Guest: Hannah Carter, a headteacher and author of The Honest Headteacher, talking about her own book and experience. Published 14 May 2025.
What this covers
- Hannah's route into headship and leading schools in challenging areas.
- Ideas from her book: authenticity, kindness and strategic leadership.
- Staff wellbeing, managing resources and the value of support networks.
- Advice for new headteachers, and where she sees school leadership heading.
About the session
In this episode of the HeadteacherChat podcast, Jonathan interviews Hannah Carter, headteacher and author. They discuss Hannah's journey in education, her experiences leading schools in challenging areas, and her insights on effective school leadership from her book 'The Honest Headteacher'. Hannah emphasises the importance of authenticity, kindness, and strategic leadership while addressing the evolving challenges in education. They also explore topics like staff wellbeing, resource management, and the critical role of supportive networks in successful school leadership.
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
00:23 Hannah Carter's Journey into Headship
01:17 Insights from 'The Honest Headteacher'
03:32 Challenges and Realities of School Leadership
05:47 Supporting School Leaders
11:25 Advice for New Headteachers
24:04 Future of Leadership in Education
35:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts