Some leadership journeys are shaped by qualifications, promotions and titles. Others are shaped by life. In this episode of The School Podcast, we sit down with Miriam Manderson to explore a journey that is as powerful as it is real, from her upbringing, to losing her mum at a young age, to becoming a headteacher and leading school culture through some of the most challenging years education has ever faced.
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Miriam speaks with honesty about her early life and how the experiences she grew up with shaped her mindset, resilience and values. She shares the profound impact of losing her mum and how grief doesn’t disappear when you step into leadership, instead, it often sharpens your empathy, perspective and sense of responsibility for others.
One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is Miriam’s approach to school culture. She doesn’t talk in buzzwords or frameworks for the sake of it. She talks about people. About staff feeling seen. About students feeling safe. About consistency, clarity and values being lived every single day, not just written on a poster in reception.
As she reflects on stepping into headship, Miriam opens up about the realities of the role: the pressure, the isolation at times, and the weight of decision-making. She also shares how leading through Covid tested every belief she had about leadership, forcing difficult choices, honest conversations, and a relentless focus on what truly mattered.
This is not a glossy success story. It’s a grounded, human conversation about leadership that is built through adversity, shaped by loss, and strengthened by purpose.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, part of SLT, an aspiring head, or someone working in education who cares deeply about young people, this episode offers powerful reminders: leadership starts long before the title, culture is built through daily actions, and our life experiences, even the hardest ones, can become our greatest strengths.
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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.
