Catalyst Academies Trust
Who We Are
Our Story
Catalyst Academies Trust is an innovative, charitable organisation, who set out to widen access to outstanding educational provision. This is achieved by supporting and empowering teachers and leaders in schools and academies, to develop outstanding teaching and achievement outcomes, both within and beyond our trust. The Trust has been so successful that it has been in the top 10 performing trusts for over 5 years.
The Trust was established by Dilkes Academy, an outstanding, successful primary school in Thurrock in December 2012. Shortly afterwards, in April 2013, Benyon Primary School and Quarry Hill Academy became part of the Trust.
The level of expertise and support that the Trust quickly provided, meant that both schools rapidly moved from inadequate to good and requires improvement to outstanding within their first two years as part of Catalyst.
In 2017 Somers Heath Primary School joined Catalyst, raising Trust capacity and providing high quality learning opportunities for pupils and staff. More recently Aveley Primary school joined, building capacity further; sharing the same aspirations and values to which all trust schools subscribe.
Catalyst Academies Trust are incredibly proud of our staff and our collaborative network of schools. We look forward to growing further in the primary sector and building partnerships in the secondary sector to provide a true all-through educational experience.
Our Vision
Our collaborative family of academies will provide the very best educational experience for all. High quality working relationships will promote and instil a lifelong love of learning. We will ensure that every pupil has the tools to succeed in life and is exposed to the variety of opportunities and experiences that they need to thrive. Through high expectations, high quality teaching, nurture and support we will ensure that pupils make the outstanding progress they need to achieve their true potential.
Our Mission
Our collaborative family of academies will:
- Provide the very best educational experience for all through our collaborative culture and action research based approach to school improvement.
- Build high quality working relationships to instil a lifelong love of learning.
- Develop confident, caring, global citizens using skilled practitioners and a curriculum that is tailored to the needs of our learners.
- Ensure that every pupil is exposed to the variety of opportunities and experiences they need to thrive.
- Ensure that high expectations and quality teaching leads to outstanding progress and high achievement across the curriculum.
- Be nurtured and empowered to share expertise, best practice and have the professional courage to explore possibilities.
- Provide the quality learning environments that all stakeholders deserve.
- Develop the system leaders of the future through the provision of outstanding CPD and plentiful opportunities to lead across the Trust. In this way, our group of academies will together transform educational opportunities for all pupils and ensure that many more will have access to a high quality provision.
- Develop a strategy that will ensure the sustainability of its outstanding provision as the Trust grows.
Our Approach
As a MAT we help each school to maintain its identity whilst ensuring that all pupilshave acquired the core skills to succeed. Initially we focus on the 8 key areas:
- High Quality Relationships - We believe that high quality relationships are crucial for success. We cultivate supportive, trusting, and respectful relationships among and between pupils, parents, staff and schools.
- Developing growth mindsets and Positive Learning Behaviours - We believe that ability is not a fixed entity and encourage our staff, pupils and parents to adopt a growth mindset towards the possibilities for high achievement. We teach pupils that effort, commitment, self-belief and positive learning behaviours are key determiners in their success.
- High Standards and Expectations – We do not place a ceiling on any individual and believe that everyone has potential to grow and develop. Therefore, we set high expectations for all.
- High Impact Teaching - Our schools are research informed and research-engaged. We invest heavily in teacher development to ensure that the most effective teaching methods are employed in all classes and that a vigorous culture of on-going professional improvement is embedded within our schools.
- Assessment for Learning - We use and analyse assessments aligned to expected end of year outcomes to accurately measure pupil achievement. This guides future planning and intervene with additional support where needed.
- Partnerships with Parents/Carers - We believe that positive relationships with parents and carers are an essential factor in supporting pupils to achieve highly and ensure that effective parental engagement activities are a regular feature in our schools.
- High Quality Learning Environments - We operate and maintain school facilities efficiently and plan proactively for the future development of our schools’ premises.
- High Quality Leadership at all Levels - We believe that high quality leaders at all levels are crucial to secure outstanding outcomes for all pupils. We invest heavily in leadership development to ensure that strategic and operational leadership in our schools is highly effective.