The SLT Podcast (Serious Leaders Talking)

Why does representation matter in primary schools?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Lawrence D’Souza, a primary school headteacher in the London Borough of Enfield, for a powerful conversation about leadership, representation, belonging, inclusion, aspiration, and the importance of positive male role models in education.Lawrence shares his journey from recruitment into teaching, why he chose primary education, and how his own lived experience shaped his desire to be present, visible, and impactful in the lives of young people.Together, they explore why there are still so few male teachers in primary schools, why Black male headteachers remain rare, and what difference representation can make for children who need to see possibility modelled in front of them.The conversation also looks at Lawrence’s leadership journey, the importance of relationships with families and communities, how schools can raise aspirations without rejecting where children come from, and why inclusion must go hand in hand with high expectations.From attendance and enrichment to community partnerships, social mobility, staff development, honesty, compassion, and accountability, this episode is a reminder that schools thrive when children, staff, and families all feel they belong.💬 “Disadvantage should never determine destiny.”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2...📲 Follow Us:Instagram:   / the_slt_podcast  TikTok:   / slt.podcast  Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6St...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Introducing Lawrence D’Souza1:16 - Representation, inclusion, and high expectations1:57 - Why Lawrence moved from recruitment into teaching3:29 - Choosing primary over secondary education4:49 - Why early intervention matters5:28 - Lawrence’s journey from teacher to headship7:14 - Applying for headship and facing rejection9:08 - What is meant for you will be for you10:07 - Joining Meridian Angel Primary School12:19 - Finding the right school community13:33 - What leadership has taught Lawrence13:42 - Why relationships are key to school improvement15:01 - Reopening the school gates to families16:27 - Why are there so few male teachers in primary schools?19:06 - Why young children need male role models20:27 - Modelling positive masculinity21:13 - Representation, aspiration, and social mobility24:18 - Disadvantage should never determine destiny25:12 - Exposing children to new opportunities26:20 - Why some children need wider life experiences27:11 - Universities, theatre trips, Harrow, and enrichment29:06 - Raising aspirations without rejecting community identity30:38 - Can kindness and accountability exist together?31:25 - Leading through difficult financial decisions33:46 - Attendance, relationships, and community trust36:23 - Inclusion without lowering standards37:29 - Inclusion, outcomes, and belonging38:31 - Developing staff who were “sleepwalking”39:28 - Families, partnership, and community trust41:40 - What should people feel when they visit the school?42:47 - Quick-fire leadership questions44:33 - The myth of teacher holidays45:06 - Final reflections and outro⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today.

What is the biggest problem in education that nobody is talking about?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Yamina Bibi — award-winning deputy headteacher, English teacher, coach, consultant, keynote speaker, author, and education project specialist — for a powerful conversation about leadership, representation, systemic barriers, coaching, and the future of education.Yamina speaks honestly about the lack of diversity at senior and executive leadership level, why representation matters for all young people, and why schools must move beyond surface-level conversations to confront systemic racism, discrimination, and barriers within the profession.The conversation also explores what separates good leadership from exceptional school leadership, the importance of values, systems, accountability, psychological safety, coaching, mentoring, and investing in your own development.Yamina also reflects on her own journey through education, the mentors and coaches who shaped her, the importance of networking, and why schools must do more to retain global majority teachers, early career teachers, women, and mother teachers.💬 “The future of education depends on young people seeing themselves in their school teachers and leaders.”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:15 - Welcome to the SLT Podcast1:16 - Introducing Yamina Bibi2:19 - Yamina joins the conversation3:06 - The biggest problem in education nobody is talking about3:45 - Systemic barriers and global majority teachers4:37 - Why representation in leadership matters6:07 - Diversity benefits every young person7:15 - White working-class pupils, London schools, and opportunity9:45 - What separates good leadership from exceptional leadership?10:56 - Values, systems, and accountability in schools12:07 - Radical candour: high support and high challenge14:16 - What would Yamina prioritise as a headteacher?15:28 - Psychological safety and school culture16:52 - Creating your own pathway in education18:10 - Mentorship, career clarity, and leadership development20:37 - Why coaches and mentors matter23:20 - Coaching and development in education24:04 - How coaching changed Yamina’s leadership style26:11 - Why teachers should consider coaching28:48 - Investing in yourself as an educator30:06 - Coaching, systemic barriers, and professional development32:45 - What excites Yamina about the future of education34:16 - The national policy Yamina would influence35:26 - Initial teacher training and the importance of support38:30 - Quick-fire leadership questions41:25 - The future of education depends on representation42:19 - Final reflections and outro⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today.#SLTPodcast #YaminaBibi #EducationLeadership #DiversityInEducation #SchoolLeadership #RepresentationMatters #TeacherDevelopment #CoachingInEducation #SeriousLeadersTalking

