of personal teaching experience, as well as having implemented a high-impact educational technology programme to over 27,000 students in Africa and delivering impactful teacher training based on modern cognitive science and its practical application in the classroom. As elected President of The Tutors' Association since 2020, John led on the sectoral engagement with the DfE and its contracted delivery partners in the National Tutoring Programme (NTP) and has created and implemented the international growth strategy and led engagement with UNESCO, UK Government departments (DfE, DBT and HMRC) as well as with education stakeholders in the UK and around the world.

Website: https://thetutorsassociation.org.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-nichols-2556693b/

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Podcast Overview

What happens when a teacher starts questioning the relevance of what’s being taught — and decides to do something about it?

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley is joined by Darren Norman, founder of Headline Maths, who shares his journey from a 17-year teaching career to building an education business rooted in real-world relevance.

Darren talks honestly about the mindset shift from teacher to business owner, the fear and self-doubt that comes with leaving a stable career, and why feedback from schools has become the most valuable driver of his product’s growth. He also explains the thinking behind Headline Maths: using current news stories to help students finally answer the question, “When am I ever going to use this?”

This episode is especially valuable for teachers who are curious about starting a business, founders who are early in their journey, and anyone wrestling with confidence, relevance, or making the leap into something new.

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Darren’s teaching career background
02:45 “Why do we need to know this?”
03:30 The idea behind Headline Maths
06:00 Leaving teaching & working alone
07:10 Fear, stability & self-doubt
08:00 Creating structure as a solo founder
09:10 Misconceptions about education businesses
11:00 Feedback from schools
13:00 Handling feedback emotionally
15:00 Growth plans & future vision
16:30 Teacher vs business owner identity
17:30 Making maths meaningful for students
21:00 Final advice for new founders

All About Darren:

A teacher of 17 years specialising in Maths, with experience teaching PE and Science. He spent over 10 years in SEN schools before moving to Spain mid-Covid for a change, teaching Maths in an International School, where he became Head of Department for the Secondary School.

He fell into teaching Maths when a sports club placement during university fell through, leading him to a special school where he stayed for 6 years as both a TA and teacher. He volunteered to teach Maths to cover a maternity post and discovered a lasting passion for the subject.

He did not come to Maths naturally, which has shaped his ability to break concepts into clear, manageable steps and make the subject more accessible. Over time, he grew tired of hearing the same questions from students: “what’s the point?” and “when will I ever need this?” He saw that traditional exam content and textbooks often felt irrelevant, which led him to create a clear purpose — to Make Maths Meaningful by helping students see its real value and presence in everyday life.

He now teaches Maths privately online and is building Headline Maths, while still based in Spain.

A keen sportsman, he has represented GB Teachers in Rugby League and made an unofficial appearance for Spain. Now retired from competitive sport, he keeps active through running, cycling, and swimming.

He lives on the coast south of Valencia with his girlfriend, who is a primary school teacher and leader. He is looking to grow the Headline Maths client list across the UK and internationally, with the aim of changing how students perceive Maths.

Website: www.headlinemaths.com
Instagram: @headline_maths
Facebook: Headline Maths

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Overview

In this episode of The Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley speaks with education consultant Aidan Severs about his journey from classroom teacher and school leader to running his own education business. Aidan shares how blogging, leadership roles, and consultancy work helped him find his niche, as well as the personal and professional challenges that shaped his decision to go independent. The conversation explores balancing family life with entrepreneurship, redefining success beyond income, and practical advice for teachers considering starting their own education business.

00:00 – Introduction to the podcast
02:00 – Aidan’s journey into teaching
04:30 – Discovering a passion for educational research
06:30 – From school leadership to consultancy
09:00 – COVID and personal challenges
14:00 – Rebalancing work and family life
17:00 – How life experiences shape his work
22:00 – Advice for new education entrepreneurs
30:00 – Making yourself known
33:00 – Final reflections and purpose
36:00 – Closing

All about Aidan

With 20 years of experience in education, Aidan takes a holistic approach to primary education, collaborating with leaders and teachers on ensuring they get the very best for the children they teach.

Website: www.aidansevers.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/aidanseversconsulting
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/aidan-severs
Facebook: facebook.com/AidanSevers

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In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire is joined by Lisa Haycox, Chief Executive Officer of Explore Learning.

Appointed CEO in April 2025, Lisa has grown with the organisation for more than two decades, joining in 2002 as a tutor and progressing through senior leadership roles across operations, product, and strategy. Most recently, as Chief Operating Officer, she led Explore Learning’s digital transformation during COVID-19, helping the organisation continue to support learners during a period of significant change.

Throughout the conversation, Lisa reflects on what it means to grow an education business while staying true to its core purpose. She shares how shared values, trust, and long-term thinking have shaped both her leadership journey and the culture of the organisation. We explore the importance of empowerment, responsibility, and keeping learners at the heart of decision-making as the business scales.

This episode is a thoughtful discussion about values-led leadership, growing alongside a business, and building lasting impact in education.

00:00 Introduction

01:02 From tutor to Explore Learning

02:45 Early opportunities and saying yes

04:55 Growing alongside the business

07:20 Shared values and trust in leadership

10:40 Doubt, ambition, and scaling challenges

13:50 Leading through COVID and digital change

15:35 Learning from peers, mentors, and experience

17:50 The worst leadership advice

19:55 Stepping into the CEO role

22:20 Founder ambitions and long-term growth

24:40 Purpose, joy, and staying grounded

27:35 Final reflections and close

All About Lisa:

Lisa Haycox is the Chief Executive Officer of Explore Learning, appointed in April 2025. With over two decades of experience at Explore Learning, Lisa has held a range of senior leadership roles across operations, product, and strategy. She most recently served as Chief Operating Officer, where she led the company’s digital transformation during COVID-19, strengthened its marketing and brand positioning, and shaped its commercial growth strategy.

