Choosing the right multi-academy trust (MAT) for your school to join can be a daunting task. With a growing number of trusts seeking new schools, it’s important to take your time and consider the impact of your options on your school and pupils. We’ve spoken to a number of experts in the field to gather their top tips for choosing the right trust for your school.
1. Reflect on your goals and intentions
David Clayton, Chief Executive of Consilium Academies, stresses the importance of reflecting on why you want to join a MAT: “If the reason is simply because you have to, it’s important to consider what is important to your school in the future and what aspects you want to retain. You should also consider what you would be willing to compromise on to get a better deal.”
2. Don’t rush your decision
Robert Kennington, Director of Finance and Business at The Constellation Trust, advises schools not to rush their decision when choosing a MAT.
He says, “take the time to see if a MAT is the right fit for your school. This can be done by working with them as a partner at the school leadership team (SLT) level initially, allowing you to pick up on both positives and negatives before committing to join the trust officially”.
3. Speak to other schools
Julia Armstrong, Chief Executive of Prince Regent Street Trust, advises schools to speak to other schools within the MAT before making a decision. She explains, “this will allow you to get a sense of the level of autonomy they have, as well as the support provided by the trust”. Julia suggests that “Heads should consider having conversations with local governing bodies to lead them into making a decision”.
4. Do your due diligence
Jim Bowyer, CEO of The Skylark Partnership, emphasizes the importance of doing your due diligence when choosing a MAT. He recommends “thoroughly researching each potential trust and its policies, as well as speaking to other schools in the trust”. Jim also warns against making decisions that may harm students, such as redundancies.
When it comes to choosing a trust to join, it’s essential to take your time and do your research. Carefully consider the reasons why you want to make this commitment. Whether you’re looking to build partnerships with other schools, join a larger culture, or improve your financial efficiency, the most important thing is to be sure that the new relationship will benefit your pupils.
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