Are you burnt out — or is it time to leave teaching?In this Q&A episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down again with Hugo Trace, the former teacher known as “The One Who Got Away,” for an honest conversation about what happens when teachers start thinking seriously about leaving the classroom.Hugo talks openly about burnout, money fears, career change, starting a business, using AI to plan your next move, and whether teachers regret leaving education. He also shares why teachers should not underestimate the skills they already have, and why betting on yourself may feel risky — but staying stuck can be risky too.This episode is for teachers who are asking questions they may not want to say out loud:Am I just tired, or do I need to leave?What if I cannot afford to leave teaching?Should I build something on the side first?Will I regret leaving the classroom?What else can teachers actually do?Whether you are ready to leave, thinking about a career change, or simply questioning your next step, this conversation gives a real, honest look at life beyond the classroom.💬 “I don’t think you can ever really regret betting on yourself. Who else are you going to bet on?”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Welcome back: Hugo Trace, “The One Who Got Away”2:00 - How Hugo helps teachers thinking about leaving4:00 - How to contact Hugo Trace5:00 - Are you burnt out or do you actually need to leave?8:00 - The “crushing feeling” many teachers experience11:00 - Is it the school, the environment, or education itself?13:00 - I want to leave, but I’m scared about money16:00 - Why teachers may be more valuable than they realise18:00 - Should teachers build something on the side first?21:00 - Using AI to plan your next career move24:00 - Betting on yourself instead of the system27:00 - Will I regret leaving teaching?30:00 - The difficult stage after leaving33:00 - What teachers should do before resigning36:00 - Final advice for teachers thinking about leaving38:00 - Share the podcast and final reflections⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community.#SLTPodcast #LeavingTeaching #TeacherBurnout #TeacherRetention #TeacherLife #CareerChange #EducationPodcast #TeacherWellbeing #SchoolLeadership #SeriousLeadersTalking

Should under-16s be banned from social media?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy and Rena discuss the proposed under-16 social media ban and what it could mean for young people, parents, schools, and safeguarding.The conversation explores whether a ban can realistically be enforced, how children may try to find loopholes, and what happens when social media — one of the main ways many young people socialise, build identity, and stay connected — is suddenly removed.Ziggy and Rena also unpack the deeper question: if social media is taken away, what replaces it?From family routines and after-school activities to school buildings, community partnerships, youth provision, pastoral support, online bullying, phone use, and the pressure placed on schools to solve wider societal problems, this episode asks what adults need to do before the ban arrives.This is not just a conversation about apps.It is a conversation about safeguarding, parenting, community, identity, attention, and the future of childhood in a digital-first world.💬 “You cannot remove something without replacing it.”Sponsored by Uniform Education, the official recruitment sponsor of the SLT Podcast.In partnership with Step Up Network.📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Sponsor intro: Uniform Education0:45 - Welcome back to the SLT Podcast1:57 - New partnership announcement: Step Up Network4:23 - Today’s topic: the under-16 social media ban5:14 - What apps could be affected?6:10 - Questions around enforcement and loopholes7:23 - Is the ban too late?8:26 - Can a social media ban actually work?9:28 - Social media addiction and family life10:33 - You cannot remove something without replacing it12:36 - What will children do without social media?13:47 - The opportunity for parents and schools14:41 - Project-based learning and rethinking homework16:14 - How could this affect schools pastorally?17:33 - After-school provision, clubs, and community use of schools20:16 - What should headteachers and MAT leaders consider?22:30 - How will children feel about the ban?23:27 - Social media, identity, and daily routines25:48 - What young people may lose socially27:55 - Adolescence, Netflix, and social media conversations28:36 - Attention spans, scrolling, and adverts29:24 - Treating social media loss as a real adjustment31:15 - Phones, parents, and school rules33:10 - Final thoughts on spring 202734:10 - Why SLT Podcast avoids rage-bait controversy37:26 - Like, share, subscribe, and final reflections⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each episode creates space for honest discussion around education, safeguarding, leadership, school culture, parents, young people, and the real issues affecting schools today.#SLTPodcast #SocialMediaBan #OnlineSafety #Safeguarding #EducationPodcast #Parenting #SchoolLeadership #DigitalSafety #Under16SocialMediaBan #SeriousLeadersTalking

