Embedding core values into everyday school life

Dixons Academies Trust integrates its three core values—working hard, being good, and being nice—into every aspect of daily operations. These values are reinforced through staff training, trust-wide conferences, weekly check-ins, and continuous communication, ensuring that they are not just slogans but lived experience.

“A lot of what we do centres on overcommunication of our values. At the start of every meeting, we read out our core values: working hard, being good, and being nice. It just acts as a constant reminder. And if we think the culture is shifting, we’re not afraid to step back and say, ‘Hang on, let’s make sure we’re getting these cultural foundations right.’” – Faizal Musa, School and College Trust Leader, Dixons Academies Trust​

Balancing trust-wide values with local interpretation

Cirrus Primary Academy Trust defines its core values as inclusion, respect, resilience, honesty, and ambition but allows schools to interpret and apply these principles in a way that suits their local context. Each school retains autonomy in areas such as curriculum design and teaching approaches, ensuring that trust values enhance rather than override individual school identities.

While each school retains its unique identity and community ties, these overarching principles guide the trust’s approach to education, leadership and organisational development. A defining feature of the trust is its commitment to allowing schools to maintain their individuality.

Developing trust-wide cultural frameworks

Infinity Academies Trust created a “Values into Action” guide that clearly defines how its core values should be demonstrated in practice. The guide was developed in collaboration with school leaders, providing concrete examples of what is expected, what is encouraged, and what is discouraged. This framework ensures consistency while allowing flexibility in application.

“Every little opportunity and every little action is how you build that culture and then, as soon as you stop breathing life into the culture, that’s when it starts to die. So you can’t accept those things or take them for granted.” –Gavin Booth, Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Academies Trust

Prioritising staff wellbeing to strengthen culture

Cirrus Primary Academy Trust introduced a staff charter that aligns with trust values, focusing on wellbeing, workload management, staff voice and professional growth. Every staff member receives a personal copy of the charter, reinforcing the trust’s commitment to their development and welfare. Additionally, trust-wide recognition awards celebrate staff who embody these values.

“We introduced a staff and pupil charter aligned with our values, outlining our commitments. For pupils, it defines what pupils can expect if they attend a Cirrus school, and for staff, it explains what being part of our trust entails. The staff charter focuses on wellbeing, workload, personal and professional growth, staff voice and fostering community and culture.” – Claire Marriott, Head of HR, Cirrus Primary Academy Trust​

Using branding and language to reinforce trust identity

Windsor Academy Trust developed a “Rocket Ship” strategy model that visually represents its core values—pride in excellence, respect, responsibility, collaboration, and innovation and its strategic priorities, which includes five big moves: driving school transformation, developing staff talent, transforming communities, ensuring the family of schools is an environmental force for good, and extending its system contribution.

The model is prominently displayed in school receptions, staff rooms and training spaces, serving as a constant reinforcement of trust-wide culture.