VIEWS & OPINION


The unconventional path to success: exploring the co-CEO model in educational trusts


Comment by GULCIN SESLI, co-CEO at the Spring Partnership Trust


When the concept of co-Headships first emerged in education, many wondered if it could help alleviate the growing Headteacher crisis. As a Headteacher, I was all too familiar with the challenges of leading alone. Even with the support of a strong Chair of Governors, the isolation of the role often weighed heavily. At the time, I believed the co-Headship model could work—under the right conditions. It would require a partner who shared my values,


philosophy, and commitment to our goals. Success in education, after all, is built on a clear vision, and traditionally, that vision is shaped by a single decision-maker.


Fast forward several years, and I now write from a place of personal experience. My journey into shared leadership began unexpectedly when I transitioned from the role of Executive Head and found myself working alongside our CFO in a co-CEO capacity. This arrangement was meant to be a temporary fix after our CEO stepped down in May 2022. Our board of trustees viewed this arrangement as a short-term arrangement rather than a sustainable leadership strategy. What they didn’t realise at the time was that they had inadvertently put two strong female leaders in charge— leaders who were not just there to keep the ship steady but to navigate it in bold new directions.


Initially, it may have seemed like a “safe” option—an easy way to maintain continuity. But we were determined not to be just safe. With our complementary skill sets—mine grounded in education and hers (Corinne Sheehan) in finance—we quickly found our stride. I often describe us as “Yin and Yang,” perfectly balancing each other. Over time, our collaboration, commitment, and shared drive demonstrated the effectiveness of a co-CEO model. We streamlined operations, drove innovation, and tackled challenges with surprising efficiency. This success won over the trustees, who now see the co-CEO model as the best long- term solution for our Trust.


One thing that remains consistent is our shared vision and dedication: to


Discovering a student’s unique learning style Comment by BECKY WARD, Education Experience Specialist at Tutor Doctor


The transition from summer fun to classroom learning can be difficult for students, especially if they aren’t familiar with their unique learning style. Knowing the way someone understands information is the key to better learning. Here are some tips, strategies, and activities to discover a student’s learning style – whether auditory, kinesthetic, or visual. Auditory:


Students with an auditory learning style thrive when they can listen and repeat information. They benefit from hearing material multiple times and often find it helpful to talk through their learning process. · Recommended Activity: Play 20 Questions – a guessing game where you think of a term, concept, or person, and the student asks yes or no questions to figure it out. They win if they guess correctly within 20 questions. This game promotes active listening, helping a student with an auditory learning style focus on details and retain information. Auditory learners generally recall spoken information more easily than visual details.


· Tip: Use music or create memorable acronyms to help the student retain facts or steps in a process. Some examples include “ROY G BIV” for rainbow colours, “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge” for treble clef notes, or “Never Eat Soggy Waffles” to remember compass directions. Kinesthetic:


Students with this learning style often express themselves and their emotions through touch and movement. They thrive by being hands-on, needing to actively participate to fully absorb information. · Recommended Activity: Rather than sitting the student at a desk and having them answer math problems or write out the correct spelling of a word, try playing Fact Bowling. All you need to do is tape numbers, letters, or other learning elements to plastic bowling pins. The student must solve the problem or say the sound for each knocked-down pin to score


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points. Fact Bowling allows students to interact with the material in a fun and engaging way, which ultimately strengthens their understanding and comprehension of that specific topic.


· Recommended Activity: A second activity for Kinesthetic learners that incorporates both movement and requires focus is exploratory learning. Walk around the space with the student and find items that reinforce the subject being discussed. For example, estimate the size of items around you or search for objects that start with the letter “M”. This form of learning is an effective way to get your child out of their seat and motivated towards accomplishing an educational goal.


Visual:


Students with this learning style think in images and visualise with great detail. Learning is most effective for them through visual elements, such as graphs, charts, diagrams, pictures, notes, and checklists. · Tip: Use technology to your advantage and find educational videos that can simplify complex concepts such as a scientific process or historical events. Moving images and visual storytelling can capture the student’s attention and make the material more engaging.


It’s important to remember that too much visual stimulation can overwhelm students with this learning style, so have a simple game or activity on hand to get them to focus.


· Recommended Activity: Create a matching game where the student can pair an image with the corresponding fact, sound, or character. This exercise can help visual learners stay interested and engaged in the material, ensuring they retain the information and make connections between concepts.


When it comes to a child’s learning style, there is no one size fits all approach. Take the time to understand how your child receives information, engages with the material, and participates in discussion. Knowing their unique learning style will help them flourish in their education and beyond.


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enhance the life chances of every child by addressing educational inequality. Our values are aligned, and that alignment has been the foundation of our success.


So why is the co-CEO model often dismissed as unworkable, especially in education, where resources are limited and leadership structures have traditionally been hierarchical? When I discuss this model with colleagues, it generates interest—but also scepticism. The most common question I hear is, “Who makes the final decisions, and what happens if you disagree?” I’m happy to say that disagreement hasn’t been an issue. We are equal in the role and jointly accountable for all aspects of the Trust. This equality is key to our success. The role of a CEO is incredibly broad, and at times, it can feel overwhelming. The combination of educational leadership and financial expertise has given us the breadth and depth needed to succeed. Seeing things from different perspectives has helped us make more informed, balanced decisions.


In today’s world, well-being is a buzzword, and as leaders, we’re constantly searching for genuine ways to support our staff. But how often do we consider the well-being of leaders themselves? Being a CEO doesn’t require a superhero who works all hours of the day. While the role will always have high-stress moments, sharing responsibilities has given us both the flexibility to engage in other activities, ultimately reducing stress levels. Finally, let’s dispel the myth that the co-CEO model is unaffordable. In fact, it’s cost-effective, especially in a resource-limited sector like education. With tightening budgets, the co-CEO model has provided a pragmatic solution. By sharing responsibilities, we’ve minimised the need for additional senior leadership roles while maintaining strong operational oversight. As educational trusts continue to navigate a post-pandemic world filled with challenges and demands, innovative leadership models like the co- CEO approach are more relevant than ever. Perhaps it’s time to redefine leadership in education and maximise resource efficiency. Could the rise of the co-CEO model be the key to a more flexible, balanced, and effective future in education? I believe it might just be.


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