From School Gates to New Horizons: My Journey as an Executive Virtual Assistant

Moving from School Leadership to an Executive Virtual Assistant Business

A personalised pen pot gift . Now being used for my new role as executive virtual assistant.

Our Time Savvy Team of Executive Virtual Assistants

For me, September has always meant the same things. Shiny new shoes, including mine because buying September shoes feels like a non-negotiable tradition, even though by lunchtime I can feel the rub of an impending blister. Lunchboxes that vanish into lost property never to be seen again and water bottles that either leak through the bottom of a book bag or are thrust at me to refill, lids screwed on tighter than a jar of pickles. All while juggling the door code I’ve somehow forgotten (again) and navigating an INSET day where logging into the system takes longer than the training itself.

Then there’s the chaos only a primary school can deliver: a child proudly showing off a new pencil case with 47 gel pens, another child proudly handing you a “special gift” that turns out to be a slightly squashed raisin and that moment when three children are all telling you different stories at once while you’re also trying to unjam the photocopier. Add in the unmistakable aroma of trainers drying on the radiator, the great glue-stick lid mystery, and the sound of 30 recorders enthusiastically tackling “Hot Cross Buns” and you’ve got September in a nutshell.

And here’s the thing, I will miss it. I’ll miss the buzz of staff reconnecting after the summer, the corridors full of nervous excitement, the first-day energy that fills the whole building. I’ll even miss the soggy break duties, the to-do lists that never seemed to end, and the challenge of drinking a coffee before it went cold. Those moments, however chaotic, were part of something special, a rhythm I’d lived for years, and one that shaped who I am.

From assemblies to action plans

My career has always been about leadership, organisation, and creating the right conditions for people to succeed. I’ve been a teacher, a leader, and most recently a Headteacher. I’ve navigated Ofsted inspections, led rapid school improvement initiatives, designed training programmes, and somehow managed to keep a straight face while being heckled by 5-year olds in assembly who’ve not quite mastered the assembly etiquette yet.

Beyond education, I’ve worked in social care and the voluntary sector, managing care homes, leading outreach programmes, and supporting families. Those roles taught me the delicate balance of compassion and tough decision-making, and that sometimes the most effective systems are the simplest ones.

Through it all, one thing has remained constant: people thrive when the right structures and support are in place.

Building on, not leaving behind

While I’ll always treasure my time in education, this next step isn’t about walking away. It’s about carrying those experiences with me. Problem solving, leading change, creating clarity and applying them in a new way.

Now, as Co-Founder and Executive Virtual Assistant at Time Savvy, I help leaders, organisations, and businesses put structure around their priorities, manage change effectively, and free up time to focus on what really matters. Because let’s be honest, leadership whether in a school, a boardroom, or a charity often means juggling a dozen hats at once. It’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to do it all (and lose sight of why you started in the first place). That’s where we step in to make things simpler, clearer, and more sustainable.

A September that feels different

This September feels strange without the ringing of a school bell, but also exciting. Instead of welcoming pupils through the gates, I’m welcoming a new chapter, one where my skills, experience, and passion for helping people can make an impact in a whole new space.

So here’s to new beginnings, fresh notebooks (yes, I still bought one), and creating the right conditions for success, wherever that may be. While I may not be on the school gates or on playground duty anymore, a part of me will always smile when I see shiny new shoes in September.

📩 If you’d like to reconnect, share stories, or explore how Time Savvy could support your work, I’d love to hear from you. If you know someone who might find this helpful or interesting, please feel free to forward it on, I’d be delighted to connect with them too!