Meet Lisa Hayes, Retired Headteacher, Highover JMI School and Nursery, Hitchin
After 20 years as Headteacher at Highover JMI School and Nursery, Hitchin, Lisa Hayes reflects on a career built on collaboration, community and an unwavering commitment to children. Looking back, she is most proud of the culture created at Highover, where staff were empowered to grow, relationships were at the heart of the school, and every decision was guided by what was best for pupils.
"Your greatest asset will always be your people. Invest in them, trust them, nurture them and celebrate them."
What are you most proud of?
Looking back on my time as headteacher, I am most proud of the team we have built together.
While schools are often judged by outcomes and data, I believe that sustainable success comes from investing in people. During my 20 years as headteacher at Highover, I have been fortunate to work alongside dedicated, talented and passionate colleagues. One of my greatest achievements has been helping to create a culture where staff feel valued, supported and empowered to grow.
I have always remained relentlessly child-centred in my decision-making. In a profession where new initiatives and competing priorities are constant, I have learned that effective leadership is not about doing everything; it is about choosing the right initiatives at the right time and ensuring that every decision is driven by what will make the greatest difference to children.
This clarity of purpose has enabled us to remain focused and maintain high standards, even during periods of significant challenge.
I am also proud of the strong sense of community that exists within our school. Schools thrive when relationships are at their heart, and we have worked hard to create an environment where children, families, staff and governors feel connected, respected and valued.
That sense of belonging has been particularly important during some of the most demanding periods in education, when resilience, compassion and teamwork have been tested like never before.
The educational landscape has changed considerably during my career, bringing increasing complexity, accountability and pressure. What has inspired me throughout is the way our staff have continued to adapt with professionalism, determination and optimism.
Together, we have built a school that is robust enough to meet challenges head-on, yet never loses sight of the joy, creativity and fun that children deserve to experience every day.
Ultimately, I am proud not simply of what we have achieved, but of how we have achieved it: through collaboration, integrity, resilience and an unwavering commitment to children.
What have you learned about leadership that you would pass on to those considering headship?
Always advocate fiercely for your school and your staff, and actively seek support from local, informal networks.
As a head, you must be prepared to be vocal and challenge system-level issues, ensuring that your school's voice is heard.
Remember that leadership is not about perfection but about showing up as authentically as you can.
Leadership is about the strength of the collective. I've learned that when you cultivate a team through trust and professional autonomy, they truly own the school's values.
Seeing our staff embrace initiatives such as Oracy, Philosophy for Children (P4C), Writing for Pleasure and OPAL Play with such passion showed me the power of a community-spirited school.
Protecting staff wellbeing isn't just a policy; it's a commitment to the resilience of the people who make Highover what it is.
If there is one piece of advice I would offer to new headteachers, it is that your greatest asset will always be your people. Invest in them, trust them, nurture them and celebrate them.
When you build a strong team with a shared vision, extraordinary things become possible.
What would you like your school community to remember about your time as headteacher?
I hope they remember me as a leader who cultivated an inclusive and deeply caring community, where every child felt seen and challenged to achieve well, even when their journey wasn't easy.
I want my legacy to be one of high expectations paired with robust pastoral support and a culture of continuous learning for all, including staff.
I hope the community remembers a school that lived its values every day. I want them to recall how our pupils learned to navigate life using tools like the Zones of Regulation, embodying the remarkable resilience that is a core Highover quality.
Most of all, I hope they remember that every decision made was rooted in a deep-seated commitment to doing what was right for our children.
What's next?
I am looking forward to a period of travel and focusing on family and fun before I start considering my next professional steps.