Improving Teaching and Learning – the SSMAT Approach
The Trust Board creates the broad strategic context in which individual schools operate. However, importantly, the MAT vision is also informed by the aspirations, priorities and successes of the individual schools. This two-way process (as show above) is designed to create authentic, sustainable strategies for improvement, leading to great learning experiences and outcomes.
One of the key roles of the Executive Director is to work with headteachers to identify the very best educational practice and to learn from this. The Trust’s Teaching and Learning Consultant plays a supporting role, with dedicated time to set up opportunities for staff and students to develop innovative approaches and spread good practice. By pooling ideas and resources, schools in the Trust create enhanced opportunities for students and staff from different schools to work together on exciting new projects and initiatives. Student leadership is a key theme in this cross-phase MAT, with students of different ages working together to their mutual advantage.
Clear, constructive evaluation of outcomes and provision leads to strong, supportive action for improvement. In order to further strengthen the Trust Collaboration, Support and Challenge Model, the Trust has commissioned Challenging Education to conduct quality assurance review exercises across its schools.