CEO Thought for the Week

Good morning everyone,

I hope you're all managing to stay dry and that the wet playtimes are as calm as can be expected!

At this point in the term, I know how full and demanding school life can feel. The days are busy, the work is intense, and not everything we do is immediately visible.

This week, I wanted to focus on something slightly different: the quiet work that sits beneath everything we do.

Every day in our schools, there are moments that don’t appear on plans, on timetables or in data:

• a calm conversation with a pupil
• a kind word to a colleague
• choosing curiosity over judgement
• showing up consistently, even on the harder days

These moments matter deeply. They are where our values—Love, Curiosity, Unity, Hope and Integrity—are lived out in practice.

I also want to acknowledge the reality: the work is demanding, and the effort it takes to maintain these standards day after day is significant.

Please know that this quiet, consistent work is seen, valued, and makes a real difference.

If there’s one small invitation for this week, it would be this: notice and recognise the quiet work — in yourself and in others. Take a minute to appreciate all the quiet work that keeps our academies working so well. You're all brilliant at it!

Thank you, as always, for everything you do.

Best Wishes

Gavin