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The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast
๐ผ๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ญ๐ฉ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐ก?
๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐, ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช!
Through my recruitment work in the education and public sectors, I see trends emerging amongst the 1000s of candidates I've helped to date - from โก๏ธ career blindspots toโก๏ธ long, complicated interview questions andโก๏ธhow confidence holds so many teachers back.
Because I understand the system that teachers work in, the language they use, the challenges they face, and the frameworks that shape education, this podcast (and the way I work) means that teachers grow professionally as quickly as possible!
Combining mindset with strategy, I'll be sharing ways to sell yourself better and how to make the Looking at Our School Document work for you. I'll also share insider stories from experts in education and beyond.
๐ฅDon't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast for weekly career and leadership tips.
Owner: Orla Dempsey
The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast
E46: Cathal Twaddle on Sport, Inclusion, HSCL Trust-Building, and High-Performance Habits in Education
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In this episode of the Growth and Educational Leadership Podcast, I interview teacher and HSCL liaison officer Cathal Twaddle about his career milestones, psychology studies, and leadership learning shaped by sport. Cathal describes an early prison service role and how a manager linked team sport to resilience and teamwork, which became a lens for his teaching and leadership.
He discusses โtwo roadsโ moments influenced by his parentsโ limited educational opportunities and his fatherโs dementia, emphasising reflection and ambition.
Cathal defines high performance as consistently doing simple, logical tasks, applying this to teaching and student voice. He explains inclusion as broader than additional needs, and outlines HSCL work supporting families, including homelessness, by building trust through visibility, clear communication, and demystifying attendance processes.
He also shares interview strategies, networking, transferable teacher skills, and reverse-engineering leadership goals.
TIMESTAMPS
- 01:04 Prison Service Beginnings
- 02:47 Sport Mindset and Two Roads
- 06:34 From Coaching to Teaching
- 10:03 High Performance Basics
- 12:14 Student Voice Made Simple
- 15:29 Inclusion Beyond SEN
- 17:41 HSCL Role and Homelessness
- 20:09 Building Trust With Parents
- 23:52 Interview Lessons From Sport
- 27:24 Career Advice and Reflection
- 31:41 Networking and Transferable Skills
- 33:57 Reverse Engineering Leadership Goals
- 36:38 Final Thanks and Wrap Up