The Independent School Podcast with Juliet Corbett
Leading an independent school can be incredibly demanding, leaving little time or energy to identify the right priorities and see the bigger picture clearly. But with the right guidance it is possible to flourish as a leader, and make a meaningful difference in the world.
Join Juliet Corbett, an executive coach and strategy adviser, for actionable tactics and strategies covering everything from fundraising to fees, strategy to leadership.
How can private schools secure their future for generations to come amid turbulent times? How can they balance their long heritage with modern business acumen? Listen in for interviews and insights to find out.
Episodes
176 episodes
176: Something exciting is coming...
After a short break, The Independent School Podcast is returning later in 2025 – and this time, we’re doing things a little differently.In this short bonus episode, Juliet Corbett shares a behind-the-scenes update on the next ch...
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Season 1
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Episode 176
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2:00
175: A grateful farewell and unveiling the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast
After four incredible years and 175 episodes, we’re bidding farewell to The Independent School Podcast. It has been an amazing journey filled with valuable insights, thoughtful conversations, and connections with passionate leaders in the schoo...
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Season 1
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Episode 175
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12:11
174: Solving for Value for Money
Leaders in independent schools are having to make some hard decisions at the moment, especially those in the UK facing the possible addition of VAT to school fees.Some of these decisions could be classified as ‘wicked’ - defined as a pr...
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Season 1
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Episode 174
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28:00
173: Solving Wicked Problems the NASA Way
It turns out that NASA rocket scientists think that solving ‘wicked’ problems, where multiple stakeholders want contradictory outcomes, is far harder than the science of sending missions into space.So when we’re trying to solve similarly...
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Season 1
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Episode 173
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16:22
172: Coaching, Innovation and Empowerment with Claire Robinson, Head, Holme Grange School
Coaching, innovation, empowerment, strategy... this episode with guest Claire Robinson, Head of Holme Grange School, dives into many of the topics which school leaders ask me questions about. As a highly experienced head, Claire sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 172
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30:48
171: A Thinking Partner
Strategy is not a game played alone. So if you are seeking a strategic way forward for a project or challenge, it is important to balance individual contemplation and conversation with 'thinking partners'. In this episode I share ...
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Season 1
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Episode 171
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10:08
170: Strategy in an International School with Paul Morgan, Head, St. Julian’s School, Lisbon
It’s one thing knowing about strategy frameworks and approaches - but knowing how to use these effectively to develop and implement a strategy in a school is a completely different skill.So this week on The Independent School Podcast I’...
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Season 1
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Episode 170
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33:30
169: The Five Most Popular Episodes of 2023
Exciting news for The Independent School Podcast!In our latest episode, I reveal the top five most popular episodes of 2023. With over 16,000 listens, I am thrilled to know that our podcast has been helping education leaders become more...
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Season 1
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Episode 169
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16:09
168: The Big Picture and Being Human with Jim Knight, Lord Knight of Weymouth and Chair of COBIS
For this week's episode I'm joined by Jim Knight, The Rt Hon Lord Knight of Weymouth and Chair of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS).We dive deep into the big picture of education, looking at the changing ways that sch...
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Season 1
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Episode 168
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43:14
167: Trends in Leadership Recruitment with Hayley Mintern, Partner, Anderson Quigley
Tune into this week’s podcast for a comprehensive insight into school leadership recruitment trends and the crucial conversation around equality, diversity and inclusion.I am joined by Hayley Mintern, Partner at Anderson Quigley and in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 167
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35:11
166: Overwhelm or Overload?
Do you have a clear idea of how much you can achieve in a week? It’s very easy to be overly optimistic about what it is possible to get done. And then when you don’t achieve your goals for the week, it’s easy to slip into a habit of working ext...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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15:19
165: My Solution to Overwhelm
When overwhelm strikes me it feels like lots of bees buzzing around my head, each reminding me to do something, and a building sense of worry that I’m not going to get it all done.While many of us don't talk about it openly, it's normal...
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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15:53
164: Fundraising Campaigns: Breaking the Rules
This is the second in my two-part series about Fundraising Campaigns, and in this episode it’s all about breaking the rules! Having discussed the five essential phases of a campaign last week, this time I’m taking you a step further to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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24:06
163: Fundraising Campaigns: Structure Best Practice
This is the first in my two-part series about Fundraising Campaigns. In this episode, I speak about how to structure a campaign over multiple phases to maximise the opportunity for success. Whether you're new to school fundraising or lo...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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24:36
162: Why Coaching Works
Coaching has become increasingly recognised for its positive impact on educational leaders, helping them find strategic focus, empower their teams and regain control over their time. In this episode, host Juliet Corbett shares her personal expe...
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Season 1
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Episode 162
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17:56
161: Unlocking your Next Career Step
In this episode, my focus is on you! I’m keen to show you that unlocking your next career step is a process that requires dedication, self-reflection and strategic planning. A few areas I touch on are networking, career plans and the importance...
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Season 1
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Episode 161
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15:37
160: Focusing on the Problem
In this episode, I talk about the shift from being solely goal-oriented to embracing problem-based strategy, inspired by the insights shared by strategy guru Richard Rumelt. Rather than solely focusing on goals and visions, it is essent...
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Season 1
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Episode 160
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16:32
159: The 'Done For You' Delegation Trap
In today's episode, we're diving into the topic of delegation once again. But this time, we'll be exploring a trap that many leaders, including myself, have fallen into - the 'Done For You' Delegation Trap. I discuss the idea of three service l...
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Season 1
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Episode 159
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17:31
158: Asking Governors and Leaders to Give
In this episode, I delve into the strategic importance of encouraging governors, trustees, and senior leaders in our schools to contribute themselves to fundraising projects.With insights from the IDPE Benchmarking report offering valua...
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Season 1
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Episode 158
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15:34
157: Reframing Strategy as a Coherent Collection of Decisions
In this episode, I delve into the concept of strategy as a coherent collection of decisions. I explore the definition of strategy and its relevance in the context of schools.While many view strategy as being solely focused on occasional...
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Season 1
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Episode 157
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15:43
156: Liberating your Time
In this episode, we're tackling a topic that resonates with many of us: liberating our time. Time management is a constant challenge for school leaders, who often struggle to focus on what truly matters amidst a sea of urgent tasks and responsi...
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Season 1
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Episode 156
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20:24
155: Are you Delegating Enough?
In this episode I dive into the important topic of delegation in schools. As a coach for educational leaders, I’ve witnessed the power of effective delegation in empowering teams and delivering strategic goals. Delegation not only distributes t...
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Season 1
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Episode 155
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22:08
154: Building Fundraising Confidence
In today's episode, "Building Fundraising Confidence," I’m diving into the world of fundraising and exploring how it can help schools achieve their goals to make a positive impact on their communities. Fundraising is not just about asking peopl...
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Season 1
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Episode 154
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18:55
153: Four Ways AI Will Impact Education
In this episode I present an exploratory framework to help you discuss AI and take action in your school. No-one can give you all the answers at the moment, so I offer questions you can ask within your school community to guide a strategic appr...
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Season 1
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Episode 153
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16:57
152: Strategy and Wellbeing
In this episode, I share with you my new mission. We know from academic evidence that organisations with a clear strategy outperform organisations without a strategy.I extend this to explore the connection between organisational strateg...
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Season 1
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Episode 152
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19:53