The Trust is fully committed to developing a values-driven, organisationally healthy culture that will underpin all that we do to support our schools in the pursuit of excellence. Education is as much about developing people’s character, strengths and virtues (affective domain) as it is about building knowledge and skills (cognitive domain).

At its core, organisational health is about integrity - an organisation is healthy when it is whole, consistent and where leadership, operations, strategy and culture fit together and make sense.  We have found the language and thinking of Patrick Lencioni, founder of the Table Group, a source of inspiration that has offered us a helpful way to explain this to others. According to Lencioni, there are four simple but difficult disciplines to achieving long-term, sustainable success. 

Staff follow the principles of Fish Philosophy in their approach to all aspects of school life - Play. Make their day. Choose your attitude. Be there.  The keys to creating an innovative and accountable work environment where a playful, attentive, and engaging attitude leads to more energy, enthusiasm, productivity, and creativity.

Behaviours

Children are taught to be well-mannered and courteous. They respect diversity and they are prepared to support each other. Positive, supportive relationships between staff and children are at the heart of our schools. At all times we seek to promote excellent behaviour underpinned by honesty, integrity and respect. Children are supported and encouraged to develop the behaviours that will enable them to thrive in lessons and in the many curriculum enrichment opportunities on offer. School adults role model these behaviours.

Culture Champions

WHY?

Our Culture Champions enable our leadership team to consult more widely on strategy and changes, and offer main scale teachers and non-teaching staff a stronger voice and the opportunity to participate in our trust at leadership level.  Our Culture Champions are made up of teachers, educational support and associate staff. Each member of staff can be a culture champion for two years before we re-recruit for these roles.

Our Leadership Team meets with the Culture Champions three times a year and consults with them on strategy and changes, incorporating their feedback before sharing more widely. Culture Champions utilise Our Culture Framework to ensure that our schools maintain a strong culture, where values are clearly articulated and leaders hold people's behaviour accountable to those values.

It really matters to us that we listen to everyone in The Stour Federation, and that everyone has a voice.

HOW?

1. Provide diverse perspectives on school culture: Culture Champions will offer leaders and governors alternative insights into each school's people (staff), place (environment), and processes (systems), informed by our Culture Framework.

2. Champion staff wellbeing and workload: Culture Champions will monitor the effectiveness of our Workload Charter and provide feedback on initiatives to innovate and better support staff in their roles.

3. Model and Promote Organisational Health: Culture Champions will embody the principles of excellent organisational health in fostering a positive and effective trust-wide culture, decision-making and support leaders with clarity and overcommunication.