Dear Parents and Carers, 

I hope you are looking forward to the Easter break and some quality time with your friends and family. As we approach this well-deserved holiday, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the busy and productive term we've had. 

We are delighted to welcome our new CFO, Mr. Andy Jones, to the Trust family. In addition, we have already started the recruitment process for new teaching staff for September in many of our settings. Across the Trust, pupils have participated in numerous trips and residentials, and, of course, have been engaged in learning experiences that help them flourish. 

This term, we have had two very positive inspections in our schools, and we are grateful to the many parents who responded to our survey. Your feedback is invaluable. You have expressed a clear understanding of your child's school being part of a Trust, and you have recognised the positive relationships between children and staff, as well as the schools' efforts to communicate fully about your child's education and achievements. 

However, some parents have expressed uncertainty about how children benefit from being part of a Trust. This is something we are committed to addressing, and we will work hard to ensure that the advantages of being in a Trust are clear and tangible for all. 

Fierté Facts

Governors are vital to our schools and the Fierté Family, providing crucial expertise and support through various committee meetings and by assisting Pupil Governors and senior leaders. The newly-reformed Governance Forum united governors from across the organisation. Those interested in supporting our children as school governors can contact ceo@fierte.org.

The Executive Leadership Team, 

The CEO and Vice CEO have been actively engaging with leaders and central support staff this term. They attended school inspections and took on additional responsibilities in finance, premises management, HR, and catering to ensure the support, safety, and welfare of children and staff remain central to decision-making.

Our subsidiary company, Our Pride, Our Joy, continues to support before-and after-school clubs. They also manage and lead holiday clubs across half-terms, which are very well attended.

The Central Support Team supports schools to run effectively on a day-to-day basis. Not only do they support leaders with recruitment and advertising, they also ensure that catering, HR, finance and IT are supported to run efficiently.

We leave no one behind

First and foremost, this is ensuring we strive every day to ensure all children make progress personally and academically.  Whatever their starting points or vulnerabilities, we believe that every child genuinely matters and deserves all we can muster to ensure they prosper.

From a Fierté family perspective, our commitment to this can be seen through establishing the role of Trust Inclusion Leader which I am delighted to report has now been made permanent.  Our Attendance Policy which focuses on children being in school each day unless ill is a further example.  At times, this can bring tensions between parents and staff in schools, but we do not swerve what is difficult to ensure children are in school and can benefit from the personal development and curriculum offers available.  Pupil Premium Strategies, Academy Improvement Plans, Trust Strategic Plans, the infrastructure we have put in place, Our Pride Our Joy (providing wrap-around care and nursery provision for two and three-year olds), a new approach to identifying children at risk of permanent exclusion to prevent this occurring if at all possible, engagement with a multitude of external agencies and remaining at the forefront of educational research and evidence provide further evidence that, whatever the barriers and external pressures, we remain motivated to ensure no children or groups are ever ignored or written-off.  All children are cherished, and we are privileged to have each and every one in our extended family.

Likewise, we are committed to no members of staff being left behind.  Whilst never accepting poor teaching or attitudes, our approach focuses on support first rather than invoking formal measures.  Our concentration on quality first teaching and incremental coaching demonstrates our dedication to individuals and supporting Teachers and Teaching Assistants to sharpen their practice to deliver better outcomes for learners.  Aptly, staff are also supported when they face personal challenges; we want staff to feel they belong to the Fierté family and are important to us.  This extends to non-teaching staff – cleaners, catering staff, site supervisors, IT support and others who do so much to ensure the smooth running of our sites and buildings.  Every staff member matters because they are in the service of our children and families.  We simply could not function without everyone’s contribution, frequently going above and beyond.

Positive responses to requests for flexible working, adopting Local Authority policies which provide strong safeguards and enhanced support for staff, recognising and engaging with Unions, staff being supported to complete training programmes which support their career aspirations alongside better than average recruitment and retention figures reflect our devotion to ensuring staff are not left behind and evidence of this. 

We vow to remain restless and never to feel satisfied that the job is done or to become complacent.  A quote from Atul Gawande, Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance sums up our united attitude well:

“Better is possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence. It takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all, it takes a willingness to try.”

As we strive to ensure no one is left behind, we will ensure we get better through hard work, by always doing the right things and by remaining optimistic for what we can achieve together.

 

Since joining the Trust on March 17th, 2025, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting the wonderful team at Fierté. In my role related to finance, my primary goal is to ensure that no one is left behind. On a day-to-day basis, this involves meeting with leaders to secure the necessary resources and staffing for both the present and the upcoming September. As we are halfway through the year, I also review school budgets and make adjustments to forecasts so that schools can purchase what they need.

Travelling around and meeting our children has been an absolute pleasure. Their enthusiasm and joy remind me of the importance of our mission: to never leave any child, staff member, or school behind.

We leave no one behind...

Our schools work hard to show that they  leave no one behind - a core Trust value. Please see below a flavour of the diverse and wonderful activities our pupils have engaged in demonstrating that they look after each other and think about how they can ensure every child is included. We are very proud of them all...

