CEO Thought for the Week 

Hi Everyone!

I hope this week is treating you as kindly as it possibly can in the midst of a heatwave! I know how full and demanding this time of year can feel in our schools, and I want to begin by thanking you for everything you continue to do for our pupils and one another.

I’m writing to gently encourage everyone who has not yet done so to complete the Edurio staff survey, for which you have already received a link.

This survey is an important part of how we listen as a Trust. The insights it provides help shape both Trust-wide priorities and individual school development, and it also forms part of the Headteacher appraisal process. Quite simply, it helps ensure that the decisions we make are grounded in the lived experience of colleagues across our academies.

What matters most is not just that we gather responses, but that they genuinely reflect the breadth of voices in our Trust. Alongside this, our Staff Champions play a vital role in bringing the survey to life – working with me and with school colleagues to explore the outcomes, challenge our thinking, and identify where we can improve together.

Last year, we achieved a response rate of over 62% across the Trust. That was a strong reflection of our shared commitment to openness and improvement. This year, I would really value us matching or exceeding that figure in 2026, so that the picture we are working from is as complete and representative as possible.

Taking a few minutes to complete the survey is a practical way of living out our values of Integrity and Unity – being honest about our experiences and working together to make our schools even better places for pupils and colleagues.

If you have already completed the survey, thank you. Your time and honesty are genuinely appreciated. If you haven’t yet had the chance, I would be very grateful if you could take a few moments to do so.

Thank you, as always, for your commitment, your care, and the difference you make every day.

Stay Cool!
Gavin