Welcome to Heads Talks. In Series 1, we speak with senior school headteachers about their vision for education, the strategic priorities guiding their schools, and the personal values that drive them. These conversations offer rare insight into how today’s leaders are shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and addressing the evolving needs of young people.
Series 2 turns the spotlight onto the early years and primary education. Too often seen as a warm-up act to the 'real thing,' these early stages are in fact the main event. We explore why the first years of school are critical for shaping long-term development, academic success and emotional wellbeing. Our guests include Headteachers, sector leaders and educational thinkers who explain how high-quality early education builds strong foundations, and why investment at this stage pays lifelong dividends.
Whether you’re a parent choosing a school, an educator reflecting on your practice, or someone simply passionate about education, Heads Talks opens up the thinking behind the leadership that is shaping young lives.
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Welcome to Heads Talks. In Series 1, we speak with senior school headteachers about their vision for education, the strategic priorities guiding their schools, and the personal values that drive them. These conversations offer rare insight into how today’s leaders are shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and addressing the evolving needs of young people.
Series 2 turns the spotlight onto the early years and primary education. Too often seen as a warm-up act to the 'real thing,' these early stages are in fact the main event. We explore why the first years of school are critical for shaping long-term development, academic success and emotional wellbeing. Our guests include Headteachers, sector leaders and educational thinkers who explain how high-quality early education builds strong foundations, and why investment at this stage pays lifelong dividends.
Whether you’re a parent choosing a school, an educator reflecting on your practice, or someone simply passionate about education, Heads Talks opens up the thinking behind the leadership that is shaping young lives.
Series 2 - Episode 3 - A conversation with Claire Boyd
Heads Talks
49 minutes 29 seconds
4 months ago
Series 2 - Episode 3 - A conversation with Claire Boyd
Our guest this episode is Claire Boyd, Head of Glendower Preparatory School, a leading independent girls’ school in Kensington, London. Claire is now in her third headship within the independent sector, and with a background in educational leadership and curriculum development, she brings a wealth of insight into what truly matters in primary education. Claire is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of the Early Years and Key Stage 1, and is keen to champion the role these formative stages play in shaping a child’s lifelong learning journey. She is also a strong proponent of play as a cornerstone of early childhood development—believing it to be essential for lifelong learning and success.
During the episode Claire and Simon explore how these formative stages shape children’s emotional and intellectual growth, their learning behaviours, and their emerging sense of agency. They discuss the importance of nurturing environments, the strength of teacher-parent relationships, and how neuroscience can inform thoughtful curriculum design. They also reflect on the balance between academic rigour and the development of human skills, the transformative power of play, and why we must look beyond exam results when defining success in education. Claire offers insightful advice for parents as they navigate their child’s early learning journey.
Heads Talks
Welcome to Heads Talks. In Series 1, we speak with senior school headteachers about their vision for education, the strategic priorities guiding their schools, and the personal values that drive them. These conversations offer rare insight into how today’s leaders are shaping the future of education, fostering innovation, and addressing the evolving needs of young people.
Series 2 turns the spotlight onto the early years and primary education. Too often seen as a warm-up act to the 'real thing,' these early stages are in fact the main event. We explore why the first years of school are critical for shaping long-term development, academic success and emotional wellbeing. Our guests include Headteachers, sector leaders and educational thinkers who explain how high-quality early education builds strong foundations, and why investment at this stage pays lifelong dividends.
Whether you’re a parent choosing a school, an educator reflecting on your practice, or someone simply passionate about education, Heads Talks opens up the thinking behind the leadership that is shaping young lives.
