Since Michael Gove introduced the concept of ‘British Values’ in June 2014 it’s always been a contentious concept in our schools – why do values have to have a nationality? Is it the duty of schools to define the values of their communities? New values are emerging, values that seem to represent who we are as a society. The sense of connection and empathy is growing, and I’d like to propose a new list of core Values that British people have rallied around, values that have not always been obvious or fully acknowledged in our society, but have come to the fore in recent weeks.

Schools and school leaders face ethical dilemmas regularly, and there has been a growing movement to define what ethical behaviour looks like in schools and then commit to this as our way of working.  The Ethical Leadership Commission has produced the Framework for Ethical Leadership in Education, setting out the key commitments that define ethical educational leadership.

The way that the development of the Multi Academy Trust has transformed the educational landscape has been rapid and unpredictable. It has provided innovation and energy and led to notable successes, but it has also brought controversy as a result of actions that have thrown all MATs into disrepute. This article argues that MAT leaders have a duty to uphold the highest ethical standards if the sector is to thrive.