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Alice Heywood is director of educational strategy at the Stephen Perse Foundation, a family of co-educational independent schools in Cambridge and Saffron Walden covering ages 1-18.

She started her career in a state sector primary, first teaching key stage 1 before moving to KS2 at a new school. In 2012 she joined Stephen Perse as an assistant head of prep, before becoming head of prep, then head of curriculum and then taking on the role she has now.

She spoke to Tes about what a typical week looks like for her as she moves between the foundation’s five schools and why she still finds time in her busy schedule to teach.

Time for teaching

I still teach three times a week, on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. So I am mostly based in those schools on those days. I think it helps you to understand what you’re asking people to do with any changes - you still have knowledge of the ground-level working in school.

It’s a balance getting this right. I can’t be a form tutor, for example, and I don’t teach all day, but I’m a social person and need time away from the computer, engaging with children.

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Supporting staff

Outside of teaching time and throughout Thursday and Friday, I get out and about to wherever I may be needed and catch up with other senior leaders.

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I also regularly meet with heads of department or heads of curriculum to support them with action plans, or act as a sounding board for anything they may be facing and mentor them through that.

I also provide ad-hoc support as required to staff around the different sites. Because I’ve been here a long time and people know that my role is to oversee the strategy, they’ll come to me and say, ‘Can I talk about this?” And then I can help them with whatever they’re facing.

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Cross-department work

We have meetings as an executive every two weeks in person, where all of the operational executives come together to look at strategic decisions across the organisation.

Because I don’t just oversee the curriculum or education delivery, I engage across the group by working with finance, HR and communications to help support them on the business side, too.

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Face to face

As most of our sites are quite close together, I often cycle between them, especially if someone wants to chat because I think being face-to-face is really important. People get swamped with emails and tired of online meetings, but you learn and understand so much more from being together.

I don’t have an office - my rucksack is my office. I have my laptop and iPad and can work with them from anywhere across the sites.

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Lunchtime gatherings

I go to lunch every day at whichever school I am working in. I think it’s very important to take time to stop, sit down and talk with people.

Of course, I am the senior leader there but it’s still important you stop to ask how someone’s day is, how their family are, what book they are reading. It’s a great time to build relationships.

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Keeping on top of the to-do list

I’ve always been used to working over multiple sites and I’m quite an organised and efficient person. So I’m good at coming in at the start of the day without a long to-do list, which I think is important because in schools the list can fill up quickly.

I will sometimes do a bit of work in the evening but I am strict about no screens after a certain time. I have the same ethos for weekends and holidays, to keep them free from work. A good work-life balance is vital.

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Anything you want to do more or less of?

Over the past two years I’ve become involved far more in the overall leadership of the organisation, and that professional development for me has been second to none.

Sometimes I wonder, “Do I want to do more in the classroom?” but I’m really happy with the role that I have - especially as I still get to teach a bit. I’d be sad to lose it completely, but it’s a fine balance.

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