Why are good teachers leaving education?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Hugo Trace, a former Head of Humanities who left teaching and moved into digital marketing as the founder of his own company.Titled “The One Who Got Away: Why Good Teachers Leave,” this conversation explores the reality behind teacher retention, burnout, school culture, workload, pay, staffroom politics, and why some talented educators decide to build a new path outside the classroom.Hugo reflects honestly on what he loved about teaching, why working with young people was the best part of the job, and why the wider system eventually became too heavy to stay in. He also shares the transferable skills teachers often underestimate, including communication, versatility, relationship-building, storytelling, and leadership.This episode also looks at the future of work, AI in schools, personal branding, business, startups, and what teachers can do if they are thinking about transitioning out of education.💬 “Teachers can go and do anything afterwards.”📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Intro: The One Who Got Away0:30 - Why good teachers are leaving education1:00 - Are teachers respected but still replaceable?3:00 - Finding the right school and classroom fit4:30 - Why Hugo walked away from teaching6:00 - Loving the students but struggling with the system8:00 - Staffroom politics and teacher frustration10:00 - Do teachers feel undervalued?12:00 - Pay, workload, and the reality of teacher life14:00 - Is teacher retention a people problem or a system problem?17:00 - Why education feels behind the real world19:00 - AI, admin, and outdated school systems23:00 - Transferable skills teachers do not realise they have25:00 - Communication, versatility, and people skills28:00 - Storytelling and leadership beyond the classroom31:00 - Teachers who want to leave but feel scared33:00 - Building a business before leaving teaching35:00 - Personal branding and career transition37:00 - Would Hugo ever go back to teaching?39:00 - Final reflections and outro⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community.#SLTPodcast #TeacherRetention #TeacherBurnout #EducationPodcast #TeacherLife #LeavingTeaching #CareerChange #DigitalMarketing #SchoolLeadership #SeriousLeadersTalking

Are you actually leading — or just managing pressure? In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Adrian McLean, executive headteacher, TEDx speaker, consultant, governor, trustee, and advocate for more diverse leadership in education. Adrian shares his journey from PE teacher to executive headteacher, reflecting on ambition, imposter syndrome, leadership progression, values, character, and the difficult decisions that shape who we become as leaders. Together, they explore why education may not have a values problem — but a pressure problem. From behaviour, staffing, safeguarding, outcomes, inclusion, accountability, and school culture, this conversation challenges senior leaders to ask whether their values still hold when the pressure rises. The episode also unpacks how to challenge SLT when something does not feel right, why curiosity is often more effective than confrontation, and whether leaders can genuinely lead on race and inclusion without first confronting their own biases.💬 “Values are what we say is important to us. Virtues are how we act.”📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcastTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcastListen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145⸻⏰ Chapters:0:00 - Intro: Adrian McLean introduces himself0:33 - Who is Adrian McLean? 1:13 - Mentoring, advocacy, and supporting Black men in education2:30 - Adrian’s journey from PE teacher to executive headteacher5:53 - Kicking the door open in leadership6:13 - Moving into SEMH, behaviour, attendance, and school improvement8:01 - Leaving roles that do not align with your values10:28 - The 10 Character Commandments of Leadership11:13 - Are you leading or just managing pressure?11:40 - Education does not have a values problem — it has a pressure problem13:50 - Values vs virtues: what leaders say vs what leaders do14:37 - How do you challenge SLT when something is not right?15:18 - Why curiosity works better than confrontation17:39 - When leaders say the right things but actions do not match19:42 - Integrity, courage, and accountability in leadership21:36 - Why pressure changes how some leaders behave22:05 - Can leaders lead on race and inclusion without doing the personal work?23:05 - Why bias must be confronted before inclusion work can succeed24:53 - A real classroom example of unconscious bias27:33 - What senior leaders should reflect on this term29:06 - Final thoughts and outro⸻📢 About SLT Podcast:Hosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents, teachers, leaders, and the wider community.#SLTPodcast #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #AdrianMcLean #SeriousLeadersTalking #LeadershipInEducation #SeniorLeadership #BlackEducators #TeacherLeadership #SchoolCulture #InclusionInEducation