Lisa joined Explore Learning in 2002 as a tutor and has since played a pivotal role in scaling the organisation while maintaining its core educational mission. She is a graduate of London Business School’s Leading Businesses into the Future programme and is recognised for her strategic vision, operational rigour, and deep understanding of the education sector. Lisa is now focused on leading Explore Learning through its next phase of growth, combining innovation, digital advancement, and customer-centricity to deliver long-term impact for learners.

Website: www.explorelearning.co.uk
Instagram: @explorelearning_official
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-haycox-58800224/
Facebook:@explorelearning

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Claire Riley is joined by Ian Hunter, founder of Lyme Education Consulting, to explore how education businesses can successfully expand into international markets. With over 27 years in edtech and global education, Ian shares practical insights on trust, localisation, market research, and common mistakes to avoid when going global.

All About Ian:
Ian has worked in the EdTech market for over 25 years and has worked for some of the largest education companies in the world including Tes Global, Discovery Education and RM Education.

As Global Director, Sales Director or Commercial Director he has been responsible for driving growth across a range of EdTech products and services to schools, colleges, Universities and Ministries of Education globally.

Website: https://www.limeedu.co.uk/
LinkedIn: ianhunter7
X: @ianlhunter

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Navigating the EdTech Landscape: Insights from Multiple Ventures

In this episode, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, talks with Joshua, a seasoned entrepreneur in the education sector. Joshua shares his journey from children's publishing to running multiple education businesses, including Smartgrade and Carousel.

He highlights key lessons learned, such as the importance of understanding market size, unit economics, and the needs of Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). Joshua also discusses the significance of building a smart team, offering flexibility, and consulting with people with in-depth classroom experience.

He emphasises the value of learning from mistakes and seeking advice from experienced entrepreneurs.

00:00 Introduction to the Education Business Podcast

01:10 Meet Joshua: A Journey in Education Business

01:53 From Publishing to EdTech: Joshua's Career Path

04:56 The Birth of Smartgrade and Carousel

06:53 Challenges and Strategies in EdTech

16:53 Building a Strong Team and Company Culture

24:05 The Entrepreneurial Spirit and Future Plans

28:12 Final Thoughts and Advice for Education Entrepreneurs

All about Joshua:

Joshua is an edtech entrepreneur and assessment enthusiast. His latest ventures are Smartgrade (an assessment standardisation platform) and Carousel (a quizzing and retrieval practice tool).

Prior to Assembly Josh was part of the leadership team at Ark Schools, a Multi Academy Trust. He also founded Assembly, a school data platform.

In his spare time Josh writes a blog about school MIS and edtech called Bring More Data.

Website: smartgrade.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuaperryuk/

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The Importance of Context in Leading Your Education Business

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, discusses the pivotal role of providing context to your team members in an education business.

She explains how context helps improve team efficiency and outcomes, sharing insights from her own experience and interactions with other education business leaders. Key points include striking a balance with information sharing, the benefits of providing context, and practical advice for ensuring your team has a comprehensive understanding of business decisions.

Sponsored by Classroom Secrets, the podcast aims to equip education entrepreneurs with tools to grow their businesses.

00:00 Welcome to the Education Business Podcast

00:55 The Importance of Context in Business

01:20 Sharing Context with Your Team

02:35 The Impact of Context on Team Performance

03:26 Conclusion and Sponsor Message

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Building Multiple Educational Content Brands

In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, hosted by Claire Riley, co-founder of Classroom Secrets, guest Matt Dix shares his journey from a primary school teacher to a thriving education business owner.

Matt, who runs several education brands including Manic Street Teachers, Musician of the Month, and the Fluency Factory, discusses his transition from the classroom to business, the importance of creativity, and maintaining a close connection to the educational community.

He emphasises the role of passion in sustaining a business, the significance of music as a therapeutic and educational tool, and the challenges of balancing multiple projects. Additionally, Matt provides insights into effective marketing strategies, the value of listening to customer feedback, and the need for a supportive network.

The episode offers an in-depth look at how Matt manages his businesses, the evolution of his projects, and his future aspirations.

00:00 Introduction to the Education Business Podcast

01:08 Meet Matt Dix: From Teacher to Entrepreneur

02:04 Building Education Brands: The Journey and Challenges

02:58 Balancing Teaching and Business

05:37 Creative Ventures in Education

08:40 The Power of Music in Education

12:32 Managing Multiple Education Brands

17:59 Marketing Strategies for Education Businesses

23:42 The Emotional Connection to Music

34:57 Reflections and Final Thoughts

All About Matt:

Matt is a former primary school teacher with 20 years’ experience in the classroom. He now runs Manic Street Teachers, where he develops education projects and resources informed by both research and the approaches he first trialled with his own pupils.

His work includes The Fluency Factory, which focuses on reading fluency, and Musician of the Month, which introduces primary-aged children to a broad range of musicians and musical styles.

Across these projects, Matt aims to create materials that fit into everyday school life and reflect the practical realities of primary teaching.

Websites: www.manicstreetteachers.com, www.thefluencyfactory.co.uk, www.musicianofthemonth.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manicstteachers/

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattdix-mst

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ManicStTeachers

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