PiXL Pearls is back for season 2. January 17th. PiXL Pearls are short reflections on life and leadership, in schools. They are here to inspire, encourage, motivate, and challenge. The PiXL network spans almost 3,000 schools across key stages 1-5. We collaborate, share best practice, and equip leaders throughout the educational system. Series 1 was presented by Founder-Director Sir John Rowling, and Series 2 is presented by Rachel Johnson, CEO of PiXL. They both draw on literature, life, and experience in leadership to explore different elements of what it is to be a good leader and how we can become even better leaders, both in and out of school. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

We have our defining moments, all of us, but as teachers, we may well also be providing these for others, often unwittingly. Sir John Rowling reflects on how often the impact of these defining moments can alter the course of our lives, even if they occur by chance. He reflects on the defining moment that started him on a magnificent career in education, and the moment which led to the eventual formation of PiXL in 2006.  Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

When you take over a job from someone else, at whatever level, there is always the expectation that you have to fill their shoes and various ways to approach it. In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Sir John Rowling draws on the steps Tim Cook took when he replaced Steve Jobs as Apple CEO in 2011. He focused on instilling values, focusing on strengths, and retaining and hiring talent. By focusing on these steps, perhaps you too can lead and develop an organisation that has a dramatic impact for all the people you serve. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Sir John Rowling contemplates the disingenuous use of words such as ‘passionate’ and ‘excited’. There's no doubt there is value in these words if you truly feel them and can communicate it to others. Sometimes, however, they can feel like the right thing to say even when it’s not altogether true. Can you recall feeling cynical about someone else’s passion for a project? We often have a lack of self-awareness about what we say and the impact it has on others if we use empty words, but being aware of this can be crucial for our leadership to have impact.  Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

Can people trust what you say? Or are they inclined to say in their private conversations and inner thoughts, ‘I take everything they say with a pinch of salt’? This episode of PiXL Pearls is about lying, and how that relates to trust in an organisation. Lies happen a lot in leadership, but if we want respected leadership, then there is a strong case for the truth. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

This week’s episode takes inspiration from the reflections of newsreader Trevor McDonald in his autobiography ‘An Improbable Life’. McDonald muses over how there is, almost always, a price to be paid when in pursuit of your ‘prizes’. What is the elusive ‘pot of gold’ that you strive towards as your prize? Sir John Rowling suggests the answer is to be thrilled by the joy of the chase for your pot of gold, yet being aware of when the price outweighs the prize. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

In these times, looking after our teams is so important and shouldn’t be underestimated. In this episode, Sir John Rowling draws inspiration from Nelson Mandela, a man who led people and made them feel like they mattered. How do you make your staff feel important? And why is doing so vital for impressive leadership? Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

In this episode of PiXL Pearls, Sir John Rowling explores the idea that noble aspirations are not enough on their own to guarantee you’ll succeed. In schools, as with all settings, you need the ability to bring people together through leadership skills and talent too. How often do you take time to reflect on your leadership skills and to develop these? Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

In this week’s #PiXLPearls podcast, Sir John Rowling reflects on IBM’s management of HIPOs: those staff members who showed high potential. He says that as leaders, it’s our responsibility to prepare the next generation for being the leaders of tomorrow. Do you make an effort to actively make this a priority? Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/

In this week’s episode, Sir John Rowling centers on six ‘pieces of wisdom’ from Simon Sinek, author of several thought-provoking leadership books. One of his core philosophies is about the ‘why’: the purpose, the reason why we do things, and how this is ultimately the stimulating energy, both for us and for those who we are leading. Sinek has a vision that it is well within our power to build a world where the vast majority of us wake up and feel inspired by what we do. Subscribe now to download every episode directly to your phone automatically. PiXL Pearls is a We Are In Beta production. PiXL (Partners in Excellence) is a partnership of over 1,600 secondary schools, 500 sixth forms, 830 primary schools, and 75 providers of alternative education. Through our support for schools together we share best practice to raise standards and to give students a better future and brighter hope. For more information visit: https://www.pixl.org.uk/