You can't turn off the machine: investing time in school leadership

Caroline Doherty, Head of Public Affairs at Ark, reflects on the challenge of balancing innovation and improvement alongside the daily realities of school life. 

Tips from Caroline

• You can't do everything. Recognise limits and embrace the unpredictability of school life.
• Prioritise your time. Identify your key goals and align your daily actions to move them forward. 
• Meetings aren't always the answer. Explore alternatives like shared documents or messaging systems to save time.
• Flexible leadership works. Empowering teams with autonomy can improve retention, decision-making, and overall effectiveness – part-time senior leadership is possible with the right structure.

Find out more on the Creating Value in Schools blog.