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Episode 261: What does your first year in headship really look like when you inherit a school in special measures, with an unstable leadership history, significant behaviour challenges, and the pressure of Ofsted hanging over every decision?
In this episode of Thinking Deeply About Primary Education, Kieran Mackle is joined by Olivia Dempsey to unpack the tension every new head feels: make an instant impact to establish credibility… while also building prudent, sustainable systems that last beyond year one.
Olivia shares what she prioritised first (and what she refused to rush), why behaviour became the lever that unlocked everything else, and how radical transparency—about the budget, the strategy, and the hard realities—helped rebuild trust with staff. She also speaks candidly about redundancies, the emotional toll of leadership, and why modern headship increasingly includes safeguarding, community support, and “whatever it takes” problem-solving.
You’ll hear practical insights on:
building staff trust through purposeful listening
balancing quick wins with long-term strategy
improving behaviour to protect teaching and learning
recruiting and rebuilding teams under pressure
leading in contexts of high vulnerability and poverty
why headship can’t be done well without community networks
If you’re a new headteacher, aspiring head, senior leader, or a teacher curious about school improvement in real conditions, this one will land.
