Trust Matters: Lessons in Leadership

In this episode, we shine a light on why younger, more diverse voices are essential at the governance table. Our guest is Ellie Gadsby, a 26-year-old trustee at Northumberland Church of England Academy Trust, and a former student of the same school. Ellie joined the board in 2022 and brings a unique combination of lived experience, professional insight, and a deep understanding of her community. In a conversation full of honesty and inspiration, Ellie explains what it actually means to be a trustee in a multi-academy trust, how the opportunity came about, and why she believes it’s vital for boards to reflect the communities their schools serve. She speaks openly about navigating imposter syndrome, balancing her trustee role alongside her legal career, and what she’s learned from working with more experienced board members. We also explore how young professionals can bring fresh thinking to decision-making, how schools and trusts can open up governance roles to more diverse candidates, and why inclusivity isn’t just a nice-to-have – it’s essential for effective leadership. Ellie’s story is a compelling call to action: for boards to become more future-ready, for schools to create real pathways into governance, and for young people to recognise their potential to lead. This episode is essential listening for anyone involved in governance, leadership, or curious about how to build more representative and purposeful trust boards. LINKS For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit: key.sc/trustsupport Subscribe to our newsletter, Trust Matters: key.sc/trustmatters Connect with Ellie on LinkedIn: Ellie Gadsby

Jayne Lowe OBE, a national advisor to the Department for Education, sheds light on effective strategies for tackling school attendance. With her extensive experience in education, she discusses the importance of visible leadership in fostering an 'attendance-drenched' culture. Jayne shares practical steps for overcoming barriers like SEND and mental health, highlights the role of data in improving attendance, and emphasizes building trust with families. The conversation is a treasure trove of insights for leaders aiming to create supportive, high-expectation school environments.

In the final episode of series 1, we’re joined by James Pope, former headteacher and founder of HeadsUp4HTs, an innovative support network for school leaders. James reflects on his journey in education, including the challenges he faced as a first-time headteacher in a school grappling with systemic issues and a ‘Special measures’ grading from Ofsted which eventually led to his resignation - an experience captured in the BBC documentary series School. Together, we delve into some of the most pressing issues facing education today including how to improve headteacher wellbeing, why education seems to have lost its sense of purpose, and what can be done to align schools with the rapidly evolving world outside the classroom. James shares insights on the common struggles of senior leaders, the role of MATs and LAs in supporting staff, and practical strategies for fostering wellbeing in school communities. We also tackle larger systemic challenges, including the pressures of Ofsted, funding constraints, and a curriculum that doesn’t always cater to the full spectrum of students. James presents a vision for a more inclusive, purpose-driven education system that values broader measures of success and supports both student and staff wellbeing. Tune in for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation that closes out series 1 with a bold call to action for the future of education. For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry  Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about James Pope, visit his LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this week’s episode, we welcome Neil Miley, the newly appointed CEO of Mercia Learning Trust, who shares a unique glimpse into his journey through his first 100 days in leadership. With a career rooted in education and a dedication to supporting staff and students alike, Neil reflects on the challenges and successes he’s encountered as he transitions into his role. We delve into Neil’s observations on building trust and cohesion among senior leaders and staff, his approach to understanding Sheffield’s educational landscape, and the adjustments he’s making to foster a supportive, innovative culture at Mercia. Neil shares his experiences and insights from transitioning from Dixons Academies Trust to Mercia, comparing the distinctive cultures and strategies of each, including ground breaking initiatives like the 9-day working fortnight at Dixons. We explore whether similar flexible working policies could be on the horizon at Mercia and the importance of adapting leadership practices to fit community needs and local contexts. In our conversation, Neil also reveals the impact of documenting his first 100 days - highlighting his reflections on establishing a leadership style, creating open communication channels, and developing a vision for sustainable, internally-driven growth at Mercia. Moving away from Ofsted-driven decisions, Neil shares his vision for fostering an educational environment that prioritises the growth and development of students and staff alike, beyond external frameworks and metrics. Whether you're an educational leader, aspiring CEO, or someone passionate about trust leadership, this episode offers an honest look into what it takes to lead with vision, balance, and community awareness. For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry  Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about Neil Miley, visit his LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we sit down with Katie Oliver, managing director at Ark Start, as she shares insights into Ark’s mission to transform early years education. With a deep commitment to making high-quality early education accessible for all, Katie brings her expertise to discuss Ark Start’s unique approach to supporting young learners and their families. Ark Start is at the core of Ark’s 10-year strategy, focusing on creating early education programs that go beyond traditional childcare. Katie explains what makes Ark Start unique: from its emphasis on affordability and high standards to its year-round, community-focused operations. She shares how Ark Start nurtures each child’s development with a robust early learning model, ensuring that education, rather than just care, is at the heart of each nursery. Katie also highlights Ark Start’s emphasis on early intervention, as qualified staff are equipped to identify additional needs, providing crucial support from a young age. We dive into Ark Start’s growth, with nurseries operating both inside and outside of Ark schools, and Katie talks about the opportunities and challenges of expanding Ark Start’s community reach. She shares the importance of balancing Ark Start’s unique identity while drawing on Ark’s broader values and resources, and what it means to create a supportive and consistent experience across all settings. Katie also addresses current challenges in the early years sector, including the recruitment crisis and the need for more qualified EYFS professionals. She discusses Ark’s strategies to recruit and retain talent, and how the DfE’s recent push for more early years staff might support the sector’s growth. For other education leaders, Katie offers practical advice on building a sustainable, impactful early years model that prioritises both accessibility and excellence. Join us for this conversation as Katie unpacks Ark Start’s journey, vision, and what lies ahead in the mission to provide every child with the best possible start. For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry  Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about Katie Oliver, visit her LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In part 2 of our conversation with Stephen Steinhaus, CEO of Solihull Alternative Provision Multi-Academy Trust, we delve deeper into the challenges and changes shaping alternative provision and mainstream education today. If you missed part 1, we recommend catching up for context on Stephen’s unique journey and his experience in founding the MAT. In this episode, Stephen sheds light on the troubling rise in permanent exclusions across schools, examining the factors driving these numbers and the need for a more supportive, integrated approach. We discuss how mainstream and alternative settings can build stronger partnerships to support students facing challenges in traditional school environments, offering practical strategies for collaboration that can benefit students, staff, and families alike. Stephen emphasises the importance of an adaptable, student-centred approach that meets young people where they are- rather than expecting them to conform to a one-size-fits-all model. We also tackle the current recruitment crisis in education, a challenge impacting both mainstream and alternative provisions nationwide. Stephen shares his thoughts on why the teaching profession is struggling to attract and retain talent and what he thinks needs to change to encourage more young people into the profession. For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry  Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about Stephen Steinhaus, visit his LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In the first part of this 2-part episode, we speak with Stephen Steinhaus, CEO of Solihull Alternative Provision Multi-Academy Trust, to dive into his remarkable journey and the groundbreaking work his trust is doing for its students. Stephen shares how his unique background, from an American footballer living in Chicago to an educator living in the UK, has shaped his approach to education leadership, bringing creativity and resilience into a system that urgently needs a new way of thinking. We discuss the challenging circumstances that lead students to join the MAT, many of whom have faced significant struggles in both mainstream education and their personal lives. Stephen opens up about the trust’s unique approach to alternative provision, combining academic rigour with pastoral care and therapeutic support to create a “game changer” for students who don’t fit the mould of traditional schooling. In this episode, Stephen also sheds light on the shocking statistics around outcomes for alternative provision students. He explains how the trust is working tirelessly to change these realities by giving students the support and skills they need to thrive. We also explore the alarming rise in permanent exclusions across England, and Stephen shares his perspective on why the education system is struggling to meet the needs of vulnerable students, especially in the face of budget cuts and overstretched resources. For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry  Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about Stephen Steinhaus, visit his LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this week’s episode, we’re joined by Anita Notta, CEO of The Khalsa Academies Trust, who shares her inspiring leadership journey and the strategies she used to transform a struggling trust into a success story. Anita took on the role of CEO at a time when the trust was under a ‘notice to improve’ from the Department for Education (DfE), with serious concerns about its performance. In just over 14 months, Anita and her team closed off the notice, turning around the trust’s trajectory. In our conversation, she opens up about the challenges she faced, the rapid changes she implemented, and the leadership qualities that helped her overcome them. Anita highlights the importance of building networks as a CEO and trust leader, particularly when facing external challenges. With no formal handover when she first stepped into the role, Anita had to quickly establish relationships with key stakeholders, including the DfE, local authorities, and other external partners. She shares practical advice on how to build developmental relationships with external organisations and why these networks are critical to long-term success. We also explore how professional relationships and effective communication with stakeholders helped strengthen the trust’s position and improve outcomes for the students and staff involved. A key theme in our discussion is Anita’s approach to leadership, specifically what it means to be a "vulnerable leader." Anita believes that embracing vulnerability and authenticity as a leader has been essential to her success, especially in times of crisis. She shares her thoughts on why being open and transparent with her team and stakeholders has helped build trust and resilience within the organisation. Anita also talks about the importance of mindset, explaining how cultivating a strong, positive outlook enabled her to navigate difficult community challenges and internal organisational shifts. Whether you’re looking to turn around an underperforming school or seeking advice on building effective professional networks, this episode is packed with insights from a leader who’s been through it all.  For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry. Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about Anita Notta, visit her LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

