Heads Up Ltd

When a head said, “I’d stopped seeing it,” that really stayed with me.

She was talking about her school environment.
It wasn’t because she didn’t care.
It wasn’t because she’d lowered her standards.

But she’d been in post for years.
And when you walk the same corridors every day, your eyes adjust.
Especially when your head is full of a gazillion other things that need doing.

It wasn’t chaos.
It wasn’t awful.
It was just… tired.

Displays curling at the edges.
Old notices blu-tacked over older notices.
A tray system that made sense five years ago but now just looked messy.
A reception area that felt more functional than welcoming.

She cared deeply about her school.
She talked about excellence all the time.

But when she paused — really paused — she realised the environment wasn’t reflecting the standards she held in her head.

And that was uncomfortable.
Not defensive.
Just honest.

She didn’t blame staff. She owned it.
“If I’ve stopped seeing it, they probably have too.”

So she did something simple.
She needed fresh eyes.
We walked the school together.

And saw it as if she were new.
As a parent.
As a visitor.
As a child.

She didn’t launch a big initiative.
She didn’t send a long email.
She chose five non-negotiables.

1. Clear walls.
2. No curling displays.
3. Front-of-class clutter gone.
4. Coats on pegs.
5. Shared spaces reset daily.

That was it.

Within weeks, something shifted.
Staff started noticing things themselves.
Children took more pride.
Visitors commented that the school “felt different.”

It wasn’t about aesthetics.
It was about alignment.

The building finally matched the belief — and the expectation.
I think this is harder than we admit.

None of us go into leadership wanting mediocre.
But busyness dulls the edges.

And sometimes the bravest thing a head can say is,
“I’ve stopped seeing it.”
And then decide to see it again.

💬 Have you ever had that moment — where you realised you’d normalised something you wouldn’t have accepted five years ago?

“I’d stopped seeing it.”

A head said this to me about her school environment.

Not because she didn’t care.
Not because standards had dropped.

She’d just been there a long time.

Same corridors.
Same classrooms.
Every day.

And over time, things had become… normal.

Not bad.
Just a bit tired.

That’s the bit I think we underestimate.

Familiarity dulls our standards.

So here’s something simple to try this week:

Walk your school as if it’s your first day.
Not as the head — as a parent. As a child.

Give yourself 10 minutes.

Look at the environment.

What stands out?

Write down just 3 things you’d change.
Start there.

Once you see it… you can’t unsee it.

If this resonates, I’ve written a short blog on how small changes to your environment can shift the feel of a school.

Link below 👇

And that's a wrap! An ice-cream to mark (what can I say - it's obligatory!)
Thanks - a superb day for all, as always 👏💖🙏

Love the
So great to meet with awesome people like Kelly Hannaghan and Hywel Roberts 🤩

I'm on the cover of the brochure! Does that make me a cover girl?! 😂

Ready for my next talk :
The hidden factor behind the best schools (that no-one talks about)

Arrived in Llandudno. Even on a grey day it’s gorgeous.
Can’t wait for the National Education Show tomorrow 🤩

On my way to Llandudno for the excellent National Education Show! I can't wait to see you, Nicky, Einir, the team, all the wonderful speakers and all the teachers, school leaders, teaching assistants and more who will be going 🤩