Surviving the intensity of school life: lessons from leaders

What enables people to keep calm and carry on in the overwhelming intensity of school life? What helps people keep going, avoid burnout, and stay focused on the things that matter? 

Host Liz Worthen draws on lessons learned by previous podcast guests. What keeps them energised? What keeps them going?

• Start with your why.
• Stay focused on your priorities.
• Don’t sweat if it doesn’t all go to plan. Things will happen! 
• Take opportunities for creative problem solving.
• Remember to rest… and count the flowers.

‘You need to keep pulling yourself back to those as priorities. Because otherwise, your priorities are the whack a mole school of educational leadership, coming in, responding to the first person at your door, the person that sent you those emails.’

Liz Worthen is an educator, researcher, podcaster and writer. Her career in education spans teaching, training, commissioning and programme development, creating resources which enable leaders to flourish in their roles. Creating Value in Schools is about the exploration of sustainable working in education, in order to secure better outcomes for learners and communities.

Podcasts featured in this episode

• Keep going: routes to sustainable improvement and finding your why, with Paul K. Ainsworth
• The art of balance: survival skills for school leaders, with Josephine Smith
• You can't turn off the machine: investing time in school leadership, with Caroline Doherty
• Navigating the unexpected: advice for school leaders, with Josephine Smith
• Avoiding and addressing staff burnout in schools, with Nicola Harvey
• Know your place: how to tackle inequality in education, with Sean Harris

Further resources

• More from Paul K. Ainsworth: paulkainsworth.wordpress.com  
• More from Nicola Harvey: harveyheals.com 
• Follow Sean Harris on Substack: thatpovertyguy.substack.com
• For more ideas and inspiration: createvalueschools.com

#SustainableSchools #Education #Leadership