Headrest
@headrestuk.bsky.social
A free and confidential wellbeing support service for headteachers. Co-founders @RosMcM and @AndrewDMorrish.
Contact us: HeadrestUK.co.uk
Order our book: Beyond Belief: Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it https://amzn.eu/d/87irpSi
Contact us: HeadrestUK.co.uk
Order our book: Beyond Belief: Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it https://amzn.eu/d/87irpSi
📣 Out now!
Our 2026 Headteacher Wellbeing Report.
Download it from our website. Please share widely. 🙏🏼 t.co/9vAqtyW4Fr
Our 2026 Headteacher Wellbeing Report.
Download it from our website. Please share widely. 🙏🏼 t.co/9vAqtyW4Fr
https://www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/2026-headteacher-wellbeing-report
t.co
January 27, 2026 at 12:46 PM
📣 Out now!
Our 2026 Headteacher Wellbeing Report.
Download it from our website. Please share widely. 🙏🏼 t.co/9vAqtyW4Fr
Our 2026 Headteacher Wellbeing Report.
Download it from our website. Please share widely. 🙏🏼 t.co/9vAqtyW4Fr
Thank you @tesmagazine.bsky.social for your support.
Our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is an important read.
Published on our website next week.
Our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is an important read.
Published on our website next week.
Excl: A headteacher support service has warned leaders are seeking medical treatment over "unethical" treatment by trusts and councils.
While most trusts & LAs act with integrity, @headrestuk.bsky.social says these "disturbing" cases are now “increasingly recurring".
While most trusts & LAs act with integrity, @headrestuk.bsky.social says these "disturbing" cases are now “increasingly recurring".
Leaders suffer ‘disturbing’ mistreatment, support service warns
School leaders are being set ‘undeliverable’ expectations, says Headrest, as it fields a big increase in calls
www.tes.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Thank you @tesmagazine.bsky.social for your support.
Our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is an important read.
Published on our website next week.
Our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report is an important read.
Published on our website next week.
Look out for our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report coming soon.
We make 8 recommendations based on the calls we received anonymously throughout 2025.
You won’t want to miss it. ⤵️
We make 8 recommendations based on the calls we received anonymously throughout 2025.
You won’t want to miss it. ⤵️
January 20, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Look out for our 5th Annual Headteacher Wellbeing Report coming soon.
We make 8 recommendations based on the calls we received anonymously throughout 2025.
You won’t want to miss it. ⤵️
We make 8 recommendations based on the calls we received anonymously throughout 2025.
You won’t want to miss it. ⤵️
We continue to receive calls in regard to the new inspection framework. Call us in confidence if you need support and a friendly ear. It’s completely free.
October 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
We continue to receive calls in regard to the new inspection framework. Call us in confidence if you need support and a friendly ear. It’s completely free.
Colleagues - we are beginning to get some feedback on these pilot inspections. It is helpful for us to know how things are on the ground in order to support. Please send us any information you you have.
October 11, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Colleagues - we are beginning to get some feedback on these pilot inspections. It is helpful for us to know how things are on the ground in order to support. Please send us any information you you have.
Absolutely 👏👏👏
Calling for a ‘culture of courage’. @moremorrow.bsky.social
://schoolsweek.co.uk/mapping-the-way-out-of-educations-poly-crisis/
://schoolsweek.co.uk/mapping-the-way-out-of-educations-poly-crisis/
The Knowledge: A map out of eduction's poly-crisis
This report doesn't just call for a system based on professionalism - it models it, and shows us how to build it
schoolsweek.co.uk
June 26, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Absolutely 👏👏👏
Our Team know how to enjoy themselves @rosmcm.bsky.social and @kennyfrederick.bsky.social #Shetland2025
@moonrakerteacher.bsky.social still taking calls while Ros and Kenny are getting very wet!
@moonrakerteacher.bsky.social still taking calls while Ros and Kenny are getting very wet!
June 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Our Team know how to enjoy themselves @rosmcm.bsky.social and @kennyfrederick.bsky.social #Shetland2025
@moonrakerteacher.bsky.social still taking calls while Ros and Kenny are getting very wet!
@moonrakerteacher.bsky.social still taking calls while Ros and Kenny are getting very wet!
