Leadership
Are you currently in a leadership position, or curious about how parenting and leadership can be a brilliant combination in education? Get inspired by the brilliant leaders within our community, all of whom took a period of parental leave whilst in post, or during their leadership journey.
Space to See Things Clearly
Tess Tweeddale, our Hertfordshire Regional Representative, Deputy Head of Sixth Form, and mother to first baby girl, used her maternity leave to gain a promotion and improve her KS5 subject and administrative knowledge.
Being Willow
Primary school leader and mum of three, Laura Nwanya explains how her leadership experience, including supporting staff during lockdown culminated in a wellbeing support service for teachers during her third maternity leave.
We Need to Learn, Try and Change the Rules
Interim Headteacher, and mum of one, Farihah Alam, shares how taking on challenges during her maternity leave gave her the courage to step up to headship when she returned to school.
Career Changes
Assistant Head of Teaching and Learning and CPD, Tracey-Ann Peynado, describes how three maternity leaves provided her with the opportunity to reflect on her career, develop her subject, pedagogical and leadership knowledge in order to prepare for new career opportunities.
Milk It, Mama!
In her humorous blog, experienced school and Trust leader Jenny Webb shares her guide for negotiating at work, particularly on your return from parental leave.
Redefining my Career
Primary school Assistant Head, Shani Glover, explains how becoming a mum shifted her focus, but made her no less ambitious in her different leadership and impact roles.
Studying for an EdD
Sarah Mullin, school leader and 2018 Education Awards Nominee for Teacher of the Year explains how she used three maternity leaves to aid her career progression and build up towards a Doctorate in Education.
Exploring Ambitions
Mother of two and English teacher, Frances Ashton is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her second daughter. An Associate Senior Leader for T&L at her school, she outlines how she plans to use the coming months to continue developing her leadership skills.
Being Decisive and Brave
Dawn Stow, secondary English teacher, Head of Year and mother of two has just secured her first Associate Seat on her school’s SLT. Here, she describes how she used volunteering and observations to take control and complete strategic CPD whilst on maternity leave, to support her ambitions of becoming a senior leader.
A Time to Say ‘Yes’!
Nikki Cunningham-Smith is an Assistant Head at a PRU in Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Advocate for The MTPT Project. She tells the story of how the time and head space offered by maternity leave gave her the opportunity to embrace new professional opportunities.
Motherhood and Headship
For more stories about combining motherhood with school leadership, don’t miss out on our Motherhood and Headship blog series where we interviewed seven brilliant women who took a period of maternity leave whilst in post as headteachers.
Motherhood and Leadership with Voicing Education
Don’t miss out on our podcast collaboration with Voicing Education sharing the stories of nine senior leaders who took periods of parental leave whilst in post, or as they progressed to senior leadership in schools. They offer you a blueprint not just to aspire to leadership but to know the practical tips and mindsets that will help you to secure your personal and professional ambitions.