A Faith-Led Transformation: Celebrating “Best of Both Worlds”

At St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, we are proud to be recognised in the national case study published by the Catholic Education Service: “Best of Both Worlds, the remarkable story of a Catholic Academy Trust turning around failing schools.” This inspiring account highlights our journey of transforming inadequate schools and raising aspirations in some of the most deprived areas of the Northwest.

Founded in 2021 within the Archdiocese of Liverpool, SJCMAT was entrusted with a bold mission: to revitalise neglected schools. As CEO Andrew Truby explains, “Each of the schools had its own unique set of challenges, and it felt like they had been neglected over a long period of time.” Some faced financial difficulties, while others struggled with poor buildings, leadership, or curriculum quality.

From the outset, our approach has been guided by our faith and moral purpose: to build a community where every child can thrive. Andrew reflects, “As a team motivated by a clear sense of moral purpose, we set out to achieve something unique against all odds.”

Reading was identified as a key priority across the Trust, unlocking success both academically and in life beyond school. We replaced outdated curricula with a high-quality, research-informed model from ‘Ark’. We implemented an academy Trust-wide reading guarantee in partnership with Ruth Miskin Training, ‘Read Write Inc.’, and ‘Fresh Start’ phonics programmes.

Staffing stability, a challenge in many schools, has also improved significantly thanks to a focus on high-quality professional development. “By providing our staff with the best possible CPD,” Andrew shares, “we are ensuring that our children are taught by expert practitioners.”

We have also embraced the Archdiocese’s principles of subsidiarity and solidarity, striking a balance between school autonomy and Trust-wide alignment. Andrew notes, “We found that our model of aligned autonomy actually meant that headteachers felt even more empowered to lead their schools.”

Today, the results speak for themselves: none of the SJCMAT academies are now rated inadequate, and six have achieved a ‘good in all areas’ outcome from Ofsted, a testament to the power of faith-led transformation and unwavering commitment to our children.

Kathy Thomas, Deputy Headteacher at Notre Dame Catholic College, captures the essence of our community: “The SJCMAT team is open to listening, and the change that comes is in the best interest of the children and their experience drives the improvements that are needed forward.”

Joanne Parkinson, Religious Education Subject Lead at Holy Spirit Catholic Academy, echoes this sentiment: “It’s a community where you’re never alone and where your development is seen as key to the success of every pupil.”

We invite you to read the full national case study and discover more about our mission to transform lives through faith, excellence, and compassion:
Read the full case study here: Best of Both Worlds — The Remarkable Story of a Catholic Academy Trust Turning Around Failing Schools

Join us in celebrating this journey, and help us build a future where every child can flourish.