Can you be successful and still be a bad leader?In this episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with Adrian McLean for a powerful conversation on why leadership cannot be separated from character, identity, pressure, and personal values.Together, they explore what it really means to lead in education today — beyond strategy, systems, outcomes, and performance metrics. Adrian shares why some leaders may achieve results while still damaging staff, students, and school culture, and why true leadership is revealed most clearly under pressure.The conversation also unpacks the growing corporatization of schools, the impact of multi-academy trust structures, accountability pressures, SATs, exclusions, staff turnover, and the challenges faced by aspiring Black leaders trying to progress in education.Adrian also reflects on his own leadership journey, the rejection he faced while applying for headship roles, the importance of resilience, and why knowing who you are is essential before trying to lead others.💬 “You can be successful and not be a great leader.”📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community→ ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2...📲 Follow Us:Instagram:   / the_slt_podcast  TikTok:   / slt.podcast  Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6St...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⸻⏰ Chapters0:00 - Intro: You can’t separate leadership from who you are1:25 - Adrian’s book: The Ten Character Commandments of Leadership1:45 - Can you be successful and still be a bad leader?3:53 - Why great teachers are promoted without leadership training5:28 - Metrics, pressure, and the problem with education leadership6:41 - How schools have become more corporate8:23 - Understanding multi-academy trust leadership structures11:46 - Pressure, SATs, and accountability in schools13:20 - Leadership under pressure reveals who you are14:54 - How pressure affects decisions about young people17:38 - The impact of leadership choices on school communities19:32 - Why the education system does not work for every child22:22 - The lack of Black leaders in senior education roles25:36 - Barriers facing Black male teachers and aspiring leaders28:25 - Navigating leadership progression and rejection31:11 - Adrian’s headship interview experience33:34 - Resilience, character, and learning from rejection35:48 - Finding the right school and leadership environment37:09 - Knowing who you are before leading others38:11 - Final reflections and outro⸻📢 About SLT PodcastHosted by Rena Johnson — Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL — and Ziggy Moore — Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education — the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development.Each guest joins us for two episodes: one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents and the community.#SLTPodcast #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #AdrianMcLean #SeriousLeadersTalking #LeadershipInEducation #BlackEducators #TeacherLeadership #EducationPodcast

What do teachers really want to ask about safeguarding — but are often too scared to say out loud?In this Q&A episode of the SLT Podcast, Ziggy sits down with safeguarding expert AnneMarie Christian to answer the questions many teachers, teaching assistants, and school leaders quietly carry but may hesitate to ask.Together, they explore what staff should do when a safeguarding concern is reported but nothing seems to happen, why over-reporting is safer than silence, how to respond when you are worried you might be wrong, and how schools can build a culture where professional curiosity is normal — not uncomfortable.From low-level concerns and whistleblowing fears to behaviour, external services, and the pressure schools face when systems are stretched, this episode is an honest safeguarding conversation for anyone working with children and young people.💬 “This isn’t policy, this is honesty.”📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community → ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2...📲 Follow Us: Instagram:   / the_slt_podcast   TikTok:   / slt.podcast   Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6St...Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...⸻📢 About SLT Podcast: Hosted by Rena Johnson (Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL) and Ziggy Moore (Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education), the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each guest joins us for two episodes—one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents in the community.#SLTPodcast #YourTopicHere #PodcastQandA #RealTalk #SeriousLeadersTalking

📱 Join Our FREE WhatsApp Community → ‎https://chat.whatsapp.com/LiTpC4FbUA2CqWHP1Mcrwz📲 Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_slt_podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slt.podcast Listen to us on the go:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/13hI6StbuMcYhX8LmYtt5S?si=73aaabe9fa394d43Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-slt-podcast-serious-leaders-talking/id1778833145📢 About SLT Podcast: Hosted by Rena Johnson (Deputy Head, Designated Teacher, SENDco & DSL) and Ziggy Moore (Assistant Headteacher & Founder of Moore Education), the SLT Podcast is a bi-weekly series featuring powerful conversations with leaders doing impactful work in education and youth development. Each guest joins us for two episodes—one exploring their story, and one answering real questions submitted by parents in the community.#SLTPodcast #YourTopicHere #PodcastQandA #RealTalk #SeriousLeadersTalking