One Spencer
Spencer Academies Trust (SAT) entered its second decade in 2023, as one of the first multi-academy trusts in England, the Trust is now proud to be successful and respected in the East Midlands region. The Trust has grown a diverse and balanced portfolio of schools, and is currently a family of 26 mixed phase academies, 18 in the primary phase, including 7 free schools and 1 special school, and secondary academy. Collectively, SAT educates over 18000 3 to 18 year old children and young people. The Trust has a secondary free school in pre-operations and is working towards becoming an Alternative Provision School proposer.
Alongside academies, SAT is one of the most established and successful SCITT providers and more recently become established as an apprenticeship provider, delivering teaching, teaching assistant and business administration apprenticeships across the region. SAT also operates the Derby Regional Teaching School Hub, providing professional development, leadership training, accredited professional learning and a range of educational networks for over 240 member schools. This provision is complemented by the Trust’s work in leading the Derby Maths Hub, and also, The Derby Research School which is professional partnered by the Educational Endowment Foundation.
In 2022 the Trust marked its 10th anniversary by launching a charitable foundation, Spencer Superstars. With a mission, To support children to live their passions and follow their dreams, the Foundation provides financial gifts directly to children and young people, to support opportunities in their chosen field.
SAT has a strong track record of education performance outcome and successful Ofsted judgements, including with academies that exist in exceptionally challenging contexts and communities, the Trust has made a commitment to ensure that all member academies are good or better, and that outcome for all children and young people, at all phases, competes with the very best in the sector, and ensures equity of opportunity for students, making sure that they are well-prepared for the next stage of their lives.
SAT aims to be the local educational employer of choice, with a happy, healthy and high-performing workforce. The Trust provides strong moral leadership and good governance in tacking the social, economic, technological and environmental challenges facing the world. The One-Spencer 2025 plan sets out the Trust goals for the next 3 years, with a driving ambition to be both exceptional and outstanding, and live each day the Trust values of Aspiration, Partnership & Responsibility.
Spencer Academies Trust’s strategic plan for the years 2022-25 is laid out in our One-Spencer Plan. Our goals are defined in the following ten areas:
- Governance
- Leadership
- Curriculum
- Learning & Teaching
- Technology
- People & Wellbeing
- Estates & Environment
- Finance & Resourcing
- Partnerships & Community
- Growth
1. Governance
Effective Governance permeates the Trust, characterised by high challenge and high support through partnership and collaboration grounded in a system-wide understanding of organisational effectiveness. A culture of robust self-evaluation, allied with structures that are fit for purpose, enables accountability that drives up standards.
2. Leadership
Leadership at all levels, through integrity and humility, empowers all members of the Trust to grow professionally and personally. Leaders are recognised for serving the Trust community and live the Trust values of Aspiration, Partnership and Responsibility.
3. Curriculum
Our Curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and equitable for all children and young people, creating meaningful progression and career pathways. Intent is explicit, challenge and opportunity are underpinned by effective and adaptive pedagogy.
4. Learning & Teaching
Highly skilled and knowledgeable adults enable students to be successful, responsible and aspirational in the development of skills and knowledge. Well-chosen pedagogical approaches inspire learners, create confidence, remove barriers and prepare children and young people to be well-equipped for their future.
5. Technology inc: EdTech
Technology is a driver for efficiency and improvement across all aspects of provision and service, the use of Ed Tech to support experience and learning in academies is sector leading.
6. People inc: Wellbeing
The Trust is recognised as educational employer of choice, attracting and retaining talent. Employees feel trusted, empowered, cared for, and part of the SAT family. Organisational development and a culture of professional development are central to our employee value proposition. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the core of all decision-making.
7. Estates inc: Environment
All Trust accommodation is well maintained and presented to the best that buildings will allow. The environment is fit for purpose, safe, stimulates and supports learning. The Trust is committed to reducing carbon emissions, and demonstrates a strong and responsible commitment to sustainability and conservation.
8. Finance & Resourcing
All aspects of the Trust are financially sustainable, and Operations deliver best in class performance and support for academies, underpinned by highly effective systems, that are coherent, universally joined up and efficient.
9. Partnerships & Community
The Trust is well-connected to meaningful local, national and international partnerships, each of which serve to create a strong sense of community, and delivers opportunities for wider engagement and enrichment for students and staff. The Trust is recognised as a driver of professional and personal engagement, collaboration, and a leader of significant educational partnerships.
10. Growth
The Trust grows dynamically within the context of the Schools’ Bill 2022, proportionate to capacity and performance, retains a mixed economy of academies, and a strategic focus on the East Midlands Region and its borders.