There has been increasing reflection on what belonging really looks like in education, not just as a concept, but as something intentionally designed into the everyday experience of schools.

In this episode of The Kitchen Table, Aidan Severs, an education consultant and former deputy head with over 20 years in teaching and leadership, shares what it truly takes to build a curriculum for belonging and inclusion that goes beyond good intentions. Drawing on his experience from the classroom through to whole-school leadership in Bradford, and now his work supporting schools across the UK, Aidan offers a practical, deeply grounded perspective on how real change actually happens.

What You’ll Discover

- Belonging Beyond Buzzwords: Why inclusion isn’t about policies or posters, but about how people actually experience a school every single day.

- Designing Culture Through Curriculum: How intentional curriculum thinking can shape identity, empathy, and connection across a whole school.

- Sustainable Change That Sticks: How leaders can support staff development and build improvements that genuinely last.

One of the key takeaways from this conversation is how deliberate this work needs to be. Aidan’s experience across teaching, leadership, and consultancy is evident in his perspective on change - not quick fixes, but thoughtful, sustained work that supports both staff and pupils. That’s what makes this conversation so powerful.

For school leaders, teachers, or anyone shaping learning environments, this is a conversation that is likely to stay with listeners. If it resonates, consider sharing it with someone working to build a more inclusive and thoughtful school culture.

Connect with Aidan Severs

Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Phil Banks

thebelongingcollective.blog

Connect with Mohamed Abdallah

Drawbridge Collective | Mohamed Abdallah | Substack

Connect with Danielle Lewis-Egonu

Danielle Lewis-Egonu | Substack

The Kitchen Table are grateful to our sponsors Magma Maths, Zen Educate, St Christophers Trust, Cygnus Academies Trust, The Reach Foundation and it is produced by Urban Podcasts.