Boarding school trauma and "the myth of privilege” - a conversation with Chris Braitch

In this rich crossover conversation, Chris Braitch and Dr James Mannion interview one another about trauma, healing, and the deep structural shifts needed in education. Chris Braitch is a father of three whose mission is to move himself and others towards connection and compassion. He works as an emotional health coach, a leadership coach with Compassionate Leaders Global, and is the founding director of Seen & Heard, a not-for-profit supporting the wellbeing of past and present pupils of the private school system - many of whom have experienced institutional neglect, emotional harm or abuse. After two decades in global sales and marketing, Chris realised that his life had been shaped by powerful, unexamined forces: early separation, boarding school culture, unresolved childhood experiences, and profound personal grief. Through coaching, men’s groups, the Emotional Freedom Technique, and a life-changing spiritual awakening, he discovered a new sense of purpose rooted in authenticity, service, and compassion. This journey transformed his parenting, his perspective, and the work he now offers to others. James shares the origins of the Rethinking Education Podcast, his work with the Learner Effectiveness Programme, slice teams, implementation science, and the Education Policy Alliance, and explores why so many top-down reforms fail to shift what actually happens in classrooms. Together, they explore: - The “myth of privilege” and why suffering in elite institutions is so often minimised - How early separation and boarding school cultures shape adult hypervigilance, self-protection, and leadership - The emotional and spiritual turning points that redirected Chris’s life - How Seen & Heard supports former pupils, works with schools, and campaigns for safer legislation - Why spoken language (oracy) is an overlooked equity issue - Why the system keeps “locating the problem in the child” - How learner-effectiveness, self-regulation, and holistic education can transform outcomes - The cultural assumptions baked into British schooling and politics - Why compassion-centred leadership matters now more than ever This is a deeply human, hopeful conversation about trauma, awareness, systemic change, and learning to live - and lead - with compassion. LINKS - Chris’s not for profit supporting the wellbeing of past pupils of boarding and independent day schools and their families – https://seenheard.org.uk - Chris’s not for profit supporting the wellbeing of present pupils of boarding and independent day schools and their families – https://seenheardschools.org.uk - Chris’s coaching business where I support men and women through 1-2-1’s and groups – https://growthwave.uk The Compassionate Leader Pathway Course - designed to help people lead with purpose, perform with clarity and live with integrity. https://compassionateleadersglobal.com CREDITS - The Rethinking Education podcast is brought to you by Crown House Publishing. It is hosted by Dr James Mannion and David Cameron, and produced by Sophie Dean. - Outro track: How it is and how it should be by Grit Control SUPPORT THE PODCAST: This podcast is a labour of love, with the emphasis on both the labour and the love. If you’d like to support the podcast or convey your appreciation for these conversations, you can: Become a patron: https://patreon.com/repod Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/repod