S3E16: Turning School Vision Into Action and Alignment with James Clanfield

When a school’s vision isn’t clear, or worse, when it exists only as words on a website, it can leave staff feeling directionless, disconnected and unsure how their daily work contributes to something bigger.

Without that shared sense of purpose, culture fragments, wellbeing suffers and strategic plans lose their impact.

In this episode, I sit down with James Clanfield, former school leader turned digital strategist and founder of Pillar Digital Marketing, to explore how schools can craft and live a vision that truly unites their community. Together, we unpack how a meaningful vision guides both strategy and wellbeing, what it looks like when wellbeing sits at the heart of that vision, and how James’ CAMPUS Method helps leaders align their vision with everyday actions and communications.

In this episode, we cover:

• The importance of having an established school vision to guide school strategy and staff wellbeing
• How a vision for wellbeing should connect with and reinforce the overarching school vision
• James’ CAMPUS method for aligning vision to actions and internal and external communications
• Common mistakes schools make when creating and communicating their vision or strategic plans, and how to avoid them
• Strategies for keeping the vision front and centre to ensure commitment and buy-in by all members of the school community
• Effective ways schools are using their vision to support wellbeing and culture

About James:

James Clanfield is a former Deputy and Head of Academics and Pastoral Care turned digital strategist, speaker, and founder of Pillar Digital Marketing. He helps schools and education providers grow with clarity using his signature CAMPUS™ Method — a complete marketing and communications strategy designed specifically for the education sector.

James combines real educational leadership insight with strategic execution, offering hands-on support across brand messaging, social media, enrolments, and digital content. Through his content, coaching, and agency work, he empowers leaders and educators to communicate with purpose, lead with vision, and show up with confidence in an increasingly competitive space.

When he’s not building campaigns or attending events, James homeschools his five kids, currently runs his business remotely from Southeast Asia, and works alongside his wife to help educators thrive beyond the classroom.

Links and Resources:

Explore our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, so that we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with James via:

His website: https://pillardigitalmarketing.net/forEducation

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jamesclanfield

Instagram:@jamesclanfield

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/

Email: [e-mail]

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