Authors

Hannah Carter
Hannah Carter

Hannah Carter has been headteacher at  in Swanley, Kent, since April 2025.

An NPQ executive coach, Hannah previously spent 11 years at  in East Sussex, rising from head of English to vice-principal.

All articles by Hannah Carter
How some schools turn parent power into an unfair advantage
The real differentiator between top-performing state schools and the rest is something policymakers won’t speak about – the ability to curate an engaged parent cohort, says this headteacher
Secondary
14 September 2026
Cherry picking from bowl
Coastal schools shouldn’t be encouraging students to ‘escape’
Telling pupils in coastal communities that school is a springboard to ‘escape’ is a harmful message that deprives these towns of the very people they need to thrive, says head Hannah Carter
General
14 July 2026
Image of Hastings, UK
Beware the autonomy trap: some leaders like being told what to do
A head who always believed that her leaders wanted to be given total freedom reflects on the moment when she came to realise that this isn’t always the case – and how she adapted in response
Staff Management
17 June 2026
Ground crew guiding plane
What can schools do about children missing education?
The number of children missing education has increased by a staggering 19 per cent in a year. One headteacher explains what this really means, and how schools can help these vulnerable children
General
5 January 2026
Student cut out of classroom picture
Why I got rid of isolation at my school
One head makes the case against isolating students for poor behaviour – and explains the improvements she has seen since abandoning the policy at her school
General
4 November 2025
graphic of excluded girl