2. Supporting Schools

3. Potential advantages of a mat
Share good practice strategically across the MAT thus fostering great teaching
Tackle together the current shortage of Catholic Heads
Plan succession into leadership more efficiently and effectively through careful tracking of talent across the trust and provision of broader opportunities for placement/experience in other trust schools and joint CPD
Offer opportunities for outstanding leaders to grow in responsibilities without moving further afield;
Share scarce resources (eg music specialists) to enhance the learning in schools unable to provide such resources themselves;

4. develop their staff together
easily share staff and leaders as appropriate since they are all employees of the same company
foster mobility between schools
work together on developing the Catholic identity
provide a strong identity into the local area, at both parish and pastoral area level
More easily enable outstanding schools to take a leading role
Have much stronger purchasing power, within a MAT financial structure.

5. Restructure governance arrangements so that they match the new MAT structure creating a sharper focus at local level on standards, Catholic life and pupil welfare whilst the MAT Board deals with policy development and strategy
Plan developments strategically as a single entity for the benefit of all the academies/pupils/staff
Employ staff to work across the MAT as a whole - finance and administration teams, as well as the teaching staff structure, can be reviewed in order to be ‘fit for purpose’ in the larger organisation
Manage finances efficiently as a single entity for the benefit of all the academies e.g. by pooling any reserves in higher interest accounts
No one school is left vulnerable

6. Pope francis
“The mission of schools is to develop a sense of truth, of what is good and beautiful. And this occurs through a rich path made up of many ingredients.” “True education enables us to love life and opens us to the fullness of life.” “Catholic schools, which always strive to join their work of education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, are a most valuable resource for the evangelization of culture…”

7. Core Principles – Bishops’ Conference
The search for excellence as an integral part of the spiritual quest.
The uniqueness of the individual made in God’s image and loved by Him.
The education of the whole person based on the belief that the human and divine are inseparable.
The education of all with the particular duty to care for the poor and disadvantaged.
Moral principles put into practice within a Christian community.

8. school may require or may be able to offer? Name of MAT Name of School
Following the presentation on the Academy conversion process what support do you think your
school may require or may be able to offer?
Name of MAT
Name of School
Support required
Support offered
Consultation process
Application Completion
TUPE Arrangements
Financial Management
Liaison with LA
 Liaison with solicitors
 Liaison with DFE

9. What services should be provided?
Centrally
As a MAT
At School Level
By a Teaching School
By another source

10. Who do you know who’s good?