Quo Vadis? “
I will lay down my life for you”
In August 2024 we completed our first 3-year strategic plan. During this time, we have become established as a leading Trust marked against the DfE High Quality Trust framework. The first three-year strategic plan focused on merging two multi-academy trusts whilst building and implementing operational systems such as finance, HR, school improvement and governance to allow us to build capacity at scale. The next three-year strategic plan will oversee a period of embedding excellent practice and will focus upon three key areas which we will refer to as our QV’s.
QV1: CATHOLIC IDENTITY: CELEBRATING AND COMMUNICATING CATHOLICITY
➢ Appointment of Catholic Chaplaincy lead who will guide and nurture our inward approach to spiritual celebration and formation as well as create a framework for communicating our unique Catholic identity outwards, particularly in relation to leadership recruitment.
➢ Every school will identify and develop MAC educational Champions both pupils and staff. They, alongside the senior leaders, will foster and develop strong links in the school with collaboration groups across the Trust.
➢ Champions will feed back on positive impact of learning, Catholic Life, pupil leadership in each school across the trust These champions will communicate to local communities who may not be aware of the value of a Catholic education.
➢ Champions and leadership teams will lead on the deployment of high-quality Trust data analytics that inform decision making across schools including through the progression of the MAC wide digital strategy.
➢ Recruitment of a communications lead who will build the infrastructure for communications of our Catholic Identity across the multi-academy including social media, website, flyers and links with parishes.
➢ Opportunities are given for all staff at least twice a year to meet and have ‘Great Conversations’ about the impact of the multi-academy work.
➢ Develop and invest in sacred spaces in each of the schools across the multi-academy to support the spiritual formation of all stakeholders.
QV2: LOOKING AFTER OUR CATHOLIC FAMILY
➢ The inaugural launch of the people strategy is built around the 7 pillars of a workforce strategy to become employer of choice;
➢ EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT REWARD & WELL BEING: Build upon the success of the Edurio survey through more regular employee engagement surveys, including communication updates for all staff and stakeholders.
➢ RECRUITMENT & RETENTION: Employment data (harmonised and benchmarked) is used to analyse our performance as an employer of choice and identify areas for development. This includes workload reduction through the progression of the digital strategy.
➢ FAITH DEVELOPMENT: Celebrate and further embed the Educarem formation programme alongside the opportunities staff have for retreats throughout the year.
➢ SUCCESSION PLANNING: Further embed the Magnificat Leadership model and develop a strategic approach to recruiting, developing and retaining Catholic leaders within our Trust.
➢ TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT: Development of the Magnificat Institute of Excellence to ensure that the EPD offer is comprehensive and improves the quality of teaching and educational offers across all schools.
➢ ONBOARDING & INDUCTION: New staff have access to a clear, relevant, high quality professional induction programme which articulates clearly our identity as a Catholic MAC and our social mobility mission.
➢ APPRAISAL MANAGEMENT: APPRAISAL is valued by staff and leaders as a vehicle for developing and retaining the workforce.
Quo Vadis?
“I will lay down my life for you”
QV3: DELIVERING A PUPIL EXPERIENCE WHICH SUPPORTS SOCIAL MOBILITY AND IS ROOTED IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS
➢ Continual Safeguarding is paramount in all our schools and sites including health and safety practice.
➢ Building pupil numbers through the development of new and existing nursery provision. This provides a significant opportunity to integrate children into the system and be outward facing to our local communities.
➢ Develop stronger links with parishes and support of parish priests to promote access to the sacraments in schools as well as the development of music groups, social activities and the guild of St Stephen in parishes
➢ Develop the enrichment offer available to our local communities at each school site eg. Wrap around care, scouts, miniVinnie's and CCF.
➢ Establish clear routes for pupils to join each of our schools at all levels of admissions (including in year). Make especially clear the routes for those pupils who wish to pursue a Catholic state education.
➢ All schools to develop a fully inclusive extra-curricular offer which will prepare pupils for life and is fully representative of the wider school community.
➢ A priority focus is on Inclusion of CVD (Challenging, vulnerable and disadvantaged students) including SEND. Expand current SEND provision and develop an AP provision at KS2 and KS3/4 to ensure that no pupil is left behind and the aim to reduce permanent exclusions without Disadvantaged students being disproportionately affected. Reduction in repeat suspensions for Disadvantaged students All pupils have an equal opportunity to access education.
➢ Pupil attendance should be at or above the National average for both primary and secondary across all schools to ensure equality of access to education Attendance data for both staff and students will be reported regularly to CMPS throughout the year.