In this Golden Talk episode, we hear from long-serving colleagues and headteachers Leon Dawson (Temple Hill) and Rajinder Kaur-Gill (Oakfield), who share their journeys and what Kindness and Courage mean within The Golden Thread Alliance.

Both leaders have grown within the organisation over 17 years, starting as young teachers and progressing to headship. They emphasise that the Trust's unique characteristic is its values-led approach, where decision-making is fundamentally rooted in core values like kindness, integrity, and passion.

For them, kindness means showing care for others, understanding that everyone faces their own battles, and creating an environment where children and adults alike feel supported. Courage, they explain, is about making difficult decisions with children’s best interests at heart and standing up for what’s right, even when it’s not easy.

Leon and Rajinder share inspiring examples of their teams showing these values, from staff calmly supporting children through challenging moments to whole teams going the extra mile to make sure every child feels wanted and included. They also suggest simple ways to help children recognise and live out these values every day, like celebrating specific acts of kindness or creating courage challenges.

Their conversation shows how kindness and courage make their schools special places to learn and work. They believe these values attract and retain staff who genuinely embody them, ultimately creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.

For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/

In this episode, Alice Harrington (Headteacher at Fleetdown Primary Academy) and Charlotte Casey (School Improvement Partner for SEND) talk about what Respect really means within The Golden Thread Alliance. 

They share how respect is at the heart of the Trust’s culture, showing kindness, listening carefully, and understanding each other’s pressures, whether we’re working with colleagues, children or families. Both highlight how respectful relationships make schools happier places where staff feel supported, and children feel safe.

Alice and Charlotte emphasise the importance of respecting parents’ voices and working in partnership with families to support children’s needs. They share examples of how respectful, sensitive approaches lead to greater trust and collaboration, especially when working with vulnerable pupils or during difficult conversations.

Ultimately, they agree that respect helps create a positive, inclusive atmosphere where staff can rely on each other and where children can thrive. For Alice and Charlotte, respect is something they see lived out in the Trust’s schools every day.

For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/

This episode of Golden Talks features Michele Sowden-Meta, Senior School Improvement Lead, and Toniann Braniff, Acting Head Teacher at Fleetdown Primary Academy, where they discuss the value of Ambition within The Golden Thread Alliance.

They define ambition as striving for excellence, providing opportunities, and supporting individuals to reach their full potential. They explore the value from multiple perspectives: for children, staff, and the community. 

For children, ambition means providing a curriculum that is broad, balanced, and accessible to all, while creating opportunities that help them see beyond their current circumstances. For staff, the Trust focuses on creating career development pathways, from early career teachers to potential leadership roles. They discussed supporting staff's professional growth through training programs and encouraging individual aspirations. 

Michele highlights how ambition drives the Trust’s commitment to high standards and inclusivity, ensuring that all pupils, including the most vulnerable, are supported to succeed. Toniann shared her personal experience as a former pupil premium child, highlighting how role models and supportive environments can inspire ambition.

The conversation shows how ambition is central to the Trust’s culture, creating meaningful opportunities and empowering individuals to chase their dreams.

For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/