Academy Information

Oldfield Primary School is part of Everton Multi-Academy Trust.

Key Contact Details:

General Enquiries: enquiries@TPLTrust.co.uk
Recruitment Enquiries: recruitment@TPLTrust.co.uk
 

Postal Address:
Everton Multi-Academy Trust
Goodison Park, Goodison Road, Liverpool, L4 4EL

Company Number: 07664278
Telephone: 0151 319 4121

Frequently Asked Questions about MATs for Parents and Carers 

What is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT)? 

A MAT is a Multi-Academy Trust. It is a legal entity that governs a group of schools through members and a board of Trustees.  It is set up by a group of schools, sometimes a local collaboration, that share a common ethos and vision. 

What is the MAT called? 

Our MAT is Everton Mult-Academy Trust (EMAT) which was previously known as The People’s Learning Trust

Who is in it? 

Bidston Avenue Primary School – Birkenhead, Wirral.

Everton Free School and Football College – With sites in Liverpool and Ellesmere Port

Canalside – Netherton, Sefton.

Meadow Primary School – Ellesmere Port, Cheshire West and Chester.

Oldfield Primary School

The Bridge Short Stay School – Ellesmere Port, Cheshire West and Chester.

Why are schools joining MATs both locally and nationally? 

Across the country Local Authorities are being eroded in terms of size and power. Both Conservative and Labour Parties have indicated that Academies as part of MATs is their preferred educational structure.  Schools can use the strong collaboration and accountability afforded by the MAT to drive up standards and share best practice and services across the trust, replacing aspects of former local authority support. 

Is there a set model for how a MAT must operate? 

There are rules regarding how a MAT is funded, but the way in which a MAT operates, its governance structure and vision/ethos are defined by the academy or academies that set up the MAT. 

How is funding organised within the MAT? 

Funding for schools within a MAT is allocated on an individual academy basis. It is governed through a master funding agreement between the Secretary of State and the MAT and supplemental agreements between the Secretary of State and each school within the MAT. 

MAT Structures 

MATs are governed by Members and Board of Trustees who delegate certain responsibilities to individual Local Governing Bodies (LGB). 

There are the tiers of governance:

●Members of the MAT - responsible for fundamental decisions such as constitution of the academy trust – most strategic decisions are delegated to the Trustees. 

●Board of Trustees of the MAT (‘the board’).  These are the individuals who have strategic overview of the MAT. 

●The Executive Team consists of: Central Team: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Finance and Operations Officer (CFOO) and Headteachers from within each of our Academies. The central teamwork alongside schools to manage finance, compliance, support school development, support with school improvement and enable the school leaders to focus on what matters most – quality of education and managing staff and pupils.

●Local Governing Bodies (LGB) for each academy school. In multi academy trusts, each academy will usually have its own LGB. These have a similar status to committees of a maintained governing body and the powers they have are those that are delegated to them by the board. 

How does the admissions process work for academies? 

Academies within a MAT are required to comply with the Admissions and Admission Appeals Codes of Practice as if they were maintained schools. They must have admission arrangements that clearly set out how children will be admitted, including the criteria that will be applied if there are more applications than available places. They are also required to participate in Local Authority co-ordination of admissions processes and the Local Authority’s Fair Access Protocol. Any change to our current admissions protocols will always be communicated to parents and carers. 

What inspection regimes and assessment data information do academies have to provide? 

All academies are inspected by Ofsted using the same framework and timescales as for maintained schools.  As a MAT, all schools will continue to be inspected as separate schools.  Results are reported in performance tables in the same way as they are now, i.e. against the school where tests were conducted.

Do MAT schools have to follow the National Curriculum? 

Academies within MATs are not required to teach the National Curriculum but rather a broad and balanced one that includes English, Mathematics, Science and Religious Education and promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of children preparing them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.  The majority of schools within MATs continue to follow the National Curriculum.

Who is in charge? 

Each school leadership team will remain in charge of their school. 

The MAT board and members take on the Local Authority role and oversee activities and standards across all schools in the MAT.

Mr Steven Baker OBE is the CEO and Mrs Linda McMullen is the CFOO.