Helen Pike, Master of Magdalen College School, on why confidence is the number one trait correlated with success
“Be confident, don’t be daunted, and you are far more capable and far more wonderful than you could ever know. So cut the negative back chat to yourself.”
Helen Pike is the first female master in Magdalen College School, Oxford's 500-year history. Originally from Preston and the first in her family to go to university, she read history at Christ Church, Oxford, barely 300 yards from where she now leads one of the country's most celebrated day schools. Before headship, Helen taught at Warwick University, then held roles at RGS Guildford, St Paul's and City of London, where she learned "how to handle difficult meetings" from mentor David Levin. She's also the published author of a murder mystery set in early 19th-century England, and is currently completing a coaching diploma. Chatting to Henry Faber, Helen reflects on confidence, imposter syndrome and what it takes to build a happy school culture. She also shares hard-won advice for teachers aspiring to headship and makes the case for a controversial view on talent and expectations.
🎙️ Episode highlights
What Helen tells sixth form girls each year: "Daunted is the word they're just not allowed to use. They come in and absolutely own the place from day one."
Why confidence is the number one correlated trait for success in life, and how imposter syndrome disproportionately affects women
Her advice for aspiring heads: don't worry about gaps in your experience. "Headship is basically about being able to work out who are the people who can do things better than you."
The question she tells prospective parents to ask other schools: "How much do they sing together? If you want to find out about happy and cohesive and creative schools, start there."
Her controversial opinion: not everybody can be good at everything. "I think it is potentially a reliever of stress for many people to not have unrealistic expectations placed on them."
The novel she wrote that sold: a murder mystery set in a brothel in early 19th-century England, written when "by page 100 even I was bored"...