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Welcome to May's edition of MATNews especially prepared for the MATNetworks community! Read on for local educational insight and information to help you stay informed.🚀 | |
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Developing a "Sales" Culture in Your Schools
- Is this Really Necessary? | |
With a rapidly falling birth rate, there is increasing competition for pupil numbers. Developing a sales culture has become an unavoidable part of managing a successful school or academy. Adapting some of the tactics used by successful businesses doesn’t mean selling your soul but it could mean just selling your school – no, not putting up a For Sale sign and watching it go to the highest bidder! It’s more about selling an idea, a culture, an education style that appeals to parents, pupils and potential staff.
Blue Apple Education advocate that it may help to think of it as supporting your admissions process with an effective sales strategy and a culture, that is, offering the best in customer service to parents who make an enquiry to your school. It will ensure that parents receive all the information they need to help make an informed choice. | |
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What does a future-ready workforce really look like? - Insight from EPM Thought Leaders. | |
EPM’s latest Thought Leaders session allowed education experts to explore how schools and trusts can move from reactive staffing to building proactive, people-first strategies that really work. From coaching cultures and inclusive leadership pipelines to succession strategies that reflect the communities you serve – this one was packed with insight. With 68% of attendees starting to develop plans, are you ready to take the next step?
MATNetworks members are invited to sign up for EPM's next free Thought Leaders virtual session: Recruitment – Developing a strong employer brand and a positive candidate journey.
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Empower Digital Futures with "Code Craze" - A Scalable Coding Event for Schools Across Your Trust. | |
Code Craze is a two-hour, in-school event from Logiscool that offers a hands-on introduction to coding for pupils aged 6–16. Designed to be easily scaled across multiple schools, it supports Trust-wide goals around digital learning, pupil engagement, and enrichment. Sessions are delivered on-site by experienced instructors with no additional burden on teaching staff. Each event concludes with a prize-giving to celebrate participation and enthusiasm.
Would your Trust be interested in offering Code Craze across your schools? Simply make contact to explore how this new initiative can support your digital and enrichment strategy. | |
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From Shortfall to Solution - Helping Schools Fund Their Future.
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During the most recent funding announcement, schools were informed that their funding would be cut in real terms by an average of 1.2%. In practice, this means that a primary school will receive an average of £17,000 less per year in addition to rising costs.
This further compounds the 12% funding shortfall from the previous year, bringing the average primary school’s deficit to a staggering £185,000. The question is, without additional funding from the central government, how can schools bridge this gap?
Over the last 10 years of working with Primary Schools and MATs, Complete Education Solutions have helped them find alternative ways to increase school budgets.
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Useful discussion via MATNetworks has enabled subject network meetings for every primary subject to be organised. Collaboration is key to all organisations if they are to progress successfully. AmazingCPD loves to collaborate and has expanded its professional development now offering to 28 courses for the Summer Term. | |
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Together We Have Got This - Thoughts from Carla Whelan, CEO Empower Trust. | |
"Progress is progress—even if it occasionally wears glittery wellies and dances in a storm." Carla Whelan, CEO, Empower Trust.
So… what does achievement actually look like for Empower Trust?
Carla shares in her blog: "That it all started with a bold move: launching a whole-trust NPQ programme. Ambitious? Yes. Easy? Absolutely not. Did we consider crying into our planning documents? Briefly. But was it worth it? 100%.
What followed was nothing short of brilliant — seasoned leaders rubbing shoulders with brand-new teachers, all enthusiastically tearing into pedagogy like it was the last slice of cake in the staffroom. Together, they reimagined what great teaching looks like, driven by one simple goal: get better, every single day."
Sharing heartfelt reflections inspirational CEO Carla Whelan shares the power of working together and hard won achievement. Carla's blog is a reminder to dive in, work together and reconnect with the journey. | |
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Save the Dates - Future MATNetworks Events. | |
Our next MATNetworks Event is in Essex on 26th June 2025. Organised in conjunction with Catherine Stalham, CEO, South Essex Academy Trust.
Delegate tickets are complimentary and if you'd like to come along or know of anyone who would benefit from joining the Essex MATNetworks event the link to book tickets is here. All welcome, feel free to share the link. | | | |
MATNetworks Peterborough has been confirmed for 25th September 2025. Organised in conjunction with Lorraine Greco, CEO, OWN Trust and Colette Firth, CEO, Spirit Federation. Watch this space - details to follow!
MATNetworks Shropshire will be hosting their second event on 2nd October 2025 in conjunction with Empower Trust, more details to follow soon. | |
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Would you like to be involved in MATNetworks?
Regional MATNetworks are designed to bring together Trust leaders, and those aspiring to Trust and School leadership, within localised regions throughout the UK.
These dynamic gatherings aim to develop collaboration among Multi-Academy Trusts, sharing best practices, insights, and strategies to enhance education regionally and beyond.
If you'd be interested in working with us to host, join or exhibit at a MATNetworks event in your region, or would like to get involved in one that is already established, we'd love to hear from you!
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Have a great day! 😊
The MATNetworks Team
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