Stronger together. Rooted in community. Driven by excellence

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Every child thrives, every adult grows and every community benefits through exceptional, inclusive education across our family of schools.

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At Community Academies Trust, we believe that the strongest schools are those that combine local identity with collective strength. Our schools are united by a shared ambition: to provide exceptional education for every child, within communities they know and serve.

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We work with schools from Early Years to Key Stage 5, supporting both primary and secondary phases to lead improvement, not follow it.

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Why Join CAT?

1. Preserve Your School’s Identity

We recognise that every school is unique.

• Your name, ethos and community relationships remain central

• We build on what already works well

• Improvement is shaped by local context, not imposed models

 

We are committed to preserving local school identity and enhancing reputation within the community.

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2. A Proven School Improvement Partnership

Joining CAT means becoming part of a collaborative improvement network, not operating in isolation.

We offer:

• Experienced school improvement leaders across phases

• Peer-to-peer reviews and support

• Evidence-informed strategies aligned to Ofsted and DfE expectations

• Targeted support for disadvantaged pupils (SEND, PP, inclusion, attendance, behaviour

 

3. Strong Leadership Development at Every Level

We invest in people as much as schools.

• Leadership pathways from early career to Executive

• Coaching and mentoring from experienced Trust leaders

• Opportunities to lead across schools and phases

• Trust-wide professional learning aligned to “growing great people”

 

4. High-Quality Curriculum and Pedagogical Support

• Access to shared curriculum expertise and resources

• Subject network and expert group collaboration across schools and phases

• A focus on high-quality teaching, learning and assessment

• Alignment with best practice and research through our Institute of Education

 

5. Inclusion at the Heart of Our Work

We are committed to inclusive excellence for every child.

• Trust-wide SEND and inclusion expertise

• Shared strategies to improve outcomes for vulnerable groups

• Support with EHCP processes, provision design, and interventions

• Strong safeguarding and pastoral systems

 

6. Operational and Strategic Support

Joining CAT allows leaders to focus on education, not administration.

• Financial planning and sustainability support

• HR, governance and compliance expertise

• Estates, IT and operational infrastructure

• Risk management and statutory compliance

 

7. A Trust That Values Collaboration, Not Control

We partner with schools rather than direct them.

• Headteachers as key decision-makers

• Transparent and fair systems across the Trust

• Shared accountability for outcomes

• Collective responsibility for improvement

 

What You Can Expect

When schools join CAT, they benefit from:

• A structured onboarding and integration process

• Clear school improvement planning with measurable milestones

• Regular quality assurance with supportive challenge

• Access to trust-wide networks and expertise

• A culture rooted in professional trust and moral purpose

 

Who We Work With

We partner with schools that:

• Share our commitment to high standards and community education

• Are ambitious for all pupils, particularly the most vulnerable

• Value collaboration, transparency and continuous improvement

• Want to contribute to a strong, values-driven Trust

 

Interested in Joining Us?

We welcome conversations with governing bodies and school leaders exploring academy conversion or trust transfer.

 

👉 Get in touch to arrange an initial discussion
👉 Visit one of our academies in action
👉 Explore how CAT could support your school’s future

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