There is no blueprint for MAT leadership, which can make important decisions feel risky. That’s where we come in: we help central teams and school leaders take meaningful action across their trust.
More than 120,000 school and trust leaders rely on The Key. Get in touch today to see how we can help.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Learn how the Key’s services and tools support leaders to make an impact across their trust for challenges in:
The Key for Trust Leaders has provided access to insightful guidance on how to build your MAT.
Find out how we can support your strategic priorities. Explore the sections below and download examples of our resources.
Centralised procurement processes can help your MAT achieve economies of scale. However, the decision of which services to centralise can be difficult. Use our audit templates and procurement guidance to implement shared services effectively.
“Thank you for the clear criteria and objectives to validate our MAT improvement model”
MAT Central Staff at an academy trust in the East of EnglandOur library of available materials for centralising services
Step 1 of centralising services: evaluate the current performance of the service
Available with membership Step 2 of centralising services: define your motivating factors
Available with membership Step 3 of centralising services: consider your options
Available with membership Step 4 of centralising services: understand the needs of your staff
Available with membershipUse our step-by-step guidance on bringing new schools on board and make sure that each new school joining has a detailed path towards a successful integration. Our resources help you conduct thorough due diligence to ensure the schools fit with your mission as well as your operating model.
Here’s a short extract from our extensive resource library on growing your trust.
“The Key has assembled vital information and advice for trusts who are considering expansion or even mergers.”
Chris Kirk, Director and MAT Consultant, CJK AssociatesOur library of available materials for adding schools to your trust
Adding a school to your MAT: resource toolkit
Available with membership Avoiding the pitfalls of MAT expansion
Available with membership MAT mergers: process and considerations
Available with membership Case study: how to build unity across your MAT to grow effectively
Available with membershipUse our governance service to get complete oversight of your trust and individual schools’ statutory obligations as requirements change. We provide you with best practice guidance on how to use governance effectively to mitigate risk.
Here’s a short extract from our extensive resource library on governance support.
“Very useful“
MAT central governance manager at an academy trust in the South EastOur library of available materials for mitigating governance risk
Legal responsibilities of trustees in a MAT
Available with membership Register of people with significant control
Available with membership Declaration and register of interests: template
Available with membership Academies Financial Handbook: changes from September 2019
Available with membershipThe larger your MAT grows, the more your central team might become your schools’ first port of call for questions and requests for advice. We provide practical, actionable guidance on a wide range of topics, empowering you to provide consistent and high-quality support that helps drive school improvement and pupil outcomes.
Here’s a short extract from our extensive resource library supporting school leaders.
“The Key offers management a great support tool“
MAT central staff member at an academy trust in the South WestOur library of available materials for effective school support
How to follow up an Ofsted inspection at one of your schools
Available with membership How to deliver school improvement
Available with membership Moving staff between schools in a MAT
Available with membership RSC tool for MAT self-evaluation
Available with membershipSchools in your trust can save time and make sure they’re compliant, using our bank of lawyer-approved model policies.
Coming soon: We are currently building a brand new feature that will provide you with clarity on which policies you must have, should have, and if anything changes.
“The Key saves me research time when I am writing and updating policies – the templates are easy to amend to meet my trust requirements.“
Chief Operating Officer at an academy trust in the North EastOur library of available materials for model policies that ensure compliance
Competitive tendering policy: model and examples
Available with membership GDPR: template record of processing activities
Available with membership Premises hire policy: model and examples
Available with membership Gender pay gap reporting: requirements and template
Available with membershipUse the awareness of those that have done it before and know where the biggest risks are. We support you to be compliant from day one, ensure effectiveness from the start, and support your school leaders to drive consistency and pupil outcomes.
Here’s a short extract from our extensive resource library on setting up a MAT.
“Thank you for the clear criteria and objectives to validate our MAT improvement model”
MAT Central Staff at an academy trust in the East of EnglandOur library of available materials for setting up a multi-academy trust
Statutory policies and documents
Available with membership MAT strategic plans: template and guidance
Available with membership How to set your admissions arrangements
Available with membership Stepping up from headteacher to MAT chief executive: 3 CEOs explain
Available with membershiphave helped build The Key for Trust Leaders
school and academy leaders access The Key
governors rely on us
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