As CEO of The Golden Thread Alliance, a Trust encompassing nine primary schools across North Kent, my unwavering determination is to ensure that every child within our care is fully equipped to grasp the challenges of tomorrow. This commitment is woven into the very fabric of our Trust, forming the “Golden Thread” that connects and strengthens each of our schools.
While we share a foundation of core values, we champion the belief that an individual curriculum, responsive to the unique needs, interests, and context of each school, must be prioritised over a desire for absolute consistency. In my opinion, a shared set of values delivers a richer, more meaningful educational experience than a rigid, identical curriculum ever could.
Of course, certain areas must remain consistent. All our schools rigorously teach English, Maths and follow the National Curriculum. But what truly sets our Trust apart is the added layer of opportunity we provide: enriching programmes that go beyond the standard, equipping our pupils for the complex, ever-changing world ahead.
Despite this core belief, certain aspects of our curriculum are, by necessity, consistent. We all rigorously teach English and Maths, and we all adhere to the National Curriculum. However, it is the supplementary programs, those that truly enhance our mission to prepare children for the complexities of the future, that form an additional, vital layer of consistency across our Trust.
One such exemplary program is our transformative partnership with Tobe Heartsafe, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC). Tobe Heartsafe not only provides crucial heart screening to young people but also delivers an age-appropriate, hands-on training experience for our pupils, teaching them the fundamental principles of life-saving through CPR techniques and defibrillator awareness.
Our motto at the Golden Thread Alliance is “Every child trained is a superhero!” This isn’t just a slogan; it’s a powerful promise that captures the spirit of our work. It reminds us that every classroom with a trained pupil is a safer space for everyone within it.
The programme fits seamlessly into our school day. Pupils work alongside skilled nurses and learn the vital steps that could one day save a life. For our youngest learners, even raising the alarm is a monumental step. It’s truly astounding how, in our technology-dominated world, the basic knowledge of one’s home address or the critical importance of dialling 999 has diminished among some children.
For our older pupils in Years 5 and 6, the training deepens, following a cycle of “learn, practise, and check” to build confidence in CPR and defibrillator use.
Let’s be realistic: a small-framed Year 5 pupil may not possess the physical strength or the singular mental capacity to independently manage a full-blown emergency. Giving CPR is a strenuous activity, and using a defibrillator is a serious undertaking. However, being equipped with these foundational skills could be the critical difference between survival and tragedy for a member of the public, or even a beloved family member, when an emergency arises.
Are we expecting this program to magically create high-level critical care nurses? No. Are we rolling this program out so that all pupils can effectively use a defibrillator without adult supervision? Of course not. What we are doing is:
- Giving children the knowledge and skills to confidently lend a hand when they witness an emergency.
- Ensuring all pupils understand how to raise the alarm effectively, how to summon professional help, and how to keep themselves safe while waiting for trained assistance to arrive.
This is our unwavering commitment.
Consider the heart health landscape in the UK:
- Cardiovascular disease tragically claims over 150,000 lives in the UK each year, averaging 420 deaths daily.
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) occur over 30,000 times annually in the UK, yet fewer than one in ten people survive. Crucially, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10%
- Heartbreakingly, 12 seemingly fit and healthy young people under the age of 35 die from Young Sudden Cardiac Death (YSCD) each week in the UK, with 80% showing no prior warning signs.
These statistics underscore the vital importance of widespread CPR and defibrillator awareness, not just among adults but also among our children. While the government’s recent £19 million rollout has ensured all state-funded schools in England now have a life-saving defibrillator, with over 20,000 devices delivered to nearly 18,000 schools, the presence of these machines is only truly impactful if people know how to use them. Despite this fantastic initiative, it’s estimated that over 13,000 defibrillators in English schools remain unregistered, meaning emergency services can’t easily locate them when every second counts. Our program addresses this crucial knowledge gap.
As educators, our core role is to teach. Golden Thread children will leave our schools equipped for the challenges of tomorrow, both academically and practically. This is why our wider curriculum—extending far beyond the vital teaching of Maths, English, History, and Art—plays such a large and consistent part in our approach to learning.
Thanks to the incredible life-saving work carried out by Tobe Heartsafe across the country, our Golden Thread pupils are empowered to act decisively in a crisis. Seeking help, raising the alarm, knowing how to undertake CPR, and understanding how to operate a defibrillator—these are not skills typically found in the national curriculum. Yet, they are undeniably the critical skills you will find deeply embedded within a Golden Thread wider curriculum.
We are not just educating minds; we are nurturing potential life-savers.
Garry Ratcliffe, CEO