Dear Fierté Families, 

As we come to the start of another busy and rewarding term, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. The day-to-day collaboration between home and school is what enables our children to thrive, and we deeply value the trust you place in us.

Last term gave us much to celebrate. Our Trust continues to be a strong and positive presence across Staffordshire, and we have taken important steps to revisit and renew our Strategic Plan. In doing so, we have been brave and prioritised the challenges faced in education today—particularly for children with SEND—while strengthening community links and ensuring our curriculum remains relevant and ambitious for every child as they progress through our schools.

We are proud to share that our recent external audit was successful, confirming the strength of our financial management and the efficiency of our systems and procedures. Alongside this, we continue to focus on managing our premises effectively and attracting and retaining the highest calibre of staff. Each term, we also seek new ways to collaborate with organisations locally and nationally, ensuring we maintain a broad perspective and strong partnerships across education.

We know from feedback that many of you attended nativities, concerts, and assemblies across our ten settings. These moments remind us of the joy, love, and sense of belonging that our children bring—whether in school, at home, or within our Trust community; precious memories for all.

On behalf of everyone in the Trust, I wish you a wonderful 2026 filled with warmth and togetherness. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey, and we look forward to continuing our work together.

Kindest regards,

Maria Hamblin (CEO)

Fierté Facts

Become a School Governor – Make a Difference in Our School Communities!

Could you become a school governor?

As we look further ahead to 2026, we want to share an important opportunity to make a real difference in our schools and the Trust community. Recently, some of our governors have stepped down, and we now have vacancies at Ankermoor Primary, Dosthill Primary, and Edgehill Junior School. We warmly invite you to consider joining us as a school governor; a vital and rewarding role that helps shape the future for all our children.

Governors play a key role in supporting school leadership, ensuring high standards, and contributing to strategic decisions that impact every child. You do not need to be an education expert; what matters most is your commitment and the unique skills and perspectives you bring.

What makes an effective governor?

• A commitment to improving outcomes for all children
• The ability to work as part of a team and ask thoughtful questions
• Skills in areas such as finance, HR, law, health and safety, or project management or marketing
• A willingness to learn and engage in training opportunities
• A passion for supporting your local community

If you’re interested in helping shape the future of our schools, please contact ceo@fierte.org.

Thank you for considering this important role. Together, we can continue to build strong, nurturing, and ambitious school communities for every child.

The Executive Leadership Team, 

Our CEO and Vice CEO continue to work closely with school leaders and central support teams to ensure that the needs of children and staff remain at the heart of every decision. The Executive leadership involvement has extended well beyond strategic oversight; they have actively supported school inspections and taken on additional responsibilities in key areas such as health and safety, HR, premises management, and catering.

Significant work has been carried out on premises and health and safety, ensuring our schools remain compliant, safe, and welcoming environments. Executive Leaders have also provided direct support within school leadership teams, led Strategy Days for Trust Leaders, and overseen the revision and review of our Trust Strategic Plan to keep our vision strong and relevant.

Recruitment has been another priority, with executive leader involvement in appointing key roles such as an HR Manager and headteachers, ensuring we continue to attract and retain exceptional staff. These efforts reflect our commitment to strong leadership, robust systems, and a culture of collaboration that benefits every child in our trust.

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.  Over 103 children and their families have taken part in our holiday club programmes since Autumn 2025, with even more children joining us from outside our school catchment area than before. It has been wonderful to see our community grow and thrive through these fun-filled sessions.

The Central Support Team plays a vital role in the smooth day-to-day running of our schools. Their expertise and dedication ensure that essential services, such as recruitment, advertising, catering, HR, finance, and IT, are managed efficiently and effectively. By supporting school leaders and operational teams behind the scenes, they help create the conditions that allow our staff to focus on educating our children.

We are brave...

Bravery - often described as courage, fortitude, and resilience - is something I witness every day among children and staff across our Trust.

From our youngest learners in Reception mastering phonics and writing, to older pupils persevering despite gaps in knowledge, determination is everywhere. Some children face barriers linked to special educational needs or educational disadvantage, yet they refuse to give up. They work tirelessly to extend their knowledge and skills. 

For others, simply attending school is a challenge. Still, they overcome fears and embrace strategies that help them attend regularly. When setbacks occur, they try again. The faith shown by parents and carers in supporting these efforts reflects another kind of courage - one that strengthens our community.

Our staff also demonstrate bravery. They set high expectations and strive to improve education for every child, even when workloads and wellbeing pressures make the task daunting. I see colleagues proactively addressing these challenges, supporting one another, and prioritising children when the temptation to step back is strong. This is fortitude in action.

