LGA statement on final Local Government Finance Settlement

New Catholic academy trust launched in the North West

A new Catholic multi academy trust run in partnership between the Archdiocese of Liverpool and the Diocese of Shrewsbury, and in collaboration with the Church of England Dioceses of Chester and Liverpool, has been launched. It aims to provide transformative educational opportunities for children and young people in the North West of England.

The 1st 6 Schools in the Liverpool City Region will join St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust this term and further Schools are due to join in the summer term and then in the next academic year.

All the Schools which join St Joseph will benefit from being part of both an academy trust and the wider Diocesan education family. Together, will bring opportunities for staff to share, learn from and introduce best practice, as well as access continuing professional development from external providers. The model will mean that pupils in the academies will receive great teaching and learning, helping ensure high standards in all areas of School life. It is expected that the Schools which join St Joseph will leave the trust in two or three years to join other Catholic or Church of England academy trusts as their permanent home.

Andrew Truby is the 1st substantive Chief Executive Officer of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust. In his previous role, Andrew was the Executive Headteacher of 2 Ofsted rated Outstanding academies in Sheffield. A third School, which was in special measures when he took it on is now judged to be good in all areas. Andrew founded Learning Unlimited Teaching School Alliance, a teaching School with 1 of the strongest track records in South Yorkshire. He was the strategic lead for St Wilfrid’s English Hub and a member of the English Hubs Council. Andrew is a National Leader of Education and has been personally responsible for a number of highly successful, large scale School improvement projects.

Ann Connor OBE, the Chair of Board of Directors for St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said:- "This is an extremely exciting development for education in the Region. The opportunities are extensive and will benefit the most important people at the centre of our work; that is the children in our academies. I believe that Schools flourish when they are part of a family of Schools; and St Joseph, as a multi academy trust, that is also part of Diocesan education, will provide the best of both worlds. We want the work of the Trust to have a real impact on all the academies, so that they are able to leave the Trust transformed."

Andrew Truby, the 1st substantive Chief Executive Officer of the Trust, said:- "I am very excited that we are underway and to be working with the Schools and their staff, as well as the parents and most importantly the children. All of the Schools due to join the Trust have different strengths and each will be able to learn from one another and drive further progress. In my career I have been committed to transforming children’s lives through a world class education and this underpins all my work. This aligns perfectly with St Joseph’s mission. We want to provide a Catholic home for a Schools, whose children and young people are nurtured and challenged to reach their potential."

Canon Michael Fitzsimons, the Episcopal Vicar for Education at the Archdiocese of Liverpool and Vice Chair of the Board of St Joseph, said:- "The Archdiocese of Liverpool has affirmed its stance of being open to various forms of School governance including voluntary aided Schools and academies. We are entering into a period of consultation and conversation with our entire family of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese to establish a vision for an Archdiocesan response and strategy for Schools who need or wish to academise. The establishment of St Joseph is an integral part of this process."

The 1st of the 6 Schools that are part of St Joseph are:- Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School (Sefton), St Ambrose Primary School (Liverpool), St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic High School (St Helen’s), St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England High School (Halton), St Nicholas’s Catholic Primary School (Liverpool) and The Trinity Catholic Primary School (Liverpool).

For more information, please visit:- StJosephmat.Org.UK.