Wade Deacon Trust shortlisted for MAT of the Year

We are delighted to have been nominated for the highly prestigious MAT of the Year award at the National Schools Awards.

The nomination is in recognition of Wade Deacon Trust’s Commitment to Excellence, and the impact it has on its pupils and the communities it serves across the Liverpool City Region.

The shortlisting places the Wade Deacon Trust alongside some of the strongest trusts in the country, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony in the House of Lords on 3 December 2025.

The Trust, which serves over 6,000 pupils across nine schools, is one of the few cross-phase MATs in the North West to have all of its schools currently graded as good or outstanding.

Its strategic Commitment to Excellence is firmly embedded across all schools, balancing collaboration with each school’s unique ethos and distinctiveness.

Eight of the nine schools that are part of the Wade Deacon Trust are in areas classified as Priority Education Investment Areas (PEIA), due to combined levels of performance and deprivation, with significantly above average numbers of pupils eligible for Free School Meals and having Special Educational Needs.

The Trust ensures these challenges are embraced through a well thought out curriculum offer and wider opportunities in each school.

Wade Deacon Trust is ambitious for pupils to achieve the strongest outcomes which continue to improve year on year. A number of its schools have secured the strongest outcomes in the communities it serves.

Gary Kelly, Chief Executive Offer at Wade Deacon Trust, commented:

“This shortlisting is a testament to the dedication of our staff, the ambition of our pupils, and the strength of our communities.

“We are proud to serve some of the most disadvantaged areas in the country and to prove that with the right support, every child can thrive.

“Our vision: A Commitment to Excellence, has always been about more than academic results. It is also about raising aspirations, building resilience and ensuring every young person leaves us ready and equipped to make a difference.

“I am incredibly proud that the Wade Deacon Trust has been recognised for the exceptional work that goes on in our schools, supported by a very strong central team, and we look forward to carrying on that work to the benefit of our pupils and the communities we serve.”

The National Schools Awards celebrates the very best in education, recognising schools, leaders and trusts that make a measurable difference to the lives of young people.