The MAT Unpacked

In this episode of The MAT Unpacked, host Ed Nell is joined by Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory and Jo Harper, Chief Executive of Activate Learning Education Trust, to explore what it really takes to build leadership capacity across a Multi Academy Trust.The conversation looks at the balance between centralisation and empowerment, the importance of culture, and how trusts can develop leaders from within. Jo also reflects openly on the difficult journey following UTC Reading’s challenging Ofsted report in 2023, and how the trust responded with honesty, accountability and long-term improvement.Key TakeawaysLeadership capacity is about people, not just structureEffective trusts make the most of their financial resources while developing the human talent already within their schools.Centralisation should be thoughtfulSome things make sense to centralise, but trusts risk disempowering leaders if too much capacity is pulled away from schools.Culture is the foundationJo explains that culture is the most important part of any organisation, especially when staff need to feel they belong both to their school and the wider trust.Strong leadership means knowing when to step in and step backA CEO needs to understand the key indicators, dive deep when needed, then empower others to lead once the right support is in place.Difficult moments can become turning pointsUTC Reading’s 2023 Ofsted judgement was a challenging period, but Jo describes it as a moment that reshaped how the trust reviews, questions and supports its schools.Transparency builds trustWhether dealing with parents, staff, trustees or headteachers, open conversations and shared responsibility helped ALET rebuild confidence and improve outcomes.Finance and school improvement must work togetherBudget planning is treated as a shared leadership responsibility, with headteachers involved in transparent conversations about priorities, resources and trade-offs.Key Moments“Culture is the single most important aspect of any organisation.”“If you know the detail of everything, you’re probably not doing the strategic role you should be doing.”“You can have anything you want, you just can’t have it all.”“On day two of the Ofsted inspection, we were already really in day one of the improvement plan.”“Sometimes when things go wrong, that’s when you have the deepest and most difficult conversations.”About The MAT UnpackedThe MAT Unpacked explores what effective leadership, governance and operations look like inside Multi Academy Trusts.Hosted by Ed Nell with regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, the podcast brings together trust leaders and sector experts to share practical insights, honest reflections and real-world experiences from across the education system.How to Get in TouchTo learn more about Academy Advisory or connect with the team:Website: https://academyadvisory.comLinkedIn: Academy AdvisoryIf you enjoyed this episode, follow The MAT Unpacked and share it with colleagues across your trust.

In this episode of The MAT Unpacked, Ed Nell and Chris Whiting are in Walthamstow for a second conversation with Sacha Corcoran MBE, CEO of Big Creative Academy Trust, this time focusing on SEND provision, genuine inclusion and what it takes to support the most complex young people in the system.Sacha pulls no punches about the funding gap, the broken EHCP system and a culture in parts of education that gives up on young people too quickly. But she also shares what Big Creative Academy has built in response and what the results actually show.Key TakeawaysNo young person is unteachable - all behaviour is communication.When a student is disruptive, the job is to work out what they are trying to say, not find a reason to remove them. Exclusion is an absolute last resort at Big Creative Academy, not a management tool.The wellbeing provision here is entirely self-funded - and entirely intentional.None of the safe spaces, art therapists, mental health workers or learning coaches are funded by the DfE. Sasha has chosen to allocate budget to them because the needs of the students demand it.Art therapy fills a gap the NHS can no longer cover.Most 16 to 19 year olds do not meet the threshold for CAMHS support. Big Creative has brought in art therapy as an alternative, allowing young people to process and express through painting, music or spoken word rather than a traditional counselling model.SEND students here achieve at the same rate as the rest of the student population.The support model works. SEN students also tend to have better attendance - because they know they are going to get what they need when they walk through the door.Key Moments"No young person is in a position where they can't be taught. Every young person can be taught.""All behaviour is communication. You might not like it - but they're telling you something.""I told him I'm not giving up on you. You're going to hate me because you're going to keep seeing me.""I've got two years to transform their lives and send them out as constructive members of society."About The MAT UnpackedThe MAT Unpacked explores what effective leadership and governance look like inside Multi Academy Trusts. Hosted by Ed Nell and featuring regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, each episode brings together trust leaders and sector specialists to share practical insights, real experiences and lessons learned from across the education system. The aim is simple - to open up conversations about how trusts can operate more effectively and ultimately improve outcomes for learners.How to Get in TouchTo learn more about Academy Advisory or connect with the team:Website: academyadvisory.comLinkedIn: Academy AdvisoryIf you enjoyed this episode, follow The MAT Unpacked and share it with colleagues across your trust.

