They Behave For Me What do you get if you cross a startup with a turnaround? With guest Liz English
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Dec 19, 2025 Liz English, Principal of The Houstone School, brings a wealth of experience from Teach First and Harris Federation. She dives into her remarkable journey blending startup and turnaround strategies in education. Discussing community skepticism, Liz highlights the importance of building trust with parents and creating a strong school culture. She outlines the challenges of recruiting staff without a building, the necessity of tailored routines, and the ambitious goals for Houstone's future. Liz's insights offer valuable lessons for new leaders navigating similar hurdles.
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From Tweet To Principal In A Week
- Liz English found the job via a Twitter tweet and became principal-designate within a week.
- She opened Houstone School after rapid recruitment and preparation from 2021 to 2022.
Startup And Turnaround Combined
- Houstone acted as both a startup and a turnaround, admitting years 7–10 at once.
- That created a mixed cohort with high needs and varied prior experience that shaped early strategy.
Community Views Shape School Buy-In
- Community scepticism stemmed from decades of poor local provision and lack of examples of high standards.
- Changing local expectations required showing what excellent schooling looks like in practice.