 |
The Education Business PodcastAuthor: Claire Riley
The Education Business Podcast is for educational consultants, small education-based business owners, Edtech providers and workshop leaders focused on providing education services to schools, as well as for teachers transitioning to freelancing with an entrepreneurial business idea. Growing and scaling a business that provides a service to schools and education requires a different skillset and inside knowledge to many other entrepreneurial ventures. In this podcast Claire Riley, CEO of Classroom Secrets and host of The Teachers' Podcast, shares what it takes to market and pitch your services to this sector. Find out exactly what headteachers and teachers are looking for, and why building a personal brand matters in your marketing and how you can grow your education business. Language: en-gb Genres: Business, Careers, Education, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
Darren Norman: The Gradual Shift from Teacher to Business Owner
Episode 39
Sunday, 1 February, 2026
Podcast Overview What happens when a teacher starts questioning the relevance of what’s being taught — and decides to do something about it? In this episode of the Education Business Podcast, host Claire Riley is joined by Darren Norman, founder of Headline Maths, who shares his journey from a 17-year teaching career to building an education business rooted in real-world relevance. Darren talks honestly about the mindset shift from teacher to business owner, the fear and self-doubt that comes with leaving a stable career, and why feedback from schools has become the most valuable driver of his product’s growth. He also explains the thinking behind Headline Maths: using current news stories to help students finally answer the question, “When am I ever going to use this?” This episode is especially valuable for teachers who are curious about starting a business, founders who are early in their journey, and anyone wrestling with confidence, relevance, or making the leap into something new. 00:00 Introduction01:20 Darren’s teaching career background02:45 “Why do we need to know this?”03:30 The idea behind Headline Maths06:00 Leaving teaching & working alone07:10 Fear, stability & self-doubt08:00 Creating structure as a solo founder09:10 Misconceptions about education businesses11:00 Feedback from schools13:00 Handling feedback emotionally15:00 Growth plans & future vision16:30 Teacher vs business owner identity17:30 Making maths meaningful for students21:00 Final advice for new founders All About Darren: A teacher of 17 years specialising in Maths, with experience teaching PE and Science. He spent over 10 years in SEN schools before moving to Spain mid-Covid for a change, teaching Maths in an International School, where he became Head of Department for the Secondary School. He fell into teaching Maths when a sports club placement during university fell through, leading him to a special school where he stayed for 6 years as both a TA and teacher. He volunteered to teach Maths to cover a maternity post and discovered a lasting passion for the subject. He did not come to Maths naturally, which has shaped his ability to break concepts into clear, manageable steps and make the subject more accessible. Over time, he grew tired of hearing the same questions from students: “what’s the point?” and “when will I ever need this?” He saw that traditional exam content and textbooks often felt irrelevant, which led him to create a clear purpose — to Make Maths Meaningful by helping students see its real value and presence in everyday life. He now teaches Maths privately online and is building Headline Maths, while still based in Spain. A keen sportsman, he has represented GB Teachers in Rugby League and made an unofficial appearance for Spain. Now retired from competitive sport, he keeps active through running, cycling, and swimming. He lives on the coast south of Valencia with his girlfriend, who is a primary school teacher and leader. He is looking to grow the Headline Maths client list across the UK and internationally, with the aim of changing how students perceive Maths. Website: www.headlinemaths.comInstagram: @headline_mathsFacebook: Headline MathsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
