Golden Talks

Golden Talk: Series 2 EP 5: Terri Hickey on Belonging

In this episode of Golden Talks, we are joined by Terri Hickey, Operations Manager at The Riverview Academy, to discuss the theme of belonging and the powerful connections schools can build within their communities.  
Terri shares her unique journey from being a pupil at Riverview to becoming a key member of the school’s leadership team. She also talks about how Riverview has maintained its strong community ethos over the years, supporting both pupils and families while also highlighting how belonging can shape both personal journeys and whole school communities. 
For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/. 

Golden Talk: Series 2 EP 4: Fliss Walsh on SEND/Inclusion

In this episode of Golden Talks, we speak with Fliss Walsh, Deputy Head and Inclusion Lead at The Riverview Academy, about the meaning and importance of SEND and inclusion in schools today. Fliss shares what a typical morning looks like in her role, talks about her journey into inclusion, her passion for working closely with teachers and teaching assistants, and why building trust with parents is central to effective SEND support.  
She also discusses the broader challenges facing SEND provision nationally, including funding pressures, the impact of COVID-19 on children’s social and emotional development, and the importance of teamwork within schools in meeting complex needs.   
For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/. 

Golden Talk: Series 2 EP 3: Leon and Rebecca on SEND/Inclusion and Belonging

In this episode of Golden Talks, Temple Hill Primary Academy Headteacher Leon Dawson and Assistant Head for Inclusion Rebecca Crouch discuss what inclusion and belonging look like in practice.  
Drawing on years of experience within the school community, they discuss how belonging sits at the heart of their approach to education. For them, inclusion means ensuring every child feels welcomed, respected and supported, regardless of their starting point. They also introduce the idea of “mattering,” where pupils are given meaningful roles and responsibilities to reinforce their importance within the school community. They also talk about the challenges schools face when supporting increasing levels of SEND need with limited resources.  
Through it all, their focus remains on creating a school where children feel valued, and families know they will be supported. 
For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/. 

Golden Talk: Series 2 EP 2: Charlotte Casey on SEND/Inclusion

In this Golden Talk episode, we explore inclusion, belonging, and the lived experiences of children and families within today’s SEND landscape with Charlotte Casey, Headteacher of Culverstone Green Primary School. 
She reflects on the moments that shaped her commitment to inclusive education, beginning with an inspirational teacher from her own childhood and early teaching experiences supporting pupils with significant needs. She discusses what “difficult days” mean for families, highlighting how simple disruptions or emotional overwhelm can create barriers before a child even reaches school. She stresses the importance of empathy, patience, and dignity, noting that staff must model inclusive values consistently so families feel understood and children feel safe.  
Charlotte’s priorities include strengthening staff understanding of inclusion as a whole‑school culture, improving provision despite limited spaces, and ensuring every family feels they belong.  
For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://bit.ly/4cNKSSB. 

Golden Talk: Series 2 EP 1: Jack Keen and the Journey of Riverview

In this episode of Golden Talk, Head of School Jack Keen reflects on the journey of The Riverview Academy and the leadership vision that has shaped its culture. Having joined the school eight years ago, Jack witnessed its transition from two separate schools into one unified academy as he describes the challenge of merging two cultures and the commitment to creating a single, coherent identity centred on belonging for every child from Reception to Year 6. This led to the creation of The Riverview Way, a behaviour and culture framework rooted in core values, shared language, and celebration.  
Jack shares how his key priority has always been building one culture, one identity and ensuring every child feels they belong, not as an “infant” or “junior” pupil, but as a Riverview child. Looking ahead, his ambition for Riverview is for it to become a true community hub, trusted by families and known for nurturing confident, happy learners who feel safe and valued throughout their school journey. 
For more insights from leaders across the trust, keep an eye on upcoming Golden Talk episodes: https://bit.ly/4cNKSSB. 

Golden Talk: Series 1 EP6: Kindness and Courage

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/ 

Golden Talk: Series 1 EP5: Respect

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/ 

Golden Talk: Series 1 EP4: Ambition

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/ 

Golden Talk: Series 1 EP3: Integrity

This episode focused on Integrity, another core value of The Golden Thread Alliance, with insights from featuring James Kendall (Director of Education) and Sue Kirby (Executive Assistant to the CEO).   
Both speakers share how integrity means doing the right thing, being honest, staying true to your principles, and making the right decisions even when no one is watching. They talked about how this guides daily decisions and interactions, helping staff work together with openness, fairness, and respect. Whether in leadership or the classroom, integrity is something that’s shown through actions, not just words.  
James highlights that the organisation's values are fundamental pillars that guide decisions affecting 700 employees, ensuring choices are made with respect and integrity. Sue notes that the values are consistently "woven into everything" and that the organisation truly delivers on its promised culture.  
The discussion wrapped up with the speakers underscoring The Golden Thread Alliance's commitment to a values-led approach, where integrity is not just a concept that’s taught but a lived practice that defines the organisation's culture and interactions. 
For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/ 

Golden Talk: Series 1 EP2: Responsibility

The second Golden Talk episode explored the value of Responsibility, with insights from Dan Range, an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Local Governing Committee at Temple Hill Primary Academy, and Philip Vander Gucht, Chair of Trustees. They reflected on what responsibility looks like across the nine schools in the Trust, and how it’s something that’s shared by everyone.  
They spoke about responsibility as both a role and a choice: it is about actively stepping forward to support others, giving time selflessly, and setting an example for all. Whether that’s helping schools prepare for inspections or empowering staff at all levels, both Dan and Philip showed how responsibility runs through the Trust’s culture.  
They shared examples, including governors helping to introduce new data systems to improve pupil outcomes, and staff across the Trust showing collective responsibility for safeguarding and wellbeing. The episode concluded with both speakers agreeing that responsibility is not just something that one’s accountable for, but how one shows up, every day.  
For more information about The Golden Thread Alliance, please visit https://golden-thread.org/