You don’t have to be in the classroom to influence what happens inside it.

Senior education leaders – headteachers, assistant heads and wellbeing leads often face a dilemma: you care deeply about children’s emotional and mental health, but the education system has made it harder to do what you came into the job for. The red tape, the constant firefighting, the lack of time, it chips away at the passion you once felt.

But what if you could still make a meaningful impact in schools, without being employed by one?

That’s exactly what Mind Marvels franchisees do every day.

Making change from the outside in

It’s easy to assume that the only way to change school culture is to be on the inside. But our work with schools proves otherwise. As external wellbeing specialists, our franchisees are often given the space and trust to deliver deep, targeted support that simply wouldn’t be possible within the constraints of the school timetable.

They aren’t stuck in meetings or managing behaviour policies – they’re facilitating focused emotional regulation sessions, building relationships with staff and pupils, and introducing calming strategies that ripple through classrooms long after they leave.

Why school leaders are so well placed

If you’ve worked in senior leadership, you already speak the language of schools. You understand funding challenges, pastoral pressures, safeguarding protocols and the value of a well-planned intervention. You know what schools want – and what they don’t.

That’s why our most successful franchisees tend to have backgrounds in educational leadership. They’re not just passionate – they’re also strategic. They know how to:

• Lead teams and develop staff
• Manage budgets and think resourcefully
• Communicate clearly with headteachers and SENCOs
• Present ideas persuasively
• Build relationships that foster long-term partnerships

This isn’t just helpful, it’s essential when you’re starting a business with schools as your clients.

From one classroom to many

Instead of being responsible for one school, imagine positively influencing a dozen. Our franchisees often work across multiple settings – from primary schools and nurseries to pupil referral units and community groups. That breadth means they can:

• Share best practice across different environments
• Tailor approaches for different needs
• Spot trends in pupil wellbeing that schools might not see
• Deliver scalable, sustainable solutions
• It’s high-impact work, and it reaches children who need it most, not just the ones who happen to be in your class.

What does a typical week look like?

You’ll have an array of schools to work with. A typical week might include:

• Emotional regulation sessions with primary pupils
• Assign Session Leaders for upcoming school sessions
• Follow up with schools to secure bookings
• Attend a local networking event
• Share a feel-good story from the week on social media

You get to be proactive, not reactive. And with the right planning, that means both income and impact can grow steadily.

A business that’s purpose-led, but business first

Let’s be clear: this is a business. And like any business, it takes effort, organisation and drive. But it’s also backed by a proven model, training, tools and support.

Mind Marvels provides everything you need to get started – from lesson plans and booking systems to marketing materials and branding. But it’s on you to make it work in your area. That means networking with schools, pitching your services and building trusted relationships.

This isn’t something you can do half-heartedly. It’s not a side project or a casual return to work. It’s a full-time, values-led business built around your expertise and commitment.

You don’t need to start alone

Franchisees all start with a single connection or school visit. With the right momentum, you will go on to:

• Hire team members to support delivery
• Win long-term school contracts
• Expand into new geographic areas
• Become trusted wellbeing providers in their regions

And crucially, you can do this while still having time for family, hobbies and holidays – something that felt impossible in senior leadership.

Still want to make a difference?

There’s no shortage of children needing emotional support. What schools are short on is time and resources, and that’s exactly where you come in.

If you’re a school leader with the drive to build something of your own, the strategic thinking to grow it and the heart to keep it purposeful, we’d love to hear from you.

This is your chance to shape the culture of schools without being confined by them.

Learn how to become a Mind Marvels franchisee and make your next chapter count. Start here and download our franchise information pack.