1.

How incredibly different the

1. The local schools who you
have worked with forever do
not necessarily want to join
your Trust
2. There is far less enthusiasm
generally for geographically
based hubs
3. The custom of making the
Head of the founding school
the CEO and the original LGB
the Trustees is not necessarily
prudent
1. Leave a vacancy as a
role of a MAT CEO is to that of
vacancy if any doubt at all
a Headteacher or, indeed, an
in relation to Trustees
Executive Headteacher
appointments
2. The pivotal role played by the
2. Share the vision as often
CFO 1. How difficult it can be to get the
as you can
3. The need for absolute responsibilities of the LGB right
3. Build back office swiftly to
consistency across a 2. Critical it is to have standardised
ensure capacity and
MATreflective of the one and easily comprehensible
readiness for expansion
team we have become presentation of standards and
financial information school by
school
3. Strong financial controls from
What are the three things you have learnt that you wish you the start are essential
had known as you started out on your journey as a trust?

1. Joining MAT does not

I wish I had fully understood the
importance of governance and
getting that structure right from
the start. If we were starting again
I would also want to make sure
that all those involved in
governance had more information
about what it means to be
involved in governance, the
responsibility it brings as well as
the opportunities
automatically mean a loss of
1. The need for an effective governance identity for your school
structure to ensure that all MAT 2. Make sure you talk to other
accountabilities are met members of the Trust before
2. The importance of taking the time to committing
agree the non-negotiables (particularly 3. Embrace the wealth of
around centralised finance, HR and opportunities that are created
recruitment) from the outset through joining forces in terms
3. Engaging all headteachers and ensuring of staff development,
all staff become trust-mindedthis is recruitment and retention
an area that needs to be invested in as
much as any process or system a MAT