In the latest episode of The School Podcast, I sat down with Adrian Rogers, CEO of Chiltern Learning Trust, to talk about leadership, people, and how education has changed over time.
Listen on the go or watch below:
Watch the full interview on YouTube →
One theme ran through the entire conversation: great leadership starts with people. Not structures. Not systems. Not policies on paper. Adrian is clear that one of his biggest strengths as a leader is bringing the right people into the organisation and building a team he trusts. When you get that right, everything else becomes possible, culture improves, standards rise, and schools become places where staff want to stay and grow.
We also explored how education has evolved over the years, the increased pressure, accountability, and complexity that leaders now face, and why staying connected to what is actually happening in schools has never been more important. Not just through data or reports, but by being visible, listening carefully, and understanding the lived experience of staff and students. Leadership from a distance rarely works; presence still matters.
A particularly powerful part of the conversation focused on the danger of leadership echo chambers. When leaders only hear voices that agree with them, blind spots grow. Adrian spoke openly about the importance of challenge, diverse perspectives, and creating cultures where people feel safe to speak honestly, even when it’s uncomfortable. Progress rarely comes from comfort alone.
We also discussed how leaders can stay grounded while leading at scale: spending time in schools, asking better questions, and resisting the temptation to assume that one solution fits every context. Strong leadership is not about having all the answers, but about being willing to listen, adapt, and keep learning.
This episode is a reminder that strong trusts and strong schools are built through relationships, trust, and people who genuinely care about the work.
👉 If this conversation resonated, I’d also recommend checking out the episode with Sam Sheedy, where we explore leadership from the school level and what people-first leadership looks like day to day. Together, the two episodes offer a valuable insight into leadership from classroom to trust level.
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There you have it; if you would like to learn more then you can email the office at admin@cameron-parker.com and someone will be in touch in 24 hours.
