Leadership 55: What is CALM Leadership with Patrick Cozier?

The latest Leadership 55 series kicked off with an inspiring session from Patrick Cozier, Headteacher at Highgate Wood, delving into CALM Leadership – an approach to leadership which features in his upcoming book, Calm Leadership: Developing Leaders that Last.

Patrick reflected on the emotional realities of leadership, reminding attendees that it’s impossible to fully prepare for what leadership feels like.

At the heart of Patrick’s session was his CALM Leadership Framework:

Patrick emphasised that leadership isn’t about avoiding difficulty – it’s about accepting challenges as part of the role and acting from self-belief and purpose.

“It’s not about not having an ego. It’s about not being driven by your ego,” he explained.

The session also had key education and Ofsted updates from HEP Chief Executive James Page.

Stay up to date with the latest Ofsted developments through HEP’s new series of Ofsted support, designed to cover every stage of the inspection cycle – ensuring you and your team are fully prepared, from the first call to the deep dive into inclusive practice.

Leadership 55 is HEP’s premier leadership event. Each session is hosted by John Tomsett and includes a guest appearance of an educational superstar. We have had guests such as Dylan Wiliam, Bennie Kara, Becky Allen, Jim Knight, Alex Quigley, Jade Pearce, and many more.

And now, Leadership 55 is out as a book – written by John Tomsett and edited by Luke Kemper – released on 26 September.

The book captures both the essence of each special guest interview along with John’s sage reflections. There is indispensable advice on a range of issues, from the complexities of assessment, to coping with the loneliness of leading a school, to diversifying the curriculum.

All proceeds from book sales go to Horizons Charity, helping children and young people unlock life-changing opportunities and expand their horizons.

Jonathan is the Lead for Communications and Content at HEP. He has a passion for storytelling and has previously worked as a journalist and communications advisor in New Zealand.