In a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), consistency and alignment are key for success across the trust. When you align processes, all schools within your MAT can grow and develop as part of a cohesive unit which will lead to improved outcomes for both staff and students within your trust.
SchooliP is a whole school improvement software which is designed to help you get all of the schools within your MAT on the same page. We have utilised advanced technology to provide a system that will ensure operations within your MAT are not only consistent but are also being used efficiently. By unifying your approach, you can manage multiple schools, streamline processes and ensure best practices are implemented across the board.
We spoke with Gill Martin, the Director of School Improvement (Secondary) at the John Taylor Multi-Academy Trust, about how beneficial it is to have consistency across a Trust and how SchooliP has helped them achieve this.
What do you see as the main benefits of having all academies within a MAT follow the same processes?
Answer: Within our MAT, one of our key priorities is establishing a common language and embedding this language within our aligned processes. This is hugely beneficial for setting a standard, monitoring and comparing academies.
How do standardised processes contribute to consistency in educational outcomes across the MAT?
Answer: For example, we have a common language and a common process for evaluating the quality of teaching and learning in lessons across the MAT. As such, all staff are aware of exactly what we are looking for in a lesson and what we are working towards. It is made explicit what outstanding learning in the classroom looks like and having that shared understanding makes it easier to drive up standards.
Can you share an example of when a uniform approach has led to improvements inefficiency or quality?
Answer: Yes, examples would include a uniform approach to appraisal. Previously appraisal systems in our individual schools were really varied with different expectations. We wanted to develop a “MAT standard” in the belief that the expectation and process should be equitable for all colleagues who are after all employees within the same organisation.
What role do digital platforms and tools play in facilitating communication and collaboration across academies?
Answer: Digital platforms can, where appropriate, replace e-mails and meetings as a means of communication. Not all the schools within our Trust are in close geographical proximity and digital platforms allow that real-time collaboration and sharing of best practices.
Do you think having a centralised digital system makes it easier to implement and monitor standardised processes?
Answer: Yes definitely, having a centralised digital system with common processes and formats for things such as self-evaluation documents, improvement plans and appraisals makes it much easier to monitor for quality and compare different settings.
How has SchooliP helped with data management and analysis to ensure that all academies are aligned?
Answer: We use SchooliP to house improvement plans, self-evaluation documents, appraisals, CPD and learning evaluations. As part of the central MAT Team, this allows me to monitor the quality of all these things and ensure adherence to aligned processes. I can see where a school has strengths in terms of the quality of teaching and how well schools are, for example, aligning professional development to staff targets and school priorities.
Do you think SchooliP has made it easier to track and evaluate the impact of these processes?
Answer: Yes. SchooliP not only lets us drill down into individual schools but uses infographics so we can see at a glance a school’s progress against their improvement plan at any point in time, how many actions are in progress, have been completed or perhaps have not yet been started as this is how they are all marked on SchoolIP.
What challenges have you faced within the MAT that were then solved by implementing standardised processes with SchooliP?
Answer: Variance and Accessibility. All schools had their own processes and methods which were not comparable and there were different expectations and experiences for staff depending on their setting. Being clear about our expectations and guidance, and setting up common formats and reports in SchooliP has allowed us to raise the standard across the board, monitor and evaluate much more effectively and staff have been given a platform on which to develop their own portfolio.
Achieving cohesion across a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) is fundamental to its overall success. Consistency and standardisation within a MAT empower schools to develop collectively, ensuring that all institutions grow together as part of a unified entity. By establishing clear standards and expectations across the Trust and equipping each school with the tools to meet these efficiently, you set the stage for sustainable success. Moreover, integrating a digital system at the heart of your MAT facilitates seamless data sharing and streamlines communication, making management more efficient and effective.
The John Taylor MAT serves as a prime example of these benefits in action. Through their implementation of SchooliP, they have successfully monitored improvements across their Trust, establishing standards and expectations that elevate performance Trust-wide. Consistency across a MAT fosters unified growth and development, ensuring that every school within the Trust can thrive and succeed.
If you want to know more about how SchooliP could support consistency and cohesion within your MAT, book a demo today.
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