Leadership that listens: Strengthening schools through stakeholder voice

In today’s evolving education landscape, the role of leadership is being redefined. Beyond operational excellence, leaders are increasingly expected to build trust, both organisationally and relationally. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by listening.

Listening well is more than gathering views. It is a leadership strength that enables schools and trusts to deepen engagement, create shared value, and move forward with purpose.
 

Are we really listening?

Let’s review how we are doing as a sector currently. One in five staff members report “rarely” or “never” seeing their feedback to the leadership have an impact. Additionally, almost a third of pupils report feeling that their opinion is not very valued or not valued at all. And 38% of parents report feeling that their feedback to the school rarely or never has an impact.

This suggests that even where trusts feel they are listening, there is more to do to ensure that all members of the community feel heard. What follows is a set of suggestions for increasing trust effectiveness through listening, drawing on Edurio’s research and discussions with trust leaders who’ve embedded stakeholder feedback strategically.

Seven practices of listening leadership

Based on Edurio’s research with thousands of stakeholders across England, here are seven practical ways education leaders can embed listening in their work:

Use feedback to inform strategic decisions

• Turning feedback data into strategic action helps trusts create value on what’s most important to those within the community, taking into account important elements of school, trust and national level context.
• Identify patterns and trends across schools
• Use national benchmarks for informed decisions
• Find what’s most important to your community
• Align actions with community needs

Translate feedback into collective action

• Feedback is only powerful when it leads to meaningful, shared change. Strong leadership means closing the gap between what is said and what is done.
• Share findings with stakeholders
• Focus resources on what’s most important for your community
• Learn from trusts excelling in particular areas
• Develop an action plan that works for your context

Embed listening in your mission and strategy

• A listening organisation weaves stakeholder feedback into its core mission, ensuring that purpose and values guide everyday decisions.
• Build relational trust through transparent communication
• Engage all stakeholders regularly
• Involve stakeholders in shaping decisions
• Reach underrepresented voices

Make listening accessible and meaningful

• Reaching all voices, from families of children with SEND to teaching assistants, requires thoughtful design. Multiple formats and proactive outreach help ensure everyone has a chance to contribute.
• Ensure accessibility
• Vary collection methods
• Communicate impact

Build capability to respond effectively

• Staff need time and support to analyse feedback and lead improvement. Leaders at every level benefit from training in interpreting data and navigating difficult messages.
• Train leaders in interpreting and communicating feedback
• Encourage headteachers to champion listening practices
• Facilitate staff discussions grounded in evidence

Tackle challenges to embed lasting change

• Stakeholder trust grows when they see the difference their feedback makes. Consistent follow up, however small, demonstrates that listening is more than lip service.
• Engage stakeholders and build trust to help overcome lower response rates
• Find the positives and face the negatives with an open mind, which is important for interpreting data accurately
• Show impact and follow up to help maintain engagement over time

Tell a story that connects values to action

• Communicating change helps people feel proud of their contribution. Sharing how feedback shaped improvement builds unity and reinforces your leadership values.
• Celebrate stakeholder contributions and successes
• Frame initiatives as community driven change
• More collaborative school communities

Why listening matters

Becoming a listening organisation is not just a technical achievement but a commitment to living your trust’s purpose. By prioritising stakeholder voices, creating impact, and nurturing trust, school trusts can lead their communities with integrity and courage, ensuring that time and resources are spent on the most important priorities.

Now is the time to turn values into action and demonstrate that strong, inclusive leadership starts with listening.

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