People-first leadership: A spotlight on leaders at leading London schools

The start of a new school year always carries a mix of excitement and pressure. Staffrooms across the UK and Europe are buzzing again with lesson planning, corridor catch-ups, and the quiet optimism that September brings.

But behind that energy lies a truth anyone in a demanding role can relate to: teaching is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. It’s a profession where the stakes are high, the hours are long, and the decisions never stop coming. 

In fact, teachers make more minute-by-minute decisions than almost any other profession (approximately 4 per minute according to the research). And all whilst carrying the responsibility of shaping young lives. No wonder more than half of teachers in the UK, US and Australia report high levels of stress and occupational burnout.

And here’s what the evidence makes clear: teacher wellbeing is student wellbeing.

Research from the University of Oxford’s 'Wellbeing for Schoolteachers' project shows that when teachers thrive, students thrive. A recent article in the Lancashire Post echoes this, urging schools to prioritise wellbeing as a proactive and preventative measure. When schools invest in their people, absence drops, culture improves, and outcomes for students rise.

So the question becomes: how do schools support their staff effectively, and in doing so, create the conditions for students to flourish?

The people-first approach

At Lead-Well, we believe leadership isn’t about hierarchy. It’s about people. Whether you’re a headteacher, a middle leader, a classroom teacher, support staff, or even a student leading a team project, the principles are the same.

People-first leadership starts with self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and connection. It requires leaders to show up for themselves, so they can show up for others. It asks schools to recognise that staff wellbeing isn’t a “nice to have”, but absolutely essential for performance, culture, and long-term success.

The return on investment speaks volumes. For every £1 invested in mental health and wellbeing, organisations can see a return of £4.70. In schools, that return doesn’t just show up in reduced absences or improved retention. Healthy, supported teachers bring energy, presence, and creativity into the classroom. Students notice this, and they feel more supported, valued, and ready to learn.

Spotlight: Thomas’s London Day Schools

One inspiring example of this in action is Thomas’s London Day Schools, a group of five leading co-educational schools across London. With over 600 staff and 3,000 students, Thomas’s are renowned for their forward-thinking approach, their academic excellence rooted in individual and collective wellbeing, and their core value as simple as it is profound: Be Kind.

For Thomas’s, ‘Be Kind’ is much more than a school merch slogan. It’s a value that extends to how staff are supported, how leaders develop their teams, and how wellbeing is embedded into daily life. 

At Thomas’s Clapham, recently shortlisted for Independent Prep School of the Year, and Thomas’s Battersea, the ethos is evident: invest in staff wellbeing and the ripple effect will shape the whole school community.

A look inside Lead-Well x Thomas’s 

Since May 2024, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with them to co-create and deliver a series of tailored training for their leadership team and wider staff, with the core objective of providing practical tools to build resilience, reduce stress and anxiety, and strengthen connection.

What Was Delivered

The sessions at Thomas’s were designed to be practical, deeply human, and research-informed, giving staff tools they could use straight away. 

We focused on:

• Self-Awareness: Reflecting on energy, stress triggers, and strengths.
• Connection: Creating safe spaces for honest sharing and trust building across teams.
• Resilience: Evidence-based strategies to manage stress and embrace uncertainty.
• Practical Habits: Simple, sustainable wellbeing practices for daily life.
• Storytelling + Research: Blending global evidence with real-life classrooms.

To extend impact beyond the workshop, staff received our proprietary “cheat sheet”, a distilled set of evidence-based tools to help staff embed learning into their daily routines.

We are, just quietly, beyond chuffed at the response:

• Average workshop rating: 10/10
• Likelihood to recommend: 10/10

One staff member said:

“I came in today not knowing what to think, but you have renewed my purpose for why we do, what we do.”

Another noted:

“This was the best INSET session I’ve ever had.”

The leadership team echoed this impact. As Rupert Hawkins, Head of Thomas’s Battersea, shared:

“Peter manages to meet what is a delicate balance of vulnerability and the academic, basing his approach on personal experience and boundless research. The result is that others are inclined to look inwardly, making the sessions meaningful and incredibly powerful.”

And Nathan Boller, Chief Education Officer & Head of Thomas’s Clapham, added:

“Peter Seehusen, through Lead-Well, has been a valuable addition to our community. Backed by solid research, his insights are delivered with warmth and humour, making them all the more accessible and impactful. Perhaps most importantly, Peter offers ways we can empower ourselves in this space. In a short time, he has made a wonderful difference to our team.”

As we said… chuffed! (and very grateful) 

Why all this matters

To us, the story of Thomas’s is much more than a case study. It’s evidence that when schools take a people-first approach – prioritising staff wellbeing alongside academic excellence – everyone is far better off. Teachers are balanced and energised, students are supported and engaged, and the culture becomes one where resilience and kindness bloom.

And this isn’t unique to independent schools. Across more than 400 schools in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and China, we’ve seen the same truth emerge: the wellbeing of staff is inseparable from the wellbeing of students.

Leading well through change

Education is ever-changing: policy shifts, curriculum updates, social pressures, and global uncertainty all filter through into classrooms. But resilience, connection, and purpose are constants we can equip our people with.

That’s what people-first leadership is about in this context: supporting staff so they can support students, ensuring the next generation of leaders grows up not just academically capable, but emotionally resilient and connected to themselves and those around them. 

Reflection for school leaders, teachers, and alike:

‍What’s one practical step you could take this term to invest in your staff’s wellbeing, and in doing so, invest in your students’ future?

Wondering where to start or how to create the most value for your staff? Reach out below or email us at hello@leadwellcc.com to hear how we can help.