Building Positive School Culture: With Staff, Parents & Pupils at the Heart

Schools are facing increasing pressure around attendance, staff wellbeing and parental trust, and in that context, school culture matters more than ever.

On Wednesday 28th January, we were delighted to welcome school and trust leaders to this insightful free roundtable conversation exploring what thriving school culture really looks like, and how to build one that places pupils, parents and staff at the heart.

Headteacher Luke Payton, Principal of Saint Augustine’s Catholic High School and Sixth Form, shared how he reshaped the culture of a high-performing school, re-engaged staff and parents, and maintained exceptional academic standards.

Watch the Event Recording

Missed the live session or want to revisit the discussion?

You can watch the full roundtable recording below:

What We Covered

During the session, Luke and Grant explored a wide range of topics relevant to school and trust leaders, including:

  • How to get staff buy-in when shifting school culture
  • The role of consistent systems in behaviour and attendance
  • Practical strategies to support staff wellbeing beyond “nice-to-haves”
  • Rebuilding parental trust and strengthening community connection
  • What student voice really tells you about your school
  • Leading cultural change across both primary and secondary phases
  • How the Behaviour Hub programme supports real-world improvement
  • Lessons learned — what worked, what didn’t, and what Luke would do differently

The session concluded with a live Q&A, giving attendees the chance to ask their own questions directly.

Meet Our Guest – Luke Payton

Luke is an experienced Headteacher and trained Data Protection Officer, with a strong background in MFL, PSHE and behaviour leadership. With a career spanning both primary and secondary education, he brings a deep understanding of the whole-school system.

As Principal of Saint Augustine’s Catholic High School and Sixth Form in Worcestershire, Luke has led a cultural transformation rooted in high expectations, authentic relationships and community partnership.

His refreshingly honest approach has seen:

  • Staff morale rise
  • Parental satisfaction increased by over 40%
  • Outcomes remain amongst the highest in the country

All while embedding a sustainable, inclusive school culture.

Who This Session Was For

This roundtable was designed specifically for school and trust leaders. Whether you lead on behaviour, attendance, wellbeing or whole-school culture, the conversation offered practical insights grounded in lived experience.

It was especially valuable for:

  • Headteachers, Deputies and Assistant Heads
  • Senior Leadership Teams in primary or secondary settings
  • Trust executives supporting multiple schools

Luke shared how Saint Augustine’s reshaped its culture from the inside out, and how these principles can be applied in any school, regardless of size or context.

Attendees came away with strategies around:

  • Building a culture that supports both wellbeing and high performance
  • Using behaviour data and student voice to drive meaningful change
  • Re-engaging parents after periods of disconnect
  • Embedding sustainable systems, staff genuinely buy into
  • Learning from the Behaviour Hub model to strengthen school ethos