The UST Apprentice Network (UAN) brings together apprentices from across the trust to train, share ideas and learn from one another as a collective. It is a space where colleagues at the very start of their careers can build confidence, develop professional skills and understand the wider impact of their roles within the Trust.

The network’s second session was led by Laura McPhee, Director of Education – Primary and focused on the importance of psychological safety in the workplace.

Apprentices explored how every department, regardless of its function, contributes to pupil engagement, productivity and attendance.

The session introduced Timothy Clark’s Four Stages of Psychological Safety: feeling included, feeling safe to make mistakes, feeling able to contribute, and feeling confident to challenge ideas constructively.

Due to the limitations of Clarks model Laura also guided the apprentices through the Edmondson’s four domains that shape a safe working culture attitudes to risk and failure, inclusion and diversity, open conversation and willingness to help.

Drawing on Edmondson’s work on learning from failure, the group discussed the differences between basic, complex and intelligent mistakes, and how each offers opportunities for growth.

The session emphasised practical strategies for fostering psychological safety: normalising errors, modelling professional disagreement, rotating leadership roles, valuing cognitive diversity and creating space for underrepresented voices.

Apprentices reflected on how personal attachment styles influence leadership behaviours and team dynamics, reinforcing the idea that this work begins with selfawareness.

The UAN is a key representation of our Trust’s mission to deliver transformational education for all. By building inclusive and supportive upskilling sessions like these, UST apprentices are able to develop even further skills while thriving within our working environment.