This sums up the stress and the joy we listen to everyday. Thank you @keziak70.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
Heads change lives - but we have to be prepared to fight
School leaders are in the privileged position of being able to help struggling families, though battles have to be won to do it, writes this co-chair of the Headteachers’ Roundtable
www.tes.com
May 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This sums up the stress and the joy we listen to everyday. Thank you @keziak70.bsky.social
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
www.tes.com/magazine/lea...
We have written to the appointments commission jointly with @headsroundtable.bsky.social opposing the peerage nomination of Amanda Spielman.
We’ve also sent a copy to No 10.
You can download our letter and send it to your MP and the commission as well.
We’ve also sent a copy to No 10.
You can download our letter and send it to your MP and the commission as well.
Statement opposing Amanda Spielman's peerage
Headrest and the Headteachers' Roundtable have written jointly to the Appointments Commission opposing the Conservative Party recommendation that former HMCI Amanda Spielman be awarded a peerage. We o...
www.headrestuk.co.uk
March 31, 2025 at 2:27 PM
We have written to the appointments commission jointly with @headsroundtable.bsky.social opposing the peerage nomination of Amanda Spielman.
We’ve also sent a copy to No 10.
You can download our letter and send it to your MP and the commission as well.
We’ve also sent a copy to No 10.
You can download our letter and send it to your MP and the commission as well.
Reposted by Headrest
The HeadteachersRoundtable and Headrest are organisations who understand. Read their joint statement
@headsroudtable.bsky.social @headrestuk.bsky.social headteachersroundtable.wordpress.com/o
@headsroudtable.bsky.social @headrestuk.bsky.social headteachersroundtable.wordpress.com/o
headteachersroundtable.wordpress.com
March 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The HeadteachersRoundtable and Headrest are organisations who understand. Read their joint statement
@headsroudtable.bsky.social @headrestuk.bsky.social headteachersroundtable.wordpress.com/o
@headsroudtable.bsky.social @headrestuk.bsky.social headteachersroundtable.wordpress.com/o
Reposted by Headrest
The reported nomination of ex-Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman for the House of Lords is ‘inappropriate’ and ‘insensitive’, @headsroundtable.bsky.social and @headrestuk.bsky.social tell the appointments commission
Giving ex-Ofsted chief a seat in Lords ‘is inappropriate’
Headteacher groups write to the House of Lords to voice concerns over the reported nomination of former chief inspector Amanda Spielman
www.tes.com
March 31, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The reported nomination of ex-Ofsted chief Amanda Spielman for the House of Lords is ‘inappropriate’ and ‘insensitive’, @headsroundtable.bsky.social and @headrestuk.bsky.social tell the appointments commission
We will be issuing a joint statement with @headsroundtable.bsky.social later this afternoon.
We will also publish a letter for you to send to the House of Lords Appointment Committee and your local MP.
It will be available to download on our website blog. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog
We will also publish a letter for you to send to the House of Lords Appointment Committee and your local MP.
It will be available to download on our website blog. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog
March 31, 2025 at 10:51 AM
We will be issuing a joint statement with @headsroundtable.bsky.social later this afternoon.
We will also publish a letter for you to send to the House of Lords Appointment Committee and your local MP.
It will be available to download on our website blog. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog
We will also publish a letter for you to send to the House of Lords Appointment Committee and your local MP.
It will be available to download on our website blog. www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog
We will publish details of the petition mentioned in this article in due course.
“Obscene”. “A deliberate insult to every teacher in the country.” Fury as we reveal Tories have nominated Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s chief when Ruth Perry killed herself after a bruising inspection, for a peerage. www.theguardian.com/education/20...
‘An insult’: Amanda Spielman, Ofsted chief at time of Ruth Perry’s suicide, to be given a peerage
The nomination by Conservatives of the former chief inspector of schools has been met with outrage by the headteacher’s family, and called ‘obscene’ by school leaders
www.theguardian.com
March 29, 2025 at 3:09 PM
We will publish details of the petition mentioned in this article in due course.
