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Expansion of the Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust

The Newman Catholic Trust was formed as part of the Bishop's vision for all Catholic schools to be within a Multi-Academy Trust. 

We are thrilled to update our communities that the Trust has submitted an application to the DfE requesting support for a further expansion. St Bonaventure's (Bishopston) and St Joseph's (Portishead) have all submitted a formal request to the Board of Directors to join the Multi-Academy Trust. A letter outlining this is here:

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LETTER NOTIFYING COMMUNITIES REGARDING APPLICATION TO EXPAND

 

It is with great enthusiasm that we embark on this journey together, as we believe that unity and shared values strengthen our collective impact.
 

As Saint John Henry Newman once said, "To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often." This sentiment resonates deeply with our Trust, as we embrace the transformative power of collaboration and continuous improvement. By joining forces with these strong schools, we are creating a vibrant and inclusive community where every member is valued and supported.
 

At our Trust, we firmly believe that we are stronger together. Together, we will inspire, empower, and uplift one another, fostering an environment where excellence thrives. Our application will now be considered by the Advisory Board. If it is given approval, it will trigger a full and formal stakeholder consultation.

 

Our Trust family extends beyond the walls of individual schools. It encompasses parents, students, teachers, employees, and local community leaders, all united by a shared vision of providing exceptional education and nurturing lifelong learners. With this collaborative spirit, we are dedicated to delivering the highest standards of academic excellence, holistic development, and a supportive learning environment for all. This is why stakeholder voice will be so important in shaping the future of the Trust and all of our schools. 
 

"Our trust is not in ourselves, but in a power above us, to whose guidance and blessing we commit ourselves in the unity of our endeavours." - Saint John Henry Newman.

 

Together, we are stronger. Welcome to our Trust family.

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UPDATE (Sept 24):

We are delighted to announce that St Patrik's Catholic Primary School has successfully joined the Newman Catholic Trust. The Secretary of State officially signed the final conversion documentation in August 2024, and we warmly welcome St Patrick's into the Trust family from the 1st of September. 

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UPDATE (May 24):

We are delighted to share that our application for expansion has been successful and received the full backing of the Diocese and the DfE. A letter detailing the next steps for the expansion can be found here: 

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LETTER NOTIFYING STAKEHOLDERS OF SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION APPLICATION (JUNE 24)

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Stakeholder engagement: 

The Trust has completed several meetings with stakeholders and has visited each school to engage with parents, staff and governors. The Trust is committed to ensuring that its engagement is accessible to all and has considered the impact of this expansion and engagement in relation to the Equalities Act. For this reason, the Trust has held meetings at different times and across different platforms in order to ensure all stakeholders have equal opportunity to engage. 

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A copy of the PowerPoint we have used in such meetings is below for people to refer to:

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EXPANSION MEETING POWERPOINT

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FORMAL STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION MEETING

The Trust recently conducted a public formal consultation and stakeholder engagement meeting on the 27th of November in relation to the proposed expansion of the Newman Catholic Trust - with St Bonaventure's (Bishopston) and StJoseph's (Portishead) joining. This is the final stage of the consultation process and the PowerPoint is below:

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CONSULTATION POWERPOINT NOVEMBER 27TH

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If you would like to learn more about joining the Trust, please see the helpful documents below. We have created a comprehensive "FAQs" document and guide explaining some of the key information. Please note, this information may change as the Trust grows and develops. 

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- Joining the Newman Catholic Trust FAQs.

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- Guidance from NGA on joining a MAT

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- Guidance for staff regarding TUPE and TUPE FAQs.

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- TUPE PowerPoint for school staff

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There are lots of questions schools, their leaders, staff and governors will want to ask before joining. This is natural as joining a MAT is a significant decision. 

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These questions often centre around finance, staffing, curriculum and governance. Some of the questions you will wish to consider may include: 

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  • How does funding work in the MAT?

  • What financial efficiencies have schools achieved by being part of the MAT?

  • Does the MAT have centralised services and functions that help to reduce costs? What does this look like?

  • How does the MAT support schools to generate income?

  • How will the MAT ensure that our school remains unique?

  • How do schools in the MAT maintain their individual identities?

  • How will our relationship with other local schools change?

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We are happy to discuss and answer any questions.

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