Multi Academy Trust

On 1st April, 2013 Saint Paul’s Catholic High School joined with St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School and St John Fisher and St Thomas More Catholic Primary School to form the Wythenshawe Catholic Academy Trust (MAT – Multi Academy Trust).

The three schools had already been working closely together for a number of years and the creation of the trust formalised the relationship.

In December 2013, St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School joined the Trust.

The formation of the Trust has been done in such a way to leave “the door open” for the remaining feeder primaries to later join.

Whilst the MAT is the single overarching corporate body, each of the four former schools is now a Catholic Voluntary Academy within it. Each has its own principal (head teacher) and a local governing body. The MAT’s Executive Committee provides another tier of governance. It is made up of representatives of the member academies and the Diocese.

The formation of the MAT has created closer working relationships between Saint Paul’s and its three MAT partners. This has already seen the appointment of a full time chaplain working across the academies. It has also seen the academies working together to improve the transition of pupils from primary to secondary school.

Already the MAT members have seen the benefits of their collaboration in providing a Catholic pathway to higher education (with Saint Paul’s links with both Xaverian and Loreto Sixth Form Colleges). The collective strength and support of the MAT should provide strength and support to its member academies for any future challenges in the years ahead.