Growth Strategy
The Trinity MAT has the following vision:
As a Diocesan Multi-Academy Trust, Trinity MAT is committed to working within a respectful and compassionate environment. It is open to schools of all faiths and none, all educational phases and all Ofsted judgments.
The trust exists to serve the students in its care. It has a small number of core principles:
- We expect all our schools to support each other and to share best practice for the benefit of all.
- We encourage each of our schools to celebrate its distinctive identity within our community.
- We are committed to providing quality-assured services to keep our schools legal, financially robust and continually improving.
By the 2022-23 academic year, Trinity MAT included the following institutions:
| Institution | NoR | Phase | Date of entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Academy Halifax | 1605 | 11-16 | Founding member |
| Trinity Sixth Form Academy* | 738 | 16-19 | 01/10/2016 |
| Trinity Academy Akroydon | 289 | 4-11 | 01/02/2017 |
| Trinity Academy Grammar** | 931 | 11-16 | 01/10/2018 |
| Trinity Academy Cathedral | 1015 | 11-16 | 01/03/2018 |
| Trinity Academy St Chad’s | 151 | 4-11 | 01/03/2019 |
| Trinity Academy St Peter’s | 106 | 4-11 | 01/09/2020 |
| Trinity Academy Bradford | 885 | 11-16 | 01/02/2021 |
| Trinity Academy Leeds | 485 | 11-16 | 01/09/2021 |
| Trinity Academy St Edward’s | 360 | 11-16 | 01/09/2021 |
| Totals | 6,565 |
* formerly known as The Maltings College
** formerly known as Trinity Academy Sowerby Bridge
Trinity MAT opened two brand new free schools in September 2021. Trinity Academy St Edward’s, an 11-16 STEM-focused secondary provision in Barnsley with 180 student places. Trinity Academy Leeds is a further 11-16 secondary school with a performing arts specialism, offering 240 student places.
It is anticipated that in order to be in a position to benefit fully from economies of scale and to continue to have a significant educational impact over a number of institutions, the MAT needs to work towards having an overall total student number of approximately 10,000 (likely to be between 15 and 20 institutions, of all phases and sizes). It must also be measured growth, incorporating schools with significant school improvement capacity, as well as those that are vulnerable at the point of entry into the MAT.
Directors have agreed the following growth principles:
- To maintain the ‘moral imperative’ fostered in the early part of Trinity’s existence.
- To partner with good/outstanding schools where possible, to add capacity to school improvement services (with a particular focus on the primary phase).
- For central services to be developed in a timely manner, ensuring the MAT remains sustainable and effective.
2019-2022
The strategic plan for growth over the next 3 years is based on the following five guidelines:
- There is a recognition that the educational landscape can change suddenly. We would look to respond positively if the right opportunity for growth presented itself, or to accommodate a request from a relevant body e.g. the RSC, Diocese of Leeds etc.
- As we grow we will consider geographical clusters within the trust e.g. Calderdale, Wakefield etc. However, we will also endeavour to maintain a boundary on the geographical range of growth i.e. one hour’s drive from the founding school (Trinity Academy Halifax).
- We will grow by approximately 1-3 institutions per academic year, unless there is a strategic reason to consider more e.g. a strong, established cluster of schools requests entry.
- We will maintain an effective balance between school improvement capacity (good/outstanding schools) and vulnerable schools. As an Ofsted grade can sometimes not give an entirely accurate picture of a school, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
- We will explore the possibilities offered through both expansion and the free school programme, wherever it fits within our educational vision of excellence. This will be in partnership with the Diocese of Leeds.
This growth strategy document is reviewed annually by the Board of Directors.