George McMillan

Background

About George McMillan

I’m George McMillan, a committed education leader with a passion for transforming schools and growing high-impact, values-led leaders. As an Acting Assistant Director with the Harris Federation, I oversee the East Quadrant which comprises six successful secondary schools, three of which are Ofsted Outstanding (well, four really because Falconwood was a super-duper Ofsted report but only a Section 8 and so technically ungraded!) and the others Good. The secret? Developing leadership capacity at every level — because schools don’t improve, people do. Since becoming a National Leader of Education in 2014, I’ve invested over a decade in coaching, mentoring, and growing senior leaders. I believe leadership is about presence, authenticity and courage — showing up, choosing what matters, and leading in a way that lets others thrive. With 14+ years as a Headteacher, Executive Head and now Acting Assistant Director, I understand the relentless pace and pressures of leadership — and the importance of creating thinking space amidst it. I’ve seen first-hand that resilient, connected, people-first teams don’t just hit targets, they change lives. I hold advanced qualifications in coaching and systems leadership, including an Advanced Diploma in Transformational Coaching (EMCC) and ORSC Systems Coaching Certification. I’m also a Time to Think™ and Insights Discovery Practitioner. These frameworks help me support leaders to develop self-awareness, clarity and resilience — and to lead with integrity, not just strategy. Alongside my work in education, I serve as Executive Chairman of Leaderbeing — an organisation dedicated to helping leaders show up as their best selves. Our work focuses on building leadership cultures grounded in human connection, wise decision-making, and sustainable high performance. While our programmes are sector agnostic, I help contextualise the learning for school leaders navigating complex, high-pressure environments. I believe leadership is ultimately about people. Lead with courage. Think systemically. Create space. Grow others. Expand your range and your behavioural intelligence. The rest follows.