In this episode, we sit down with Frances Akinde, an author, SEND expert, and co-founder of the BAMEd SEND hub, to explore the most pressing issues facing SEND provision in schools today. Frances shares her personal journey from classroom teacher to headteacher of a special school, reflecting on the challenges she faced and how they shaped her work as a leader in SEND. Throughout our conversation, we address the impact of ongoing funding cuts on the quality of SEND support across UK schools. Frances offers her insights on how these financial constraints are affecting both students and staff, particularly SENCOs, who often bear the brunt of resource limitations. We discuss the long-term effects that these funding challenges may have on inclusive education, and how school and trust leaders can mitigate these impacts. Frances also shares her thoughts on how trusts can better support SENCOs, ensuring they receive adequate training, resources, and mentorship. She emphasises the importance of consistent and equitable SEND provision across schools and explores strategies to ensure that even under financial pressure, schools can continue to deliver high-quality support to their most vulnerable students. In addition to SEND, Frances speaks passionately about the need for anti-racism in education. She explains the importance of viewing school data through an equitable lens and offers practical steps that trust leaders can take to ensure data-driven decisions promote fairness for all students. We also touch on her upcoming book, Be an Ally, Not a Bystander, which focuses on teaching children about discrimination and promoting allyship. Frances provides actionable advice for trust and school leaders on how to embed these lessons into a school's ethos, ensuring that anti-racism is not just a policy, but a lived value across the school community. Finally, we look ahead at the future of SEND and inclusive education. Frances shares her vision and ideas for a more equitable education system and the role school leaders must play in driving these changes, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or needs, has the opportunity to thrive. For more on how The Key can support your trust, visit key.sc/trustsupport or get in touch with our team here: key.sc/trust-enquiry. Don’t forget to also subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Trust Matters, at key.sc/trustmatters. To find out more about Frances Akinde, visit her LinkedIn profile. All views expressed in this episode are the guest's own. Any mention of commercial providers, resources or products is on the guest’s recommendation and should not be considered an endorsement by The Key.

Dr. Jeffery Quaye OBE, National Director of Education at Aspirations Academy Trust, shares his extensive experience in transforming educational standards with a focus on social mobility. He discusses how high expectations and strong leadership can help disadvantaged students thrive. The conversation highlights the rise in school exclusions and advocates for understanding underlying behavioral issues rather than resorting to exclusion. Dr. Quaye emphasizes the importance of parental engagement and effective teaching in fostering a positive classroom environment.