​CEO Thought for the Week

Hi everyone,

I hope you’ve had a good start to the week and that you were able to enjoy a restful half-term break.

This term, I’d like us to take time to reflect on our Infinity values – and how each of us brings them to life through our daily actions. This week’s focus is on Hope.

Hope is sometimes mistaken for blind optimism – but it’s far more than that. I was reminded of this at the CST National Conference last month, where Sir Hamid Patel (CEO of STAR Academies) spoke powerfully about the importance of hope. He reminded us that “hope is not passive; it’s built on positive action.”

As educators and colleagues, we are dealers of hope – for our children, families, communities, and each other. In a world that can often feel uncertain, our role is to “talk up” the future and help every child believe that something better is possible. We don’t need grand gestures to do this. Often, it’s the small acts of connection that matter most: the kind word, the encouraging comment, the moment we stop to listen. As Sir Hamid said, “The relationships we build with each other provide the foundations of change… Small interactions have a potentially life-changing impact.”

So as you go through your week, try not to be pulled down by the negativity that so easily surrounds us. Instead, choose to be a dealer in hope – not through wishful thinking, but through purposeful words, actions, and kindness that build a more hopeful future for all.

Thank you, as always, for everything you do.
Have a great week,
Gavin