Green light given to archdiocesan plans for SJCMAT

Following a successful pilot project evaluation, ministerial approval has been granted to continue the success of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust.

The approval means the trust may continue to onboard sponsored academies that need more support, until December 2024, as well as converter academies. St Joseph CMAT will then become CMAT 10 as a central Liverpool trust.

There are currently seven academies within the trust who are aligned around the mission to ‘transform children’s lives through a world-class, Catholic education’.

Andrew Truby, CEO of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said: “We believe firmly that all of our children are entitled to access an ambitious curriculum and excellent teaching, which allows them to achieve and exceed national expectations.

“Regardless of the starting points, everyone involved in St Joseph CMAT is highly committed to the pursuit of high achievement and aims for our academies’ performance to be above the national average in all measures, including and especially in religious education.”

Looking to the future

St Joseph CMAT will now welcome converter academies to its family. The trust is working closely with the Archdiocese of Liverpool on a phased approach to the onboarding of new schools from January 2024 onwards.

Joan McCarthy, director of education at the Archdiocese of Liverpool, said: “We look forward to working with the MAT and the DfE as we progress towards establishing CMAT 10 in line with our published strategy.”

Notre Dame College

Notre Dame Catholic College in Liverpool will soon join St Joseph CMAT as its third secondary school.

Ann Connor OBE, chair of St Joseph CMAT Board said: “I am delighted to welcome Notre Dame Catholic College to our family of schools. Women in my family had been educated by Notre Dame sisters for three generations when I became a pupil at Mount Pleasant.”