Headteachering with Simon Botten

Simon Botten, executive headteacher in Bristol and author of ‘Headteachering’, shares practical insights into sustainable leadership and staff wellbeing in schools. In this episode, Simon reflects on his journey into headship and explains why he embraces the complexity and uncertainty of leadership. He explores the first 100 days in a role, including building trust, creating clarity of purpose, and securing early wins through culture, environment and behaviour. Simon discusses how to develop happy, effective teams through psychological safety, honest communication and strong relationships, alongside practical strategies for managing stress, maintaining boundaries and staying connected to the joy of working with children. Learn more about Simon’s work here: https://headteachering.uk/