Education Leaders & Trustees - Leadership Experience Amid Turmoil

How does it feel to be a leader? At the back end of 2025, I started gathering responses to a short survey. I wanted to test some thoughts I had about how it actually feels to be a leader especially, although not exclusively, in education and public sector organisations right now. I reached out to leaders I respect and admire, in the UK and overseas, and the responses started coming in. I've been quite deliberate in my approach but I'll admit to a little spaghetti-throwing below. I thought I might get about 25 responses. I've now got (via the form and through conversation) over 100. I've been quiet here because I've been in deep conversation, reflection and follow-up on what I've read and received. And the themes are very clear. Here's one of them. When I asked leaders to describe the current climate in a single word or phrase, the typical answers from some of the most experienced, capable, committed leaders in their sectors were these: Brutal. Overwhelming. Under siege. Turbulent. Beleaguered. A struggle. These are not the words of people who are failing. Every single person I have surveyed is experienced, supremely talented, widely admired. Furthermore, they love their jobs - mostly. Nevertheless, there are gaps and significant costs - I'm beginning to see them quite clearly. The people who have completed the form will receive the full report. But I want to share a few more headlines and yes, drum up a few more responses if I can. The survey is sector and age agnostic. What matters is your experience of leadership. If you lead within education (at any age and stage from EYFS to HE), are the CEO of a Trust or Charity, lead a values-driven organisation working in these spaces, or sit on a Board of Governors or Trustees, I'd love to hear from you. The survey is pinned at the top of my profile for ease. Thank you. What the responses tell us so far won't surprise many. But how we respond to it: that's what matters. If you'd prefer to talk to me directly because this matters to you, please email me [email redacted] or DM me on here. I'm also indebted to the work of those running far-reaching surveys and research into this topic nationally and internationally. I'll be weaving in my reflections on some of those projects (that I'm aware of) over the coming weeks.