Reposted by Headrest
"As a profession, we need to learn how to hold ourselves & others to account for the quality of our work, rather than having constantly to rely on outsiders." @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social & the @headrestuk.bsky.social team in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @johncattedu.bsky.social
Beyond Belief: Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it
Buy Beyond Belief: Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it by Morrish, Andrew (ISBN: 9781036004620) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
www.amazon.co.uk
March 19, 2025 at 5:20 PM
"As a profession, we need to learn how to hold ourselves & others to account for the quality of our work, rather than having constantly to rely on outsiders." @andrewdmorrish.bsky.social & the @headrestuk.bsky.social team in www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Belie... @johncattedu.bsky.social
So important that all colleagues respond to this.
www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25
www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25
The Alternative Big Consultation (ABC)
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
www.surveymonkey.com
March 22, 2025 at 6:26 PM
So important that all colleagues respond to this.
www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25
www.surveymonkey.com/r/LQ7KG25
Reposted by Headrest
Take a look at the @headrestuk.bsky.social blog. It contains all of our annual wellbeing reports as well as posts from a range of guest bloggers all focussing on wellbeing.
Welcome to the Headwell blog
Headrest is a free wellbeing telephone support service for headteachers and CEOs. As experienced ex-heads, we understand how challenging it is right now. We provide a sympathetic and confidential list...
www.headrestuk.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Take a look at the @headrestuk.bsky.social blog. It contains all of our annual wellbeing reports as well as posts from a range of guest bloggers all focussing on wellbeing.
Reposted by Headrest
If you want to explore humane and intelligent alternatives to a high stakes accountability system, then this book from @headrestuk.bsky.social is a good starting point.
Full of examples of how it could work, backed with international research, real examples and best practice.
Out now. ⤵️
Full of examples of how it could work, backed with international research, real examples and best practice.
Out now. ⤵️
Out this Friday.
Beyond Belief. Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it.
Not my thoughts but those of 30 or so others.
Pre-order here. 🙏🏼
amzn.eu/d/0KmhHzA
Beyond Belief. Why school accountability is broken and how to fix it.
Not my thoughts but those of 30 or so others.
Pre-order here. 🙏🏼
amzn.eu/d/0KmhHzA
February 6, 2025 at 8:08 AM
If you want to explore humane and intelligent alternatives to a high stakes accountability system, then this book from @headrestuk.bsky.social is a good starting point.
Full of examples of how it could work, backed with international research, real examples and best practice.
Out now. ⤵️
Full of examples of how it could work, backed with international research, real examples and best practice.
Out now. ⤵️
Reposted by Headrest
Brilliant this from fellow Headrestian and former special school head @moonrakerteacher.bsky.social.
We are not happy with Ofsted. Here’s the follow-up to our response yesterday to the unworkable report card proposals.
Report cards: an opportunity spurned
In this second of two posts, Headrest member Pete Crockett makes clear his disappointment with Ofsted's recent proposal to introduce report cards.
www.headrestuk.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Brilliant this from fellow Headrestian and former special school head @moonrakerteacher.bsky.social.
We are not happy with Ofsted. Here’s the follow-up to our response yesterday to the unworkable report card proposals.
Report cards: an opportunity spurned
In this second of two posts, Headrest member Pete Crockett makes clear his disappointment with Ofsted's recent proposal to introduce report cards.
www.headrestuk.co.uk
February 5, 2025 at 6:07 PM
We are not happy with Ofsted. Here’s the follow-up to our response yesterday to the unworkable report card proposals.
Reposted by Headrest
Excellent response. Thanks @headrestuk.bsky.social
February 4, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Excellent response. Thanks @headrestuk.bsky.social
Reposted by Headrest
This is brilliant from @headrestuk.bsky.social colleagues @rosmcm.bsky.social and @julespg.bsky.social.
I think it speaks on behalf of many.
I think it speaks on behalf of many.
February 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This is brilliant from @headrestuk.bsky.social colleagues @rosmcm.bsky.social and @julespg.bsky.social.
I think it speaks on behalf of many.
I think it speaks on behalf of many.
Please ensure this is spread far and wide.
February 4, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Please ensure this is spread far and wide.
Reposted by Headrest
Excellent blog by @headrestuk.bsky.social www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/missed-...
Missed the opportunity: making matters worse
In part one of a two-part series, Headrest feel compelled to respond to Ofsted's latest Report Card proposals. Headrest team members Ros McMullen and Julie Price-Grimshaw outline their disappointment ...
www.headrestuk.co.uk
February 4, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Excellent blog by @headrestuk.bsky.social www.headrestuk.co.uk/blog/missed-...