MATs
The latest news, analysis and case studies on multi-academy trusts, including trust growth, DfE policy and thought leadership from trust leaders
Thursday
15th Oct 2026
3 ways MATs are using AI to tackle SEND pressures
Multi-academy trusts share how they are using artificial intelligence to support staff working with children who have special educational needs
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Powell: Oracy will have 鈥榚qual status鈥� with reading and writing
Education secretary also reiterates the 鈥榥eed for change鈥� with Ofsted inspections, saying school leaders are being 鈥榩enalised or downgraded for doing the right thing for their children鈥�
The trust movement has carried the spirit of comprehensive education - now a new era awaits
Ahead of CST鈥檚 annual conference, CEO Leora Cruddas reflects on the origins of the comprehensive school movement and how a push for greater technical education aligns with this goal
How trusts can lead the way in tackling the Neet crisis
King鈥檚 Group Academies鈥� Chris Willis shares details of the network it has created to provide a more coordinated approach to young people engaging with potential future career opportunities
Third of MATs forecast to be 鈥榝inancially vulnerable鈥� by 2029
The overall financial outlook for academy trusts has improved, but there are disproportionate pressures on primary-only MATs, analysis finds
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Friday
9th Oct 2026
Adrian Rogers to step down from Chiltern Learning Trust following merger
Sarah Bennett, who is the current CEO of Inspiring Futures through Learning, will lead the new 43-school trust
4 ways MATs can collaborate effectively - and when to use them
A new requirement for trusts to work together brings up the question of how to do that well. Professor Michael Green breaks down four approaches to collaboration that deliver real impact
DfE takes nearly 6 months to decide senior pay case
The experience of colleges with government pay controls suggests academy trusts will be left in limbo waiting for executive salaries to be approved, leader warns
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Thursday
1st Oct 2026
Trusts face 鈥榙ifficult decisions鈥� on school closures as rolls fall
The Queen Street Group of MATs also highlights calls for trust-wide approaches to AI
DfE tests what it is 鈥榬easonable鈥� to expect of schools on SEND
Draft documents set out examples of what might be seen as 鈥榬easonable鈥� and 鈥榰nreasonable鈥� adjustments for pupils with SEND, as part of the government鈥檚 drive to increase inclusion in mainstream schools
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