Ever wished you had external support as a Head?
- Claire Platt
- Sep 27
- 2 min read
I spent a couple of days last week at a trust leaders' conference in Bath, and enjoyed spending time talking with CEOs and executive leaders.
During this time together, I described the Performance, Resilience and Support (PRS) programme which is coming to Devon, and starts after the October half term.
We discussed how headteachers and heads of schools sometimes need external support to lead through complex times.
When I was Director of Education, there were times that the heads in my trust needed some external support from professionals who were not part of their line-management structure, and who would not be holding them to account.
When I was a maintained school head, I used external coaching for the same reason.
There are some challenges we face which make us feel vulnerable, full of self-doubt and even fear, and we need a psychologically safe space to talk through these and come out the other side.
This is what PRS is for. It offers a confidential, psychologically safe support network for headteachers and heads of school, outside of the organisation they work for.
Within PRS, headteachers come together in small groups to learn new strategies, share honestly, problem-solve, and support one another, away from hierarchy, accountability, or judgement.
❌ No performance management.
❌ No hidden agenda.
✔️ Just leaders who “get it”.
PRS is already supporting 90+ heads in Oxfordshire (where the programme is oversubscribed for 2026).
Now it’s accessible for headteachers in Devon for 2025–26.
Three days of training and support:
4th Nov 2025 | 24th Feb 2026 | 22nd June 2026
- Share real challenges without fear of judgement
- Problem-solve with peers who truly ‘get it’
- Learn from different perspectives outside your own trust or school
- Strengthen resilience and leadership strategies for the long haul
📍 Mill House Retreats, Tiverton
Max 10 participants
£530 for all three retreat-style days (including lunch and refreshments)
At only £177 a day, this is great value for keeping your peace of mind, and building your resilience as a school leader.
👉 Tickets now live:
Comments