The Independent School Podcast with Juliet Corbett

Hosted by Juliet Corbett

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Episodes

189

Latest episode

Apr 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

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.

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60 recent

April 16, 2026Episode 19130 min

The Three Degree Shift: How leaders see what others miss in complex decisions (Ep. 191)

The biggest challenges you face aren’t solved by working harder. They’re solved by seeing the situation more clearly.In this final episode of the series, Juliet Corbett reflects on the patterns that emerged across 13 conversations with school leaders around the world - and introduces a new framework: the Three Degree Shift™.At its core, the Three Degree Shift is about seeing what others miss - shifting perspective just enough to reveal what was previously hidden. Viewing a challenge from just three degrees to the left can surface assumptions, uncover hidden dynamics and open up a clearer path forward.In this episode, Juliet explores how leaders can apply this thinking to navigate complexity and take more decisive action under pressure.She explores:Why staying strategic day to day is often a matter of protecting time and attentionHow high-stakes decisions are shaped through learning, not certaintyWhat it takes to lead high-performing teams without becoming the bottleneckThe Three Degree Shift - a practical way to see what others miss in complex decisionsHow small shifts in perspective can unlock better decisions and more courageous actionThis episode is for you if you’re navigating a complex, high-stakes decision and want to elevate the quality of your thinking by seeing what others don’t.Episode links:Leading through complexity: Conversations to spark your best thinking (Ep. 177)Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

April 9, 2026Episode 19037 min

The ‘being’ and ‘doing’ of leadership with Philip Britton MBE, Head of Foundation at Bolton School and Chair of HMC (Ep. 190)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Philip Britton MBE, Head of Foundation at Bolton School and Chair of HMC.In this reflective conversation, they explore the leadership lessons that only become obvious over time. In particular, they discuss the shift from relentless ‘doing’ to intentional ‘being’, and the judgement required when decisions are complex and sometimes represent the least bad option available.Together they explore:The shift from constant ‘doing’ to the discipline of ‘being’The importance of creating space to think deeply before actingWhy clarity of purpose matters more than easy consensusHow leaders develop judgement under sustained pressureAccepting that not every decision will feel straightforwardRunning through the conversation is a strong thread of reassurance - about giving yourself permission to pause, to focus on the ‘why’, and to recognise that leadership is often about steady presence rather than constant action.This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating difficult decisions, carrying significant responsibility, and want to reflect on how presence, clarity and judgement shape your leadership over time.Episode linksStrategic school leadership with Philip Britton MBE, Head of Foundation, Bolton School (Ep. 83)Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

April 2, 2026Episode 18943 min

International leadership and the work of culture with Simon Herbert, Director of IB, GEMS Education (Ep. 189)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Simon Herbert FRSA, Director of the IB Curriculum at GEMS Education, whose leadership career has spanned senior roles at Fettes College in Edinburgh, Dulwich College Beijing and GEMS International School in Dubai. He now oversees IB provision across the GEMS group of more than 50 schools.In this reflective and internationally focused conversation, they explore culture at multiple levels of leadership - from navigating national contexts, to shaping school communities and understanding the human dynamics that sit beneath both.Together they explore:What international leadership teaches us about timing, trust and reciprocityHow leaders can adapt to local culture, while remaining true to themselvesWhy organisational culture cannot be commanded, only nudgedHow “them and us” dynamics emerge inside school communities, and what to do about itWhy leaders must deliberately keep culture on the agendaThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working across cultures or contexts, leading complex school communities, and want to think more deeply about how culture shapes strategy, behaviour and long-term success.Episode linksAdapting leadership across culture and context with Helen Olds (Ep. 184)From Head to CEO in an international context with Louise Simpson (Ep. 181)Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

March 26, 2026Episode 18840 min

Why leaders must stand for something with Andy Johnson, Head, Truro School (Ep. 188)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Andy Johnson, Head of Truro School, to explore why leaders must stand for something - and what it takes to develop a clear and distinctive point of view.In this conversation, they examine what it means to lead with what they call a 'spiky purpose' - not a spiky personality - and why conviction, agency and authenticity matter in shaping both individual and institutional direction.Together they explore:Why leadership requires more than organisational vision - it requires personal convictionThe difference between a 'spiky purpose' and a 'spiky person'How agency develops early in a career - and why it mattersHow leaders adapt their point of view to different contexts without losing authenticityThe importance of aligning head and heart in decision makingWhy stewardship and humility matter when leading for the long termThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader who wants to clarify what you stand for, develop a distinctive point of view in your sector, and lead with conviction without becoming rigid or reactive.Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

March 19, 2026Episode 18732 min

Influence, strategy and sector leadership with Guy Pascoe, CEO, Independent Schools of New Zealand (Ep. 187)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Guy Pascoe, Chief Executive of Independent Schools of New Zealand (ISNZ), to explore what school leaders can learn from sector leadership - where authority is earned through influence.In this thoughtful and strategically focused conversation, they examine how leadership works when there is no hierarchy to rely on, and why trust, clarity and disciplined focus become essential.Together they explore:Why sector leadership depends on trust rather than controlThe discipline of strategy in a resource-constrained environmentThe importance of deep listeningWhy long-term relational capital matters more than short-term winsHow influence strengthens when built slowly and consistentlyThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader who wants to build influence without relying on hierarchy, think more strategically about focus and constraint, and strengthen relationships that create long-term alignment.Episode linksCredible friend, credible threat: Leadership in a politicised world with Graham Catt (Ep. 186)Positivity, complexity and leadership with Julie Robinson (Ep. 178)Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

