A SCHOOL trust which educates almost 2,000 youngsters will be supported by another local organisation after it was revealed it was facing financial trouble - and bosses are hoping it will ease fears of staff losing their jobs.
St Mary’s Academy Trust (SMAT) oversee All Saints’ Academy in Darfield, Darton Primary, Dodworth St John’s, Elsecar Holy Trinity, Queens Road Academy, Royston St John’s, The Mill Academy, West Meadows and St Mary’s Church of England Primary.
The Chronicle revealed in March this year that the trust were seeing sector-wide financial difficulties - with many staff fearing they could lose their jobs.
However HCAT - which has eight schools under its own wing - has confirmed they will work in collaboration with SMAT over the next school year to ensure stability for both children and staff.
Tom Banham, HCAT’s chief executive officer, told the Chronicle: “The Chronicle ran a story which stated that SMAT were facing some financial difficulties.
“Since then the SMAT board of trustees, in partnership with the Department for Education and the Diocese of Sheffield and Leeds, approached HCAT to see if we would be able to work with them to support their improvement journey.
“The current CEO, Tamara Gulliver, is due to retire in the summer.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to ensure that another local trust is supported by HCAT to ensure that children across Barnsley will have the high quality education they deserve.”
Officially, the partnership between the two trusts will begin in September and run for one year - but Tom admits the work has already begun behind the scenes and there is already an excitement about it.
“There are many talented leaders, teachers and support staff across both trusts and we want to be able to support all of them to do their job to the best of their ability to ultimately ensure that more children get an even better education,” Tom added.
“It’s a great opportunity for a local collaboration.
“We’ve got a lot of capacity to be able to work closely with SMAT to help them get to where their board of trustees want them to be.
“From September 2024 to 2025 HCAT will be working to support every one of the nine St Mary’s schools.
“That’s when it officially starts but we’re already working really closely with all the schools.”
Fears of job safety were rife earlier this year, but Tom hopes this partnership will ease worries.
He added: “This should help with financial stabilisation.
“It will also help with job security.
“In the short term it’s about the stability that’s needed to look after everybody - staff and children.
“It’s about working together.”
Tom believes that more local trusts should support one another and by doing so it’s the children of Barnsley who would benefit.
“It’s all about working together and building on the partnership we have,” he added.
“It’s not just about one trust taking over - it’s a partnership where everyone will benefit.
“It’s good for the children.
“Good educational outcomes for children will lead to better life outcomes for them.
“That’s what we want.”
