NAHT’s Annual Conference in Belfast was full of energy, warmth and engagement. But just beneath that, there was a clear message coming through from members: growing concern about what lies ahead.

In this Leadership Focus feature, NAHT general secretary Paul Whiteman reflects on what he heard from school leaders and what it tells us about the current mood across the profession.

Several themes stood out:

• Concern over pay and funding, with members to be consulted on their willingness to take industrial action
• Continued frustration with inspection and accountability pressures
• Uncertainty about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reform, particularly around funding, workforce and delivery
• The cumulative impact of workload and intensity on school leaders’ well-being.

This article brings together those concerns, offering a clear view of what’s driving them and what it could mean for the months ahead.

At the heart of this feature is a simple and powerful message: whatever the challenges ahead, the profession is strongest when it stands together.