March 12, 2026Episode 18642 min

Credible friend, credible threat: Leadership in a politicised world with Graham Catt, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Schools Australia (Ep. 186)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Graham Catt, Chief Executive Officer of Independent Schools Australia (ISA) - the national peak body representing over 1,200 independent schools across Australia.In this conversation, they explore what it means for school leaders to operate inside a national policy and advocacy environment, and how leaders can influence decisions when education becomes increasingly politicised.Together they explore:The difference between representation and advocacyThe idea of being both a credible friend and a credible threatWhy evidence alone is rarely enough to shift political decisionsWhat it takes to lead effectively when you don’t have formal authorityWhy building relational capital - a “bucket of capital” - is essential before you try to spend itThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating forces beyond your school gates, seeking to understand how influence works at sector level, and reflecting on how to lead when authority alone isn’t enough.Episode linksPositivity, complexity and leadership with Julie Robinson (Ep. 178)Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

February 26, 2026Episode 18541 min

Connection, belonging and intuition in leadership with Vanita Uppal OBE, Director, The British School New Delhi (Ep. 185)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Vanita Uppal OBE, Director of The British School New Delhi and an international educator with more than thirty years of leadership experience, whose work is recognised globally through the roles she holds and the organisations she serves.In this thoughtful and human-centred conversation, they move beyond titles and structures to explore the inner life of leadership, and why connection, intuition, belief and belonging matter as much as strategy and systems.Together they explore:How human connection shapes culture and leadership impactWhy intuition is a form of real leadership intelligenceThe power of slowing down as a leadership disciplineHow leaders build belonging through compassion, listening and beliefThe importance of a stable mission combined with an agile strategyThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader who wants to lead with greater depth, humanity and presence, and who is reflecting on how connection, intuition and belonging shape the kind of leader you are becoming.Episode LinksListen to Juliet Corbett talking about related topics on the Quiet Leadership Revolution podcast:What if slowing down helps you speed up? (Ep. 20)The hidden reason your strategy isn’t working (Ep. 42)Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

February 19, 2026Episode 18445 min

Adapting leadership across culture and context with Helen Olds, Director, The British International School of Jeddah (Ep. 184)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Helen Olds, Director of the British International School Jeddah, with more than 20 years of leadership experience across international schools in Asia and the Middle East.In this thoughtful conversation, they explore how leadership needs to adapt across cultures and contexts without losing authenticity, and why understanding people is just as important as understanding systems when leading in international settings.Together they explore:How leadership needs to shift across different cultures and contextsThe balance between structure and freedom in complex school environmentsWhy values and purpose matter as anchors for decision makingHow leaders create the conditions for learning, growth and creativityThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working across cultures or systems, navigating complexity, or considering a move into the international school sector and reflecting on how your leadership style might need to adapt.Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

February 12, 2026Episode 18338 min

Knowing when to slow the pace as a leader with Alex Hems, Head, The Aldenham Foundation (Ep. 183)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast Juliet Corbett is joined by Alex Hems, Executive Head of The Aldenham Foundation since 2022.In this thoughtful and honest conversation, they reflect on what it takes to lead well when the pace is intense and the stakes are high, and why creating space to think - both individually and collectively - can be one of a leader’s most powerful tools.Together they explore:What ‘slow down to speed up’ really means in senior leadershipHow leaders make good decisions when there’s no clear right answerThe role of intuition, judgement and self-awareness under pressureWhy slowing the pace can strengthen teams and improve buy-inHow leaders balance urgency with long-term stewardshipThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating complexity, feeling the pressure to move fast, and wondering how to create better decisions, stronger teams, and clearer direction without burning yourself out or rushing to the wrong answer.Episode Links'Slow Productivity' by Cal NewportThank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!

February 5, 2026Episode 18237 min

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 to sustain bursary and partnership work under pressure, and how leaders can protect morally important work when time and capacity are stretched.Together they explore: What true partnership between independent and state schools really demands from leadersWhy bursary and partnership work needs to be treated as a long-term strategy, not a series of projectsThe role of shared ownership, constructive challenge and collective responsibilityHow local solutions can contribute to wider system change without imposing uniform modelsWhy complexity demands experimentation rather than certaintyWhy clarity and repeated communication matterThis episode is for you if you’re a senior leader working in complexity, committed to bursary or partnership work that genuinely matters, and thinking hard about how to maintain purpose, focus and impact when the pressure is on across the board.Episode Links'Strategy and social justice with Jaideep Barot, Headmaster, Bristol Grammar School (Ep. 51)' Thank you so much for listening to The Independent School Podcast. I would be grateful if you could spare a couple of minutes to send me some feedback here. This helps me make the podcast as helpful as possible to listeners. Thank you!