The Living School Model
Creating inclusive, thriving environments for the people who make education possible.
Schools aren’t machines. They are living, breathing ecosystems.
And yet, for too long, we’ve treated them like factories, with outputs, performance metrics, and efficiency models that forget the humans who keep them going.
The Living School Model is a bold departure from that industrial mindset.
It’s a framework for building cultures of inclusion, psychological safety, and wellbeing not just for students, but for the adults shaping young lives every day.
Because when teachers and staff thrive, students thrive too.
The Current Reality: Our Schools Are Systems Under Strain
The data is sobering and urgent:
42,000 teachers in the UK say they are very likely to leave the profession within the next two years
84% of UK teachers describe themselves as stressed
37% report workload as overwhelming or unsustainable
25% of secondary schools in England have no qualified physics teacher
Psychological safety is one of the strongest predictors of team effectiveness, yet it is rarely measured or prioritised in schools
Burnout is cited as a leading cause of attrition, especially among new and mid-career teachers
What Is a Living School?
A Living School is:
Psychologically safe: where staff feel safe to speak up, ask for help, and take risks without fear of shame or retribution
Human-centred: where wellbeing isn’t a bolt-on — it’s baked into the daily rhythms of the school
Inclusive by design: where everyone, regardless of role, identity or background, feels they belong
Adaptive and evolving: where leadership is curious, brave, and open to doing things differently
A place people want to stay: where retention is a natural outcome of a positive, inclusive culture
The Four Pillars of the Living School Model™
The Living School Model™ is built around four foundational pillars, each representing a vital domain of a thriving school culture. These aren’t abstract ideas. Each pillar is supported by a practical container: a curated set of tools, practices, behaviours, and processes designed to bring lasting change.
Whether your school chooses to focus deeply on one area or engage with all four for a whole-system transformation, the model is designed to meet you exactly where you are and guide you toward where you want to grow.
1. Psychological Safety
Creating a culture where staff feel safe to speak, show up, and take risks. Rooted in the Safe to Thrive framework, this pillar focuses on trust, openness, and belonging. Because innovation, collaboration, and wellbeing can only flourish where people feel psychologically safe, not afraid or apathetic.
2. Conscious Leadership
Brave, emotionally intelligent leadership that builds trust and coherence. This pillar supports leaders to show up with clarity, courage, and visibility. We help schools shift from reactive management to conscious leadership where connection and curiosity drive strategy and culture.
3. Cultural Alignment
Turning values into action, and inclusion into everyday practice. From DEIB policies to the way meetings are run, this pillar ensures your school's culture is truly inclusive, not just aspirational. We focus on bridging the gap between what schools say they value and how those values actually show up in daily life.
4. Sustainable Working
Designing work that protects energy, honours capacity, and supports long-term wellbeing. This pillar addresses the operational reality of school life. From staff workload to rhythms and routines, we help schools move from burnout culture to sustainable practice.
The AAA Activation Cycle
A clear, strategic process to activate the Living School Model™ in your context.
1. Awareness
We start by listening. Before making any changes, we take time to understand how your school feels and functions. This includes:
Reviewing key documents and policies
Analysing survey and wellbeing data
Facilitating confidential listening sessions with staff
Mapping strengths, gaps, and opportunities across the four pillars
Outcome: You receive a clear, independent snapshot of your current culture, with tailored recommendations on where to focus first.
2. Action
We co-design the path forward. Based on your school’s unique needs, we build a bespoke plan rooted in the most urgent pillar. This may include:
Targeted training or leadership development
Redesigning workflows and ways of working
Embedding inclusive practices across teams
Introducing practical tools and rituals to shift culture
Outcome: A living, adaptive plan, built with your people, not imposed on them.
3. Accountability
We keep the momentum going. To ensure the work sticks, we support schools in tracking progress and embedding change. This may include:
Impact reviews and pulse checks
Coaching for leaders or culture champions
Feedback loops and forward recommendations
Outcome: Visible culture change you can feel, measure, and sustain.