Creating a safe space within schools is key to developing innovative, creative and collaborative practices that directly enhance student achievements. When a culture of trust has been established, teachers can converse openly and honestly and identify ways in which they can improve, safe in the knowledge that they will be supported by their colleagues. School principals and other school leaders play integral roles in developing a culture of trust in schools, when they inspire and motivate others with their passion for improving educational outcomes, and when they align trust with strategies to move towards a shared vision. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) has recently published an environmental scan of research and policy literature that explores ways in which levels of trust impact on performance in schools. The article presents edited extracts from this review.