Does your MAT have a collaborative culture?

Here at MATA, we hear the good, the bad and ugly. So after only 2 years of existing, we definitely understand that the journey of a MAT is different for every Trust.

However, there is a fundamental principle that cannot be overlooked – the importance of a collaborative culture.

Below we summarise 4 areas that can be adopted to creating a more collaborative culture, improving your likelihood of growing more sustainably.

1. Creating an honest and feedback friendly culture

If there is an issue or ways of improving, do your staff have the confidence to approach leadership? In an environment where transparency and open communication are encouraged, members of the leadership team in your MAT are more likely to share ideas, voice concerns, and work together towards shared goals. But how about the individual schools at both leadership and junior level? Honest feedback not only helps identify areas for improvement but also helps build the goal of a MAT with a collaborative culture. As your MAT grows, this culture of honesty and feedback becomes increasingly vital, as often new schools joining the Trust will look to talk to existing member schools on how the Trust > School relationship is.

2. Analysis of leadership team members

Each leader in your trust bring their unique strengths, methods and best practices to the table. But do you have an internal analysis of this, specifically for your leadership team members? By doing so, you can establish the gaps, you can create more dynamic leadership teams, you can tailor future postings knowing exactly what your ‘perfect’ fit would be. A strong leadership team undoubtably elevates the quality of education across all academies within the trust, making it an attractive proposition for new academies and candidates looking to join in the future.

3. Developing a shared resource strategy

As MATs grow, they often face the challenge of managing resources efficiently. A collaborative culture across schools in your Trust encourages the sharing of resources, including staff, facilities, and best practice. We are sure you probably have this in place already – but is this process? Or is it ad-hoc? An efficient process in place of how you share resources allows your Trust to make the most of your budgets, ensuring that funds are invested where they are needed most.

4. Impact outside the walls

Growth and collaboration doesn’t stop within the walls of the school and/or Trust.

It is not just about the number of academies within a trust but also about the broader impact in the community. A collaborative culture extends beyond the trust itself, can your MAT further build partnerships with other local Trusts, local businesses, and community organizations? This approach helps MATs reach beyond their immediate boundaries and have a positive influence on the wider community.