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Over the past 15 months, the External Relations Team has collaborated with various groups and individuals across the Foundation to agree a new Vision, Mission and set of Values for the organisation.

The new statements are not intended to replace those which may already exist in individual schools, but rather to set the tone for the Foundation as a whole.

We are excited to announce that the new statements were approved in January and communicated to SLTs in February, and we are now ready to share them more widely,

The Mission, Vision and Values are part of what we call our ‘Brand identity’, which relates to how an organisation communicates what it is, what it does, how it does it and why. This identity is linked not only to how we operate, but also to our organisational personality and is hugely significant in influencing an organisation’s reputation. The words we use (about ourselves and more generally), the images and videos we use, our logo and wider colour palette and the approach we take in communicating with individuals and other organisations all contribute to forming our ‘brand identity’.

An initial brand review session with the Foundation Leadership Group (FLG)was held in November 2022, exploring whether a shared set of Foundation-wide values existed and whether there was consensus around the tone of voice used in our communications. 

The findings of the Foundation-wide Staff Experience and Engagement Survey, conducted in January 2023, provided added incentive for the brand review.

Three questions had particular relevance:

Following the initial brand review with FLG in November 2022, we were keen to hear views from the wider organisation. Speaking to colleagues in a variety of different roles, the review and subsequent drafting of a new set of brand statements involved:

• Foundation Senior Leadership Team (SLT): June 2023
• Foundation FLG review: June 2023
• Foundation SLT: September 2023
• Joint External Relations Advisory Group: September 2023
• Foundation Communications Group: September 2023 
• Governors’ Conference: September 2023 
• Foundation Education Group (FEG): November 2023
• School Headteachers, SLTs and students: November 2023 - January 2024

The statements below are a result of all of the conversations and meetings mentioned and we believe they set the tone for the Foundation as a whole, sitting alongside existing school values and representing who we are, collectively. A huge thank you to all who contributed!

Our aspiration (our hope for the city):

Making Birmingham the best place to be Education in the UK

Our vision (what we want to be): 

To be a leader in transforming lives and futures through educational experience and opportunity, serving Birmingham and influencing beyond.

Our mission (how we work towards our vision): 

To empower our schools in the heart of the UK to deliver educational excellence, enabling our students, staff and partners to thrive.   

Our values (what we stand for – the foundations that underpin our mission) 

	Excellence  We strive for excellence in all parts of the well-rounded and forward-looking education our schools deliver.  We are distinctive in the high quality of education we provide.  We strive for excellence.
	Accessibility  Our schools are accessible and inclusive, providing opportunities for our students and staff to thrive regardless of their background.  We are accessible.
	Collaboration  The diversity of our schools is a key strength, and we work together to make a difference.   We achieve more together.
	Ambition  We have high aspirations and encourage students and staff to take advantage of the opportunities on offer.   We aim high.
	Care  People’s wellbeing and growth is at the centre of all we do, and we take seriously our environmental responsibilities.  We make a positive contribution to individuals and society.
	Integrity Our actions are driven by doing the right thing at all times, and we take responsibility for them.   We are open and honest.

Our tone of voice (our communications are...)  

Welcoming: We use warm and relatable language, photography, video and graphics with the right audience at the right time.  

Authentic: Our communications are genuine and they do not try to portray something we are not.  

 Clear: We communicate with clarity and conciseness.   

 Professional: We are considered, consistent and confident in our communications.   

 Receptive: We are willing to listen and provide opportunities for others to share their views.  

Inspirational: Our communications seek to raise aspirations, showcasing opportunity and celebrating success in its many forms. 

Our proposition statement (how we summarise the difference we wish to make) 

We are the King Edward VI Foundation, a diverse community of schools serving Birmingham and influencing beyond. We strive for excellence, and through our forward-looking, rounded and inclusive education, we transform the lives of our students, staff and partners, enabling them to grow, to grasp opportunities, to develop resilience, to make a positive contribution to society and, ultimately, to thrive.  

We hope we have captured the spirit of what the Foundation is through these words and phrases. There is more information within this edition of Foundation News on how we intend to roll out and embed these across the organisation, including showcasing good practice and celebrating the breadth of work that links to the values.

We have also included them on our new website, so please do take a look - Our values