Ex-Army OBE Neil Jurd:

Thursday 26 February, 2026

Kendal, Cumbria – As UK schools grapple with a deepening leadership crisis—86% of senior staff reporting stress and burnout (Education Support Index)—former British Army officer Neil Jurd OBE is offering a simple antidote: "Pause & Allow."

In his TEDx talk at Royal Russell School, Croydon, Jurd argues great leaders don't control more—they step back. "Under pressure, most tighten up," he says. "But pausing to think, recover, and let others shine builds real resilience.