Welcome!
Hi, I’m Rachael. I support school leaders and their teams to untangle the challenges of leadership and build the confidence, resilience and focus needed to thrive.
I know that life as a school leader can feel overwhelming, with constant pressures and competing priorities.
That’s why I’ve put together a collection of short articles and case studies to offer insights, strategies, and support tailored to your needs.
If you’re looking for something specific or need more personalised advice, feel free to get in touch. I’m here to help!
Recharging leadership batteries: how to rest and reset
The holidays are just around the corner and for a lot of you, they probably can’t come soon enough. I wonder how many of you will reach the end of the break still feeling tired, already anticipating (perhaps with a hint of dread) the sprint to summer? If your leadership battery is running low, simply having time off won’t necessarily recharge it. The real difference comes from how you switch off and what you do with the time you have.
The power of group coaching for school leaders: How learning with others can help you thrive
School leadership can often feel like a solo journey. As a leader, you’re responsible for so many people’s development, but what happens when you’re too busy leading others to focus on developing yourself? That’s where group coaching can make a profound difference.
Who’s in your corner? Finding the right support as a school leader
School leadership is a role filled with purpose, challenge and reward, but it can also feel isolating. Even with a strong team, the weight of responsibility can feel like yours alone to carry. With Valentine’s Day approaching, we often focus on love and connection in our personal lives. But what about in leadership? Who strengthens your heart? Who lightens your load? And crucially, are you turning to the right people for the right kind of support?
Why less is more: Focusing on what truly matters this term
The new year often brings a surge of energy and a desire to make big changes, but for busy school leaders, this “new year new you” mindset can quickly lead to overwhelm. Instead of energising you, it can leave you feeling stretched thin, with too much on your plate.
How coaching and supervision both empower school leaders
At the heart of both coaching and supervision is the creation of a safe, reflective space which is essential for genuine growth, as it allows leaders to look at their practice from a fresh perspective, enabling clearer, more confident decision-making.
Working together; coaching support for resilient school leaders
Every academic year has its own rhythm and familiar patterns, and always comes with new wins, unexpected pressures and unpredictable twists. Navigating these demands mental strength, resilience and adaptability, which is where a year-round coaching partnership can make all the difference for a school leader.
How’s your year going so far? Reflect and take control
As the first half-term break rolls around and you have a moment to catch your breath, what better time to pause and reflect on how the year has gone so far and, more importantly, how you want the rest of it to unfold.
Building Resilience: Strategies for school leaders to recover quickly from setbacks
As a school leader, your team looks to you not only for guidance through challenges but also as a model for how to manage setbacks. They pay attention to not just the speed of your recovery but also how you handle yourself during the process.
Keeping expectations in check: A balanced approach to the new academic year
The problem with expectations is that they’re often a moving target. What starts as a reasonable goal can quickly spiral into something unmanageable. Those high expectations you hold for your own performance quickly have a way of backfiring and becoming unhelpful and even detrimental.
The Power of Reflection: Wrapping Up the Academic Year
As the school year draws to a close, it’s tempting to just simply get to the finish line and collapse, but if you can take a moment to reflect on the past year, you may find it’s a powerful tool that can lead to big improvements.