Trust Network
We know that delivering a whole education at scale can be challenging, particularly for small and medium sized trusts. Our Trust Network is designed to support trusts to embed a values led, rigorous whole education across a family of schools.
The network brings together trust leaders to learn with and from one another, reflect on practice and strengthen leadership approaches that are sustainable, coherent and rooted in shared purpose.
Networking and Relationships
Ongoing dialogue with trust leaders ensures the network remains relevant and responsive. These conversations surface emerging