In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Graham Catt, Chief Executive Officer of Independent Schools Australia (ISA) - the national peak body representing over 1,200 independent schools across Australia.

In this conversation, they explore what it means for school leaders to operate inside a national policy and advocacy environment, and how leaders can influence decisions when education becomes increasingly politicised.

Together they explore:

• The difference between representation and advocacy
• The idea of being both a credible friend and a credible threat
• Why evidence alone is rarely enough to shift political decisions
• What it takes to lead effectively when you don’t have formal authority
• Why building relational capital - a “bucket of capital” - is essential before you try to spend it

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating forces beyond your school gates, seeking to understand how influence works at sector level, and reflecting on how to lead when authority alone isn’t enough.

Episode links

Positivity, complexity and leadership with Julie Robinson (Ep. 178)

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In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Vanita Uppal OBE, Director of The British School New Delhi and an international educator with more than thirty years of leadership experience, whose work is recognised globally through the roles she holds and the organisations she serves.

In this thoughtful and human-centred conversation, they move beyond titles and structures to explore the inner life of leadership, and why connection, intuition, belief and belonging matter as much as strategy and systems.

Together they explore:

• How human connection shapes culture and leadership impact
• Why intuition is a form of real leadership intelligence
• The power of slowing down as a leadership discipline
• How leaders build belonging through compassion, listening and belief
• The importance of a stable mission combined with an agile strategy

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader who wants to lead with greater depth, humanity and presence, and who is reflecting on how connection, intuition and belonging shape the kind of leader you are becoming.

Episode Links

Listen to Juliet Corbett talking about related topics on the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast:

What if slowing down helps you speed up? (Ep. 20)

The hidden reason your strategy isn’t working (Ep. 42)

Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Helen Olds, Director of the British International School Jeddah, with more than 20 years of leadership experience across international schools in Asia and the Middle East.

In this thoughtful conversation, they explore how leadership needs to adapt across cultures and contexts without losing authenticity, and why understanding people is just as important as understanding systems when leading in international settings.

Together they explore:

• How leadership needs to shift across different cultures and contexts
• The balance between structure and freedom in complex school environments
• Why values and purpose matter as anchors for decision making
• How leaders create the conditions for learning, growth and creativity

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working across cultures or systems, navigating complexity, or considering a move into the international school sector and reflecting on how your leadership style might need to adapt.

Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast Juliet Corbett is joined by Alex Hems, Executive Head of The Aldenham Foundation since 2022.

In this thoughtful and honest conversation, they reflect on what it takes to lead well when the pace is intense and the stakes are high, and why creating space to think - both individually and collectively - can be one of a leader’s most powerful tools.

Together they explore:

• What ‘slow down to speed up’ really means in senior leadership
• How leaders make good decisions when there’s no clear right answer
• The role of intuition, judgement and self-awareness under pressure
• Why slowing the pace can strengthen teams and improve buy-in
• How leaders balance urgency with long-term stewardship

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating complexity, feeling the pressure to move fast, and wondering how to create better decisions, stronger teams, and clearer direction without burning yourself out or rushing to the wrong answer.

Episode Links

'Slow Productivity' by Cal Newport

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In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Jaideep Barot, Head of Bristol Grammar School since 2018 and a returning guest to the show.

In this important conversation, they explore what it really takes to sustain bursary and partnership work under pressure, and how leaders can protect morally important work when time and capacity are stretched.

Together they explore:

• What true partnership between independent and state schools really demands from leaders
• Why bursary and partnership work needs to be treated as a long-term strategy, not a series of projects
• The role of shared ownership, constructive challenge and collective responsibility
• How local solutions can contribute to wider system change without imposing uniform models
• Why complexity demands experimentation rather than certainty
• Why clarity and repeated communication matter

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working in complexity, committed to bursary or partnership work that genuinely matters, and thinking hard about how to maintain purpose, focus and impact when the pressure is on across the board.

Episode Links

'Strategy and social justice with Jaideep Barot, Headmaster, Bristol Grammar School (Ep. 51)'

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In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Louise Simpson, CEO of the British School in the Netherlands, where she leads the BSN across four campuses in and around The Hague.

This is Louise's fourth headship and her second stint abroad, having previously been head of Exeter School in Devon, head of St Paul’s, the British School in Sao Paulo, and a GDST head in south London. As you’ll hear, she is delighted to be back in the world of British international education.

Together they explore:

• What changes when a head steps into a CEO role leading at scale
• The complexity of international education today, from shifting enrolment patterns to increased competition
• How to build coherence across multiple schools while preserving autonomy
• The importance of culture, belonging and character in a diverse international community
• Why optimism, reflection and thinking time matter so much when navigating uncertainty

This conversation offers thoughtful, practical insight into leading strategically in a global context, with clear reflections on decision making, culture and leadership at scale.

Episode Links

Strategy Development Case Study with Louise Simpson, Head, Exeter School (The Independent School Podcast, Ep 125)

An international perspective with Louise Simpson, Head, Exeter School (The Independent School Podcast, Ep 40)

The power of hope: A leadership skill for uncertain times (Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast, Ep. 38)

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In this episode of the Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Joanna Povall, Principal at Wales International School in Abu Dhabi and Tes International School Principal of the Year 2024/25.

With more than 30 years of leadership experience across the UK, France and the UAE, Joanna brings a distinctive cross-cultural perspective to what kindness really means in leadership. She also draws on her work as a Lead Improvement Partner for COBIS, supporting school improvement across the international schools sector, and on the thinking behind her forthcoming book, Kind Leadership.

Together they explore:

• Why kindness is not the opposite of strength
• How kindness strengthens trust, clarity and psychological safety
• The CHASE framework for putting kindness into action
• The link between kindness, accountability and high performance
• Why managing ego and building self esteem sit at the heart of impactful leadership

You’ll hear practical examples from Joanna’s leadership across different cultures, as well as insights from her work with COBIS schools around the world and the research underpinning her book.

This episode is a reminder that kindness isn’t soft, naïve or vague. It’s a strategic advantage and a core ingredient in every high performing team.

Episode links

'Kind Leadership' by Joanna Povall

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In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Charles Bailey, Headmaster of Worksop College and Ranby House, a thriving independent day and boarding school in Nottinghamshire.

Charles joined the school in April 2025 after a decade at Harrow School, where he held senior leadership roles including Director of Studies and Head of Learning Skills. He brings a thoughtful, strategic approach to headship, grounded in authenticity, clarity and a deep belief in the power of community.

Together they explore:

• What authentic leadership looks like in practice in a busy 3–18 school
• How vulnerability helps leaders build trust, belonging and psychological safety
• The realities of navigating complexity in a Head’s first year
• How to balance long-term strategy with the day-to-day demands of school life
• Why clarity, simplicity and shared language matter so much for school culture

You’ll hear honest reflections from Charles’s first year of headship, including the lessons he’s drawing from Worksop’s heritage, community and ethos.

This episode offers a grounded, energising look at leadership, culture and the courage it takes to be real in today’s complex school environment.

Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!