In September 2017, the Trust Board appointed Rob Tarn as the Chief Executive and embarked on a unique school improvement programme for all its academies to ensure rapid transformation. This has led to significant improvements across all primary academies, resulting in all of them now being rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted (see table below), with two leaping from Inadequate to Good (Mount Pellon and Ryecroft). Five of the primary academies* had never been rated higher than Requires Improvement previously.

In 2018, Jane Wilson joined the Trust as Deputy Chief Executive. Jane, who has responsibility for the primary phase, said: “We are delighted with the Ofsted judgements for our primary academies, which are testimony to the determined leadership of the principals, and the hard work and commitment of all the children, staff, parents, carers and governors. With the direction set by the Trust Board, significant effort has been put into improving the life chances of pupils through the quality of education we provide, and it is pleasing when the impact of that work is acknowledged by Ofsted.”

Rob Tarn, Chief Executive, added: “Our primaries have shown sustained results over the last two years, with attainment being in line with national standards, and progress significantly above national standards. Our primaries are in the top 25% of schools nationally in writing and maths, and in the top 40% nationally for progress in reading. All three primaries in the Stockton on Tees area are now rated Good, which is particularly pleasing given the barriers to learning faced by many children in that area, which is one of the most deprived in the country. I am very grateful to everyone in the Trust, who have been unwavering in their determination to improve standards and outcomes for the children in our care”.