Being the Head: The Human Cost of Leading Schools.
Real Talk. Real Leaders. Real Moments
Being the Head: The Human Cost of Leading Schools.
Real Talk. Real Leaders. Real Moments
Meet your hosts...
Jacqui
Jacqui
Jacqui
Jacqui is an experienced educational leader who began her career in 1994.
Jane
Jacqui
Jacqui
Jane is an experienced educational leader who began her career in 1996
About Being The Head Leaders
Jacqui Le Maitre Founder and CEO.
Jacqui has spent over 35 years in education and still believes there’s nothing more powerful than a curious question (closely followed by a decent cup of coffee and a gym session). A lifelong champion of transformational learning, she’s dedicated to creating spaces where pupils and leaders feel genuinely seen, heard, and able to thrive.
Her mission? To spark curiosity, inspire courage, and keep reminding the education world that serious impact doesn’t have to come with a serious face.
Jane McNally Founder and CEO
Jane has spent her career leading schools, supporting headteachers, and navigating the joys (and occasional chaos) of primary education. An experienced Executive Headteacher, Trust Safeguarding Lead, and Catholic School Inspector, she’s now bringing her wisdom, wit, and well-worn leadership scars to the podcast mic.
She’s passionate about helping school leaders survive and thrive, whether that’s tackling safeguarding audits, raising attainment, or just finding time to breathe. When she’s not working with leaders or recording episodes, Jane can usually be found with a cup of herbal tea in hand, trying to convince herself that Excel spreadsheets are a hobby.
Leadership Resources- Enquire contact@beingthehead.co.uk
2025 Self Evaluation Template
School Self-Evaluation Form – 2025/26 Ready
Confidently evaluate your school’s performance with this clear, comprehensive, and future-facing self-evaluation tool.
This professionally designed form helps school leaders produce an accurate, up-to-date Self-Evaluation (SEF) aligned with proposed changes for the 2025/26 academic year, including key shifts in curriculum focus, safeguarding expectations, inclusion, and inspection frameworks.
Comprehensive Single SCR & Safeguarding Culture Checklist
Ensure your school is fully compliant and confident with safeguarding requirements.
This up-to-date checklist is designed to support Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), school leaders, and governors in aligning with the latest 2025 Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) statutory guidance.
It goes beyond the basics, covering not just your Single Central Record (SCR) but also the broader safeguarding culture in your school.
DSL Briefing for HSB
This A4 briefing supports senior leaders and designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) to strengthen their understanding and response to Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) in line with the NSPCC’s HSB Audit Tool and the latest Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025–2026 guidance.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) Audit Tool – Aligned with KCSIE 2025–2026
This tool is designed for senior leaders and DSLs to self-assess their provision and response to Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) using the NSPCC framework, updated to reflect statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025–2026.
Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) Audit Tool – Aligned with KCSIE 2025–2026
Harmful Sexual Behaviour (HSB) Audit Tool – Aligned with KCSIE 2025–2026
This safety plan should be used following an incident or disclosure of harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) involving two or more children, in line with KCSIE 2025–2026 (Part 5). It should be co-produced with relevant safeguarding leads, parents/carers (where appropriate), and external agencies. The plan should be reviewed regularly and adapted as new information arises..
What we can offer at Being the Head
Coaching and Mentoring
School Improvement with Impact
School Improvement with Impact
With a deep understanding of the unique pressures and responsibilities that come with leading a school, we are two experienced coaches committed to supporting the wellbeing of school leaders. Our mission is to create a safe, confidential space where headteachers and senior leaders can reflect, recharge, and rediscover their purpose.
We believe that thriving leaders are essential to thriving schools. Through compassionate, bespoke coaching, we help leaders manage stress, build resilience, and find balance enabling them to lead with clarity, confidence, and care. Whether you're navigating change, facing difficult decisions, or simply in need of space to pause and think, we are here to support you.
Together, we offer an approach that blends empathy with practical strategies, tailored to the realities of school leadership today.
School Improvement with Impact
School Improvement with Impact
School Improvement with Impact
With over 30 years of experience each in education, we are two seasoned school leaders who have successfully led schools to achieve Outstanding outcomes. Drawing on decades of hands-on leadership, we offer practical, insightful, and personalised school improvement support that’s grounded in real-world experience not theory.
We understand the complexities of school leadership and the challenges schools face in a constantly evolving educational landscape. Our approach is collaborative, respectful, and impact-driven working alongside leadership teams to build capacity, raise standards, and cultivate sustainable excellence.
Whether you're seeking support with self-evaluation, curriculum development, leadership coaching, or preparing for inspection, we provide trusted, strategic guidance tailored to the unique context of your school. Our aim is simple: to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and measurable impact.
Bespoke Training
Reflective Supervision
Reflective Supervision
Led by two highly experienced educationalists, our bespoke training offers schools the opportunity to engage with tailored, practical support designed to drive meaningful and sustainable improvement.
With decades of combined experience in school leadership and system-wide development, we understand that every school is unique. Our training is crafted to reflect your school’s specific context, priorities, and challenges whether you're looking to strengthen teaching and learning, refine leadership strategies, develop your curriculum, or prepare for inspection.
Our sessions are interactive, purposeful, and grounded in what works. We work alongside school teams to build capacity, inspire reflection, and empower staff at all levels to make a lasting impact.
Whether you need one-off training, ongoing support, or leadership development, we provide trusted expertise that helps schools move forward with clarity and confidence.
Reflective Supervision
Reflective Supervision
Reflective Supervision
Now offering Reflective Supervision for DSLs
In light of the recent updates to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) we are offering 2-hour reflective supervision sessions for Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs), it will support schools in setting up their own reflective supervision model at school level. Get in touch to learn more...