Lessons from
the Geese
‘Striving for Excellence whilst Caring for All, within a loving and caring Christian environment’, forms the basis of our mission statement and is at the heart of all that we work hard to achieve. We all work together using ‘Lessons from the Geese’.
Abbey Academies Trust MAT is centred around people – pupils, staff, parents / carers, trustees / governors and local communities. We offer a tried and tested framework for rapid school improvement and sustained success, working within a shared ethos of care and respect, whilst celebrating diversity. We firmly believe that high achievement and continuing the process of raising achievement is not about short term fixes – it is about commitment, sharing and working together towards a vision of long term gains. Thus enabling pupils to achieve the highest possible standards and for them to want to be lifelong learners.
As a Multi Academy Trust, we not only encourage our pupils to strive for excellence in the core subjects, but to broaden their education, to embrace and develop the concepts of faith and spirituality, of hope and charity and to enable them to make more informed decisions later in life as broad-minded and knowledgeable British and world citizens. We describe this as ‘Rigour with Care’.
Abbey Academies Trust MAT is centred around people – pupils, staff, parents / carers, trustees / governors and local communities. We offer a tried and tested framework for rapid school improvement and sustained success, working within a shared ethos of care and respect, whilst celebrating diversity. We firmly believe that high achievement and continuing the process of raising achievement is not about short term fixes – it is about commitment, sharing and working together towards a vision of long term gains. Thus enabling pupils to achieve the highest possible standards and for them to want to be lifelong learners.
As a Multi Academy Trust, we not only encourage our pupils to strive for excellence in the core subjects, but to broaden their education, to embrace and develop the concepts of faith and spirituality, of hope and charity and to enable them to make more informed decisions later in life as broad-minded and knowledgeable British and world citizens. We describe this as ‘Rigour with Care’.
We believe that each school is unique and has its own identity according to its context and the needs of its pupils. Whilst committing to a common ethos we will celebrate and learn from each other’s diversity. The Trust promotes diversity linked to high standards and harmonisation of key policies and processes. We also provide effective management services to each of our Academies, enabling Academy leaders to focus on their core task of leadership and school improvement as well as a more flexible staffing structure which can be developed across the Trust. High quality external CPD, which is not affordable for individual schools, is accessible for schools within AAT as we are able to share costs. Collaboration is at the heart of all we do and we work in partnership with other networks such as teaching school alliances and collaborative partnerships.
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Luke 2:40
Lessons from the Geese
As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the birds that follow. By flying in V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are travelling on the thrust of one another.
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson
If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help, and we give our help to others.
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities, and unique arrangement of gifts, talents, or resources.
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.
Lesson
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help or protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
