Evaluating the Impact of NEPI on Headteacher Wellbeing and Retention

North East Primary Innovators (NEPI), a collaborative network of primary schools in the North East of England, commissioned us to evaluate the impact of the network on headteacher wellbeing, professional sustainability and retention across the 2024–2025 academic year.

Working in collaboration with headteacher wellbeing specialist Dr Emma Kell, we designed and delivered a small-scale mixed-methods evaluation programme involving surveys, semi-structured interviews and reflective data collection with participating headteachers across the year.

The evaluation explored how collaborative professional networks can support school leaders working within increasingly challenging educational and societal contexts, and sought to understand the specific conditions that help sustain values-led leadership over time.

The work involved:

• Designing a mixed-methods evaluation framework

• Developing and analysing wellbeing and retention surveys

• Conducting in-depth qualitative interviews with headteachers

• Identifying patterns and themes across quantitative and qualitative data

• Producing an accessible evaluation report to support strategic development and future funding

The evaluation highlighted the importance of trusted peer networks in supporting sustainable leadership and demonstrated how NEPI was contributing positively to professional confidence, collaboration and retention intentions amongst school leaders.

Key findings included:

• Improved professional support networks amongst headteachers

• Increased likelihood of leaders remaining in headship roles long term

• Stronger confidence in advocating for creative pedagogies and practice

• Increased professional solidarity, motivation and sense of purpose

• Greater opportunities for reflection, collaboration and strategic thinking

• Positive influence on whole-school culture and leadership practice

• Validation and embedding of creative habits and approaches across schools

• Recognition that wider systemic pressures on headteachers remain significant

The findings from the evaluation helped NEPI strengthen its evidence base, secure further support and funding, and build wider engagement and buy-in from school leaders across the region.

“I am delighted to recommend Abi D’Amore, whose insightful and rigorous evaluation of the impact of NEPI on headteacher well-being has made an invaluable contribution to our profession. Abi brought depth, clarity and genuine care to this work, ensuring that the voices and experiences of headteachers were meaningfully captured and represented.

Her evaluation highlighted the unique conditions NEPI creates – time to think strategically, opportunities to learn and grow and a strong sense of belonging to a values-driven professional community – which are vital to sustaining leaders in the long term.”

Becky Jackson FCCT FRSA, Headteacher, Cragside Primary School / NEPI