Here at Ankermoor Primary Academy, we are so proud of how we are as a family and how we support one another in difficult situations. A perfect opportunity to see this is during lunchtimes, where some of our older children support our younger children with their emotional well-being, friendships, problem-solving and guidance! 

We took part in our first ever competitive event against other mixed teams from primary schools across the Tamworth Consortium at Rawlett High School. Our children all performed exceptionally well and represented the value beautifully by cheering each other on and offering support. This was our first event, so it was always about the taking part, however Edith achieved 2^nd place overall and Ollie 3^rd place overall. We are so proud of the team.

 

A Celebration of Inclusivity and Teamwork at Dosthill

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we believe in the core value of "We leave no one behind," and our recent tree planting event for British Science Week beautifully exemplified this principle. This initiative, driven by our STEM ambassadors and the school council, brought together our entire school community in a collective effort to make a positive environmental impact.

The Event: As part of British Science Week, our theme of 'Change and Adapt' inspired us to plant trees in the school grounds. This initiative aimed to create shaded areas for future picnics and provide habitats for local wildlife. The trees planted included Silver Birch, Rowan, and Wild Cherry, each chosen for their environmental benefits and future growth potential.

Inclusivity in Action: The event was a true testament to our commitment to inclusivity and teamwork. Every class participated in planting a tree, ensuring that each child had a role in this project. We were delighted to welcome the OPOJ nursery, who planted two trees, further emphasising our inclusive approach.

Leadership and Collaboration: Our dedicated STEM ambassadors played a crucial role in organising and executing the event, demonstrating leadership and teamwork. The school council's involvement ensured that the project was driven by pupil voice, highlighting the importance of pupil-led initiatives.

Special Moments: A highlight of the initiative was the visit from Mrs Webster, a school governor, who planted the 'Governor's tree.' This act symbolised our commitment to environmental sustainability and growth, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the event.

Looking Ahead: The trees we planted will not only enhance our school's green spaces but also serve as a lasting legacy for future generations. They will provide shaded areas for children to enjoy and habitats for various animals, contributing to our local ecosystem.

Our tree planting event for British Science Week was a shining example of how we live out our core value of "We leave no one behind" at Dosthill Primary Academy. Through inclusivity, teamwork, and a shared commitment to positive change, we have made a lasting impact on our school and environment.

During our forest school weeks, the year 4 children have undertaken a unit called 'Field to Fork'. The whole year group took it in turns - over consecutive weeks - to visit a local allotment in Winshill. They were given the chance to see how people can 'live off the land' and 'grow their own' to be self-sufficient. They also gained an insight into where food comes from and the fact that you don't need to spend lots of money on food to have a healthy diet.  This was then followed up on Forest Friday with parents and children potting seeds to grow their own vegetables at home.  With the whole year group being involved, this meant they all gained an understanding of life beyond fast food which dominates our lives today. 

At Glascote Academy, we proudly uphold the Trust Value of "We leave no-one behind." This principle was beautifully demonstrated during our recent World Book Day celebrations. Instead of opting for expensive character costumes, our children dressed up as words, ensuring that everyone could participate without financial barriers. 

Our Reception children have been actively contributing to the school's cleanliness by sharing litter pickers and tidying up the school grounds. This fostered a sense of responsibility as well as promoting teamwork and environmental awareness. 

Meanwhile, our Year 4 children showcased remarkable support for one another during their school trip to Bishops Wood. They engaged in activities such as yarn spinning and Saxon shelter building, demonstrating cooperation and camaraderie. 

These efforts highlight the strong community spirit at Glascote Academy, where inclusivity and mutual support are at the heart of all we do. 

At Garden Village Primary Academy, we pride ourselves on being inclusive. Every child is planned for from their unique starting point. When needed, external support is sought to ensure that the provision and adaptations to the curriculum appropriately meet the needs of our SEND children. 

One achievement this year, which we are wholeheartedly proud of, is our whole-school implementation of an alternative communication system to enable a pre-verbal child to communicate their needs and feelings. In September, whole-school Makaton training was completed which was followed by the implementation of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). PEC cards are now used consistently by all staff in the classroom and at dinner time; parents also use them at home.  

As a result of the PEC cards and specific targets on the Individual Learning Plan, access to the curriculum and progress in learning have significantly improved. 

At Heathfields Infant and Wilnecote Junior Academy we have been working on improving social interaction to reduce playtime fall-outs and to ensure all children have an activity that interests them during playtimes. This has ensured that all children are included and have activities that support their emotional and social development.  The children have shared how their playtimes could be improved and each week we introduce an additional activity to support with social interaction and engagement. This week, the infant children introduced music and 'it has been the best week ever'. The junior children have loved preparing the garden area and they are looking forward to planning seeds and watching vegetables grow throughout the summer term. 

We leave no one behind at Violet Way...

At Violet Way we have been celebrating how wonderfully unique we all are, and that means we have strengths in all different areas. Leaving no one behind means sometimes supporting our friends in things they find hard and always showing kindness. Kindness is our favourite thing!  

Our Forest school is a great way to embrace this where we work together to look after our environment and our animals, supporting each other to be the best we can be and leaving 'no one behind'.