Name: Ian Mitchell

Title: Head of School

Organisation: Shenstone Lodge School

Ex-mainstream PE teacher, now leading a Primary SEMH Special School after previously being assistant head and SENDCo

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Educational Leadership!

I hope Ian's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as an Educational Leader?

- The altered dynamics of being internally promoted

- Balancing the needs of a staff group against the needs of the children and their families

- Switching off at the end of the day/week/term

- Effecting change

2. How did you become an Educational Leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I moved to my current school when I was on the verge of leaving education altogether but I found a place that truly values each child as an individual and felt compelled to stay... I rediscovered my love for teaching and with it a desire to lead and implement positive change for young people.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

With two young children, a lot revolves around getting them to school and nursery... my wife is also in school leadership so it's a real balancing act some weeks! Typically, we are up at 5:30 am and one of us will exercise, and the other sort the children out. Into work no later than 8 am any day to sort emails and ensure the day is set up at school. I am trying to get better at setting myself a timetable each week but it is a work in progress currently!

After work is usually email sorting again, senior team meetings, or planning time for the following week. Home via school and/or nursery for the two boys before either kids sport or our own sport... my wife plays hockey and I am training for the London Marathon next year. Typically one or both of us will then do an hour or so of work in the evening too.

4. What's a recent lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of as an Educational Leader?

Emails have a 'one-touch rule...' if you can't give the time to deal with whatever might be in your inbox then don't open the inbox!

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your journey as an Educational Leader so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted you?

Legacy - the story of the All Blacks and how they reinforced and changed their culture through a series of mantras. I am currently re-reading it for the second time! Being a sporty bloke anyway, it resonates with me but the leadership lessons are massive. 'No dickheads' is the one I come back to most of all; you have to have the right people in the organisation. That and the importance of leaving whatever organisation you take control of in a better place than you found it in.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young educator who aspires to be an Educational Leader, what would you say to them?

Relationships are everything; colleagues, young people, families, fellow professionals... build them and nurture them based on putting young people first, honesty, and integrity.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as an Educational Leader, so far?

Our recent Ofsted experience really validated what we have been striving to achieve for the last three years. This reiterated to me the importance of sticking true to your beliefs and remaining unwavering in the face of opposition if you are basing your ideas on evidence-based theory and the interests of the people most likely to benefit.