This term, we introduced a new coaching-based approach to appraisal. Engaging with an unfamiliar process required courage from staff, who embraced openness and committed to self-improvement. Coaches report that this shift is already having a positive impact on individuals and school culture.

As Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” That spirit of perseverance defines our children and staff, and I am confident it will continue to shape our Trust.

Why Our Leaders Are Brave...

Our leaders demonstrate true bravery every day as they navigate the complex and often challenging decisions required to run our schools effectively. Each term, they engage in rigorous review meetings, examining every academy’s finances in detail;from income streams to essential expenditures—to ensure full transparency and responsible stewardship. Whether they are determining how best to keep premises safe, prioritising limited resources so that children have what they need to learn, or making difficult staffing decisions that must balance affordability, achievability, and long-term sustainability, their courage is evident in every choice they make.

In a time when education faces unprecedented challenges, our organisation’s strength lies in leaders who pull together, trust one another, and confront difficult realities head-on. This collective resilience is what enables us to continue serving our communities with integrity and purpose.

Their bravery is not only seen in the decisions they take, but in their unwavering commitment to do what is right, especially when the path forward is the hardest to choose.

 

We are brave...

Our schools continue to embody bravery; one of our core Trust values, through their daily actions and commitment to personal growth. Below is a snapshot of the diverse and inspiring activities our pupils have taken part in, each demonstrating remarkable courage and resilience both for themselves and in support of others. We are incredibly proud of every one of them.

We are so proud of how one of our children has shown bravery with his learning at Ankermoor. This young man who has been in our SEND provision is now accessing his learning in his own class. It is wonderful to see him interacting with his peers and to witness how his independence and resilience are developing and how he is showing fearlessness when attempting new activities and learning new skills.

 

We Are Brave at Anker Valley

At AnkerValley, our Year 3 pupils demonstrated exceptional bravery during their overnight residential stay; an experience that was a first for many of them. Throughout the visit, the children showed remarkable resilience and courage as they learnt new outdoor skills, including building fires and using tools crafted from flint and wood. They even had the opportunity to practise safe spear-throwing as part of their historical learning.

What stood out most was their maturity: they supported their friends, took responsibility for their dormitories, and approached every challenge with enthusiasm and confidence. We could not be more proud of the young people they are becoming.

 

We Are Brave: Celebrating Courage and Determination at Dosthill

At Dosthill Primary Academy, we believe that bravery is about stepping outside our comfort zones, facing challenges head-on, and showing resilience in the face of new experiences. This term, our pupils have demonstrated incredible courage in a variety of ways.

Year 2’s Musical Leap
Our Year 2 pupils showed bravery as they attended their very first violin lesson with Mrs Kimber. For many, this was their first time holding a musical instrument, and they approached the challenge with excitement and determination. Learning to hold the violin and bow correctly was no small feat, but their confidence grew with every moment.

Year 4’s Gymnastics Challenge
In gymnastics, Year 4 pupils embraced the challenge of creating sequences that linked four or more moves together. They pushed themselves to try partner balances using mirror and matching techniques, as well as asymmetrical shapes — a brave step into complex routines that required trust, creativity, and perseverance.

Year 5 & 6 Girls’ Football Triumph
Our Year 5 and 6 Girls’ Football team embodied bravery on the pitch as they competed in the Tamworth Primary School Final. Their determination and teamwork led them to victory, and now they will proudly represent Dosthill at the County Finals in the new year. Taking on strong opponents and performing under pressure showed true courage and resilience.

Across our school, bravery shines through in every classroom and on every playground. Whether it’s trying something new, performing in front of others, or competing at the highest level, our pupils continue to inspire us with their courage and commitment.

Celebrating the value: 'We are Brave'.

Showing the value of 'We Are Brave' at Edge Hill!

 

At Edge Hill, some wonderful Year 6 artwork showcased the children's 3D sculptures which were hand drawn using the grid method.

After scaling up a silhouette, the children then used collage to layer different etchings together and added detail and shading. They were then tasked with making a stand for their sculpture – to make it stable and freestanding. Although challenging at times, the children enjoyed the process and walking around our 'Edge Hill Gallery,' to appreciate other people's artwork alongside being proud of their own. This showed real fortitude for some children in appreciating their own and others' work as well as working as part of a team. All which connects to our values:

• Perseverance: Never giving up, even when it gets tricky.

• Respect: Listening carefully to instructions, ensuring every component is correct.

