Leading Change & Leading Teams
Two Leadership Masterclasses
for NI Schools Navigating Sustained Reform
7th & 8th May | Dunadry Hotel Antrim
School leaders across Northern Ireland are leading in one of the most complex periods ever.
TransformED.
Budget constraints.
Escalating SEN demand.
Rising expectations.
Change fatigue.
The issue is no longer whether to change.
The challenge is how to lead well when change is constant.
In May, leadership coach Richard Reid partners with international leadership expert Tracey Ezard to deliver two powerful, standalone masterclasses designed specifically for leaders navigating reform, pressure and professional culture in schools.
Day 1
Leading Change with Head and Heart
Thursday 7th May
Based on the international work of Ferocious Warmth
When change is relentless, leaders are pulled towards extremes:
Push harder for performance
Or soften expectations to protect people
Neither is sustainable.
This masterclass explores a powerful integrative leadership stance — leading with both clarity and compassion, challenge and care, strategy and humanity.
You will explore:
How to lead change without exhausting your staff
Avoiding false either/or leadership traps
Managing emotional load under sustained pressure
Holding vision steady amidst reform saturation
Leading difficult conversations with strength and warmth
Sustaining yourself as a leader
This is not another change management checklist.
It is a deeper exploration of how to lead when pressure is continuous, not episodic.
Ideal for:
Principals
Vice Principals
Senior Leaders
Middle Leaders responsible for implementing change initiatives
Day 2
Leading Teams That Thrive
Friday 8th May
Based on the research and professional culture work from The Buzz
Change does not stick without culture.
Many schools are implementing improvement strategies — but without a professional learning culture strong enough to sustain them.
This masterclass focuses on building teams that:
Engage in honest professional dialogue
Navigate challenge without fragmentation
Build trust and shared accountability
Sustain energy over time
Develop a thriving learning culture rather than compliance culture
Drawing on data from over 600 schools internationally, this session provides a clear framework for understanding where your culture currently sits — and what shifts make the greatest difference.
Ideal for:
Subject Leads
Heads of Department
Senior Leadership Teams
Vice Principals
Principals building whole-school culture
Attend One or Both
Each workshop stands alone.
Together, they offer a powerful two-day leadership experience:
Day 1 focuses on how you lead change
Day 2 focuses on how your teams sustain it
About the Facilitators
Tracey Ezard
Speaker, author, educator and mentor working across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the UK. Tracey is the author of Ferocious Warmth, School Leaders Who Inspire and Transform, and The Buzz. Her professional culture diagnostic has been undertaken by over 16,000 educators worldwide.
Richard Reid
Leadership coach, trainer and former school principal based in Northern Ireland. Richard works with school leaders across the UK and internationally, specialising in coaching, resilience and professional learning conversations. He partners with global organisations to support leadership development in complex educational environments.
Event Details
Dates:
Thursday 7th May – Leading Change
Friday 8th May – Leading Teams
Location: The Dunadry Hotel and Gardens, Antrim.
Time: 9:30am to 3:30pm
Pricing:
Per Day: £199 or £375 for both days
Places are limited to ensure depth of professional dialogue. We would advise booking early
Richard Reid Coaching is an official EA Supplier and Purchase Orders can be raised through the normal procedures.