Stephen Lehec, Headmaster of Kingston Grammar School, on compassionate leadership, toxic masculinity and paying more tax
With Walter Kerr at the hosting helm, our next episode of Heads & Tales features Stephen Lehec FRSA, Headmaster of Kingston Grammar School. Once one of the country's youngest secondary heads, Stephen has spent his career celebrating the role of education not just as an academic pursuit, but as a stimulus for social mobility, confidence and personal growth. At KGS, he heads up a school that prides itself on both academic excellence and lived values, whose motto "work well and be happy" is firmly rooted in everything students and staff do.
Stephen describes his own leadership style as "bespoke compassion" – he knows every student by name, teaches every new Year 7 cohort and can now claim to have shaped one of the most diverse and forward-thinking independent schools in London. In this episode, he speaks candidly about the pressures of leading a school through testing times, and why just saying 'yes' has been the secret sauce to his professional growth.
🎙️ Episode highlights
Stephen reveals the two questions he asks every prospective teacher at KGS – do you love your subject and why do you like children?
He discusses the balance between compassion and authority in leadership, as well as his alternative to punishment.
He reiterates the importance of bursary provision at KGS and why affordability and access must go hand in hand.
He shares his unpopular opinion on why we should all be paying more tax...
Stephen makes the case for greater investment in early years and performing arts, the latter being a vital tool to build confidence and identity.
He discusses toxic masculinity in schools, encouraging boys to free themselves from the shackles of stereotype.
He leaves with parting wisdom for other educators – say yes, step up and take the risk.