• Trust: Using real tools safely, requiring responsibility and confidence.

• Commitment: Seeing the project through to the very end!

Bravery in Action: Year 6 Residential Adventure

In October, our Year 6 pupils and staff truly embodied the principle of “We Are Brave” during their residential camp at White Moor Lakes. The trip was designed to challenge comfort zones and build resilience, and every participant rose to the occasion.

From the moment they arrived, pupils faced a series of thrilling activities that tested both physical and mental courage. The towering climbing wall demanded determination and teamwork, as children encouraged one another to reach new heights. The zipwire was a highlight, requiring trust and a leap of faith as they soared through the air with exhilaration (staff enjoyed this one too!) On the obstacle course, pupils navigated tricky challenges that called for problem-solving and perseverance.

Perhaps the most surprising test of bravery came during the blindfold guessing game, where pupils relied on touch and intuition to identify mystery objects—an exercise in overcoming uncertainty and fear of the unknown.

This residential experience was more than an adventure; it was a celebration of courage, friendship, and personal growth. Every child returned with a sense of pride, having proven that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the determination to face it head-on.

 

This term at Garden Village Primary Academy, the children in Reception and Year One have been learning about how to be ‘brave’ through the Character Education virtue – courage. Through stories and real-life experiences, the children have explored what it means to be brave and as a result, shared their experiences of bravery – in school and outside of school. Examples of bravery that we are proud of this term range from, trying new learning opportunities, including the new lunchtime menu to speaking in front of a large audience about their learning in the monthly Friends and Family Celebration Assembly. We are immensely proud of the courage and bravery that our children are developing. Our children are busy rehearsing for the annual Christmas Nativity; every child is blossoming in bravery and confidence!

At  Heathfield's Infant,We are brave . . . . 

In assemblies we have looked at the value 'we are brave' . . .we have looked at the following books; Brave Irene by William Steig, Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy.

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun was used during kindness week, which encouraged children to have the courage to be themselves and to stand up to bullies with kindness. We shared stories about promoting having kind words said to others and walking away from people when hurtful or unkind words are shared.

 

We have seen members of Heathfields Infant Academy demonstrating they are brave through a variety of acts including; 

• Flu vaccinations- Lots of brave little ones. "I'm trying to be brave but I'm scared!'

• Teachers have been brave and invited parents to join lessons including phonics and spelling lessons

• Some of the Heathfields staff have been brave and taken on a new fitness challenges- we now have a regular group of Heathfields Park runners, including Mr Beniston and Mrs Gilbert that have tackled longer running events throughout the year.

• All children have been brave at the start of the year and moved successfully to their new classes, they are settled and wanting to extend their learning. Including Year 1 who have been brave and mastered writing neatly on lines! 

 

Wilnecote Junior Academy

Our Year 6 children have truly shown their courage and resilience during their residential. For many, it was the very first time staying overnight in a new place, and they embraced the challenge with confidence.

• Children learnt how to make their beds and take care of themselves away from home.

• They mastered new tricks and jumps on BMX bikes, showing determination and skill.

• On the high ropes course, they conquered their fear of heights with bravery and teamwork.

• Whatever the weather—sunshine, rain, or wind—they dressed well and continued learning outdoors with enthusiasm.

This experience has not only built new skills but also strengthened friendships, confidence, and independence. We are incredibly proud of their bravery and the way they supported one another throughout the adventure.

 

Subject: Celebrating Bravery in Reading at Violet Way!

We are so proud of the bravery our children show every day, especially when it comes to reading. Reading is such an important skill, and it takes courage to grow and share that journey with others.

Our recent Reading Open Sessions have been a wonderful success, with many parents attending to support their children. For those who find it difficult to come into school, we truly appreciate the effort; it is an act of bravery that speaks volumes about your commitment.

We also want to celebrate our Reading Ambassadors. These children demonstrate incredible courage by reading with their peers and helping others discover the joy of books. They understand that reading is a powerful tool and that working together can motivate and inspire fellow learners.

Thank you for your continued support in fostering a love of reading. Together, we are building confident, enthusiastic readers who are ready to take on the world.

 

OPOJ We are brave...

OPOJ at Ankermoor have been exploring teamwork and what friendship means to us during Autumn. We have worked as a team to plant our vegetables, bake banana cookies and learn a new song in Makaton. We have talked about what makes a kind friend, how our friends can be different from ourselves and how we can show others kindness. Lots of the children said sharing makes a good friend, and we have been practising our sharing and turn taking with our jigsaws, games and circle time.