What’s special about this course?
Early headship can feel painfully isolating – you might be feeling lonely, or overwhelmed or struggling to switch off. In this class, you’ll realise immediately that you’re not alone. Kate Smith will help you find your self-esteem as a leader, teach you how to set your own boundaries, and connect you to peers you can trust for the rest of your career. This is sustainable headship.
89% of participants rated this course 4 out of 5 or higher in June 2024.
This class is running on 3 alternative dates. Select 'Instant book', then choose the date that suits your diary best. (You are only guaranteed a place on the date you book.)
Course schedule
Class 1
Tuesday 16 September 2025
4pm to 5.30pm
Live, on Zoom
Learn how to:
- Deal with imposter syndrome and ‘the abyss of self-doubt’
- Plan and structure work to maximise impact
- Create supportive systems with effective boundaries
- Make the space to switch off (and then start afresh)
Class 2
Thursday 18 September 2025
4pm to 5.30pm
Live, on Zoom
Alternative date for you to book
Class 3
Tuesday 23 September 2025
4pm to 5.30pm
Live, on Zoom
Alternative date for you to book
Your expert course trainer
Kate Smith is an experienced headteacher who now leads HeadsUp4HTs, a national organisation that supports leaders with safe spaces, coaching and events.
She is an ICF-accredited coach (ACC) and a Resilient Leaders Elements consultant, and lives in Gloucestershire with her 2 daughters. You can find her on LinkedIn or on her blog, Live Love Learn Lead.
Kate is back to lead this class for a second year, after a highly-rated first run in 2024. Feedback from participants is full of appreciation for her humility and approachability, alongside her deep understanding of the challenges of early headship.
Who can attend
This course is for you if you’re:
- Feeling new to headship
- Preparing for a new headship role
- Aspiring to headship any time soon
It caters for leaders in all phases and settings.
This course is exclusively available to The Key's Whole School members.
If you're not yet a Whole School member, find out more here.
More reasons to love this course
Your live class won't be a lecture. Kate will engage the class, invite discussion and leave plenty of room for Q&A. You'll learn through guided discussion in small groups of peers, practical tasks and regular feedback from Kate and your early headship colleagues.
Learning virtually doesn't mean learning solo. This course is designed to be rich in supportive, rewarding interaction between you and your class colleagues. It's your safe space to ask questions, seek peer feedback, and make professional connections for valuable support throughout your career.
You'll feel ready to apply what you learn straight away, with practical strategies drawn from expert advice and excellent practice. Get low-stakes practice in class and adopt the best of what’s known to work, for immediate change and lasting impact on your headship approach.
Complete your class and get a certificate of achievement from The Key for your learning record.