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Written by Iona Jackson, Managing Director at Edurio.
Iona leads the work of turning Edurio’s national datasets into impactful insights for trust and school leaders. A national keynote speaker and leading voice on stakeholder feedback, she has led major reports on staff experiences, pupil wellbeing and parental engagement, helping schools build more inclusive, supportive environments where staff and pupils thrive.
Listening well is more than gathering views. It is a leadership strength that focuses on bringing your people with you on the journey, and it enables schools and trusts to deepen engagement, create shared understanding, and go further, together.
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.
Source: Edurio Staff Experience Survey
Additionally, almost a third of pupils report feeling that their opinion is not very valued or not valued at all.
Source: Edurio Pupil Experience Survey
And 38% of parents report feeling that their feedback to the school rarely or never has an impact.
Source: Edurio Parent Experience Survey
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:
1. 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
Deepen your understanding of Survey Analysis and unlock the potential of your data!
2. 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
3. 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
Explore how Cabot Learning Federation “Model Listening as a Leadership Responsibility” in a recent case study!
4. 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
Discover how Pathways School established strong relationships with parents and the community to foster trust, engagement, and pride in the school.
5. 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
Discover leadership strategies employed by top-performing trusts in our Leadership Guide.
6. 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
Utilise some of our free resources to overcome common barriers!
7. 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
Leading with purpose, public value, and trust
Becoming a listening organisation is not just a technical achievement but a commitment to living your trust’s purpose. By prioritising stakeholder voices, creating public value, and nurturing relational 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.