The Independent School Podcast with Juliet Corbett
The Independent School Podcast shares real-world leadership conversations with Principals, Heads and CEOs from across independent and international schools, exploring what it means to lead well in an increasingly complex world.
Hosted by executive coach and trusted advisor Juliet Corbett, the podcast offers clear, practical insight into staying strategic amidst daily pressures, making high-stakes decisions with confidence and shaping high-performing school cultures. Juliet brings her cross-sector experience and more than two decades of work in education to conversations designed to spark your best thinking.
If you want calm, reflective insight that helps you slow the pace, sharpen your focus and navigate complexity with clarity and courage, this podcast is for you.
Episodes
180 episodes
What true partnership really demands from leaders with Jaideep Barot, Head, Bristol Grammar School (Ep. 182)
In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Jaideep Barot, Head of Bristol Grammar School since 2018 and a returning guest to the show.In this important conversation, they explore what it really takes t...
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Season 1
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Episode 182
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37:55
From Head to CEO in an international context with Louise Simpson, The British School in the Netherlands (Ep. 181)
In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Louise Simpson, CEO of the British School in the Netherlands, where she leads the BSN across four campuses in and around The Hague.This is Louise's fourth hea...
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Season 1
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Episode 181
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43:57
How kind leadership creates high performing teams with Joanna Povall, Principal, Wales International School (Ep. 180)
In this episode of the Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Joanna Povall, Principal at Wales International School in Abu Dhabi and Tes International School Principal of the Year 2024/25.With more than 30 years of lead...
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Season 1
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Episode 180
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42:46
Authentic leadership and shaping school culture with Charles Bailey, Headmaster, Worksop College and Ranby House (Ep. 179)
In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Charles Bailey, Headmaster of Worksop College and Ranby House, a thriving independent day and boarding school in Nottinghamshire.Charles joined the school in ...
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Season 1
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Episode 179
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45:03
Positivity, complexity and leadership with Julie Robinson, CEO, Independent Schools Council (ISC) (Ep. 178)
In this episode of The Independent School Podcast Juliet Corbett is joined by Julie Robinson, Chief Executive of the Independent Schools Council, where she represents and promotes the work of independent schools across the UK.Julie began...
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Season 1
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Episode 178
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35:36
Leading through complexity: Conversations to spark your best thinking (Ep. 177)
In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett returns to the microphone for a new series focused on real-world leadership in independent and international schools.Juliet shares how her thinking has evolved over recent...
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Season 1
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Episode 177
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14:30
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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24:05
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