Hey, I’m Gemma

I’m a qualified Supervisor and Educational Wellbeing Coach

I work with school leaders - mostly through professional reflective supervision and ongoing support - to help them build something more sustainable long-term, alongside coaching and in-school training.

Before this, I was a Religious Studies teacher, Head of Year, and Co-Head of Department.

And I loved it!

I loved the students. I loved that every day was different. I loved being busy. I gave it everything I had.

All of my time. All of my energy. All of my focus.

I reached a point where I couldn’t give anymore. 

Stress was always part of the job. But somewhere along the way, it turned into anxiety, low mood, and panic attacks. I was signed off work. I dropped my leadership roles and went part time.

Yet, the damage was done.

I left teaching at the end of 2019. Battered, bruised, and genuinely broken.

At the time, I blamed the role for all of it - for not prioritising my needs, for never saying no, for burning out.

Then it hit me.

I had chosen not to have any boundaries.

School leadership is a genuinely hard job. But it gets harder still when we don't recognise - and protect - our own needs.

When the job is allowed to reach into every part of your life, there's no version of switching off from it:

- It's there when you wake up.
- It's there on the drive in.
- It takes over your day, barely leaving room to breathe, let alone think.
- It comes home with you, taking evenings that were meant for the people you love.
- And it's still there at bedtime, running through your head once the day's finally over.

It’s exhausting. And it leaves you asking: how much more of this can I actually take?

Another year?

Another term?

Another week?

Another day?

If that's where you are, this is what boundaries. are actually for.

Not as a personality trait some people have and others don't - as something built, deliberately, that changes what your week can hold:

- Protecting your own needs, so you can lead well rather than just survive the day.

- Building a working pattern that doesn't cost you everything else.

- Saying no clearly, without over-explaining yourself.

- Recognising what you've actually achieved, not just what's still on the list.

- Carrying a workload that's realistic, not one you've quietly agreed is impossible.

Because when you're sustaining yourself properly, you lead better. Not despite protecting your own needs - because of it.

Find Out More

  • "The unexpected benefit of working with Gemma is having a moment of quiet. The benefits of this can't be adequately expressed."

    Andrea William-Jones, Assistant Headteacher

  • Would very much recommend Gemma. She came to do some work at Bradon Forest colleagues and helped them reset after the pandemic times. Her calm approach is recommended. Thank you for all your help Gemma.

    Helen Wilkinson, Deputy Headteacher at The Athelstan Trust

  • Gemma managed to provide the right balance of support and coaching to help me arrive at the solutions I needed. Her approach is calm and patient, which I needed when navigating my decisions. I would highly recommend Gemma to anyone trying to tease out the answers."

    Aisha Thomas, Director at Representation Matters Ltd

  • "Gemma reminded me that I am good at my job and in a strong position to progress. Do work with Gemma if you get the chance; you'll get lots from it."

    Debbie, Primary School Middle Leader

  • "Listening to Gemma speak about creating boundaries helped me to make myself a priority and start saying no to non priority actions"

    Teacher at Magna Learning Partnership

  • "Gemma is very clearly non-judgemental - I felt quite at ease."

    Secondary School Teacher

  • "It is not easy to dig inside yourself and open up - but the safe space to discuss issues and ideas is remarkably empowering and a real confidence boost."

    Secondary School Leader

  • "Working with Gemma showed me that it is acceptable to tell yourself you have done a good job"

    Deb Wiltshire, Teacher of MFL/Head of Year 7 and Transition Leader

  • "Working with Gemma gave me realistic expectations, how to cope with overwhelm and how to approach the next stage of my career."

    Debbie, Primary School middle leader

  • "Working with Gemma helped me reflect on the reasons or excuses why I might let work overspill and to acknowledge the benefits of switching off or making time for other things."

    Head of Humanities