In this episode of The MAT Unpacked, host Ed Nell and Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory visit Walthamstow, London, to meet Sacha Corcoran MBE, CEO of Big Creative Academy Trust, a specialist further education college for 16-19-year-olds in the creative industries.Sacha shares her remarkable personal journey from a difficult childhood and teenage homelessness to leading an Ofsted outstanding institution and explains how that lived experience shapes every decision she makes as a leader.Key TakeawaysVulnerability is a leadership tool, not a weakness.Sharing her own story - including the difficult parts - is how Sacha connects with young people who feel their circumstances are a barrier.The creative sector's recruitment problem is systemic and urgent.At 94% white and heavily graduate-dependent, the sector is missing out on extraordinary talent. Sacha's argument is simple - you cannot have creativity without diversity.Industry has to live inside the building, not just visit it.Big Creative employs current practitioners as teachers, provides industry-standard equipment and even houses a resident employer on site. Financial sustainability requires running a business, not just a college.With funding increases of 0.5% against inflation of 3% and staff pay rises of 4% or more, the maths simply does not work without serious financial discipline.Don't look to Ofsted or the DfE to tell you how to lead.Sacha's advice to new principals is to start with their own values and beliefs, not a framework or a leadership book. Key Moments"Your difficult beginnings are not a justification to fail - they are the very reason you must succeed.""When the mask slips - and it will - you've left yourself with nowhere to go.""Don't ask what Ofsted wants you to be like. Ask what you want to be like as a leader."About The MAT UnpackedThe MAT Unpacked explores what effective leadership and governance look like inside Multi Academy Trusts.Hosted by Ed Nell and featuring regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, each episode brings together trust leaders and sector specialists to share practical insights, real experiences and lessons learned from across the education system.The aim is simple: to open up conversations about how trusts can operate more effectively and ultimately improve outcomes for learners.How to Get in TouchTo learn more about Academy Advisory or connect with the team:Website: https://academyadvisory.comLinkedIn: Academy AdvisoryIf you enjoyed this episode, follow The MAT Unpacked and share it with colleagues across your trust.

In this episode of The MAT Unpacked, host Ed Nell is joined by regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, alongside guest Julie Price Grimshaw from B11 Education - a former Ofsted HMI with extensive experience in school improvement, governance reviews and inspection.The conversation digs into what effective governance really looks like at trust board and local level, how Ofsted’s approach to inspecting MATs has evolved and why minute-taking, skills audits and the right people in the room all matter more than most trusts realise.Drawing on Julie’s frontline experience as both an inspector and a trust chair, this episode is a practical and honest look at how to build governance that genuinely drives school improvement - not just governance that looks good on paper.Key TakeawaysGovernance sits in a Goldilocks zone. Too much involvement and trustees become operational, pulling leaders away from strategic priorities. Too little and governance becomes performative tick-boxing. The goal is trustees who are eyes on and hands off.Terms of reference must be lived, not just filed. When subcommittees lack clarity about their remit, duplication and conflicting conclusions follow. Revisiting terms of reference regularly – and checking whether they reflect what actually happens – is essential.Local governance is evolving, not disappearing. Formal local governing bodies are giving way to local advisory boards and advocacy models. Each has trade-offs around quality assurance and formality. What matters is that the model chosen actually works for the trust’s context.Ofsted is now looking at the whole trust. Inspectors are increasingly asking trust boards to give specific examples of decisions they’ve made and the impact those decisions have had. Trusts that haven’t caught up with this shift may find themselves underprepared.Minutes are evidence, not admin.Vague references to “a governor asked” provide no evidence of individual participation or quality of challenge. Using initials or coded references gives trusts the data they need to identify disengagement and have productive conversations about it.Key Moments“You want trustees to be eyes on and hands off – and to maintain that Goldilocks zone.”“A real risk to governance is where the terms of reference either aren’t clear or are just ignored.”“Ofsted should not come in with a fixed idea of what good looks like – they know different things work in different contexts.”“If the minutes are a good reflection of the discussion, then that’s fine. Ofsted aren’t in the meeting – they’ve got the minutes.”“If you do the very best for your school, Ofsted should appreciate that. You’re not running a school to get a good judgement. You’re running it for the learners.”About The MAT UnpackedThe MAT Unpacked explores what effective leadership and governance look like inside Multi Academy Trusts.Hosted by Ed Nell and featuring regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, each episode brings together trust leaders and sector specialists to share practical insights, real experiences and lessons learned from across the education system.The aim is simple: to open up conversations about how trusts can operate more effectively and ultimately improve outcomes for learners.How to Get in TouchTo learn more about Academy Advisory or connect with the team:Website: https://academyadvisory.comLinkedIn: Academy AdvisoryIf you enjoyed this episode, follow The MAT Unpacked and share it with colleagues across your trust.

In this episode of The MAT Unpacked, host Ed Nell is joined by co-host Chris Whiting alongside sector guests to explore what effective governance really looks like within a Multi Academy Trust.The conversation moves beyond theory and compliance, focusing on how governance should actively support better decision-making, stronger leadership and improved outcomes for pupils. From the role of trustees to the importance of clarity, challenge and alignment, this episode highlights how governance works best when it is embedded into the day-to-day life of a trust.Key TakeawaysGovernance should add value, not just assuranceEffective governance goes beyond oversight and compliance - it should actively support better decisions and improved performance.Clarity of roles is essentialTrustees, executives and school leaders must understand their responsibilities to avoid duplication, confusion or gaps in accountability.Challenge and support must coexistStrong governance balances constructive challenge with support, helping leaders improve without creating unnecessary friction.Good governance relies on good informationClear, relevant and timely data enables trustees to ask better questions and understand what is really happening across the trust.Culture drives effectivenessOpen, honest conversations and a shared commitment to improvement create the foundation for high-performing governance.Key Moments“Governance isn’t just about oversight - it’s about impact.”“Clarity removes confusion and improves accountability.”“Challenge should feel supportive, not adversarial.”“Better information leads to better decisions.”About The MAT UnpackedThe MAT Unpacked explores what effective leadership and governance look like inside Multi Academy Trusts.Hosted by Ed Nell with regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, the podcast brings together trust leaders and sector experts to share practical insights and real-world experiences from across the education system.How to Get in TouchTo learn more about Academy Advisory or connect with the team:Website: https://academyadvisory.comLinkedIn: Academy AdvisoryIf you enjoyed this episode, follow The MAT Unpacked and share it with colleagues across your trust.

In this episode of The MAT Unpacked, host Ed Nell is joined by regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, alongside returning guests Hugh Greenway and Simon Pink from The Elliot Foundation.The discussion focuses on one of the most misunderstood topics in trust leadership: risk management. Rather than treating risk as a bureaucratic exercise or a document that sits untouched for most of the year, the conversation explores how effective trusts embed risk thinking into everyday management.From the dangers of performative risk registers to the importance of relationships, transparency and context, Hugh and Simon explain how risk should be treated as a living, evolving process rather than a compliance task. Key TakeawaysRisk management is just good management.Rather than treating risk as a separate activity, effective trusts integrate risk thinking into day-to-day leadership decisions and operational conversations.Multiple perspectives strengthen risk insight.Capturing risks from different directorates, schools and stakeholders creates a more realistic picture of organisational challenges.Trustees use risk to ask better questions.A strong risk register provides a framework for governance conversations, helping trustees explore data, challenge assumptions and understand underlying issues.Data and relationships must work together.Dashboards and metrics provide signals, but meaningful insight comes from conversations with school leaders and staff.Start small and improve iteratively.Risk management doesn’t need to be perfect. The goal is continual improvement and better understanding over time.Key Moments“Risk management isn’t something separate – it’s just management.”“If risk is done for the auditors rather than the organisation, it becomes performative.”“A real risk register shouldn’t look perfect – it should look live.”“You need data, but you also need relationships and context to understand it.”“If you don’t know where you are, don’t make any decisions.”About The MAT UnpackedThe MAT Unpacked explores what effective leadership and governance look like inside Multi Academy Trusts.Hosted by Ed Nell and featuring regular co-host Chris Whiting from Academy Advisory, each episode brings together trust leaders and sector specialists to share practical insights, real experiences and lessons learned from across the education sector.The aim is simple: to open up conversations about how trusts can operate more effectively and ultimately improve outcomes for learners.How to Get in TouchTo learn more about Academy Advisory or connect with the team:Website: https://academyadvisory.comLinkedIn: Academy AdvisoryIf you enjoyed this episode, follow The MAT Unpacked and share it with colleagues across your trust.