S3E10: Rebecca Leek: Straitjackets, ethics and inspectors' eyebrows [Heads talking about Ofsted #1]

This is the first in a series of interviews with headteachers and former heads talking about Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education - England's schools inspectorate). Rebecca Leek is an experienced strategic leader who has worked across a wide range of settings and organisations, and she’s currently the Executive Director of the Suffolk Primary Headteachers' Assocation. She has been a headteacher, executive headteacher, chief executive, a teacher and a Senco, and is a veteran of no fewer than 14 Ofsted inspections. She is a systems thinker, an innovator, and has been described as 'a harbinger of light'. She is increasingly in demand as a speaker, trainer and writer and brings with her a wealth of knowledge and insight from her involvement in a number of sectors including the arts, social enterprise, communications, permaculture and education. Rebecca describes herself as a holistic leader and is interested in systems and governance, belonging, and spiritual sustenance within schools. As we will hear several times in this conversation, Rebecca’s practice as a permaculturist informs much of what she does, and in particular the principles of valuing diversity and what happens at the margins. LINKS: Rebecca's website: https://www.rebeccaleek.com/ Rebecca's recent article in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/24/teachers-ofsted-inspections-schools-children Rethinking Ed Conference 2023 Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-rethinking-education-conference-2023-tickets-602718887417 Apply to speak: https://www.rethinking-ed.org/rethinked23 The Rethinking Education podcast is hosted and produced by Dr James Mannion. You can contact him at www.rethinking-ed.org/contact, or via a social platform of your choosing: Twitter: https://twitter.com/RethinkingJames Insta: https://www.instagram.com/drjamesmannion LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-mannion/ SUPPORT THE RETHINKING ED PODCAST: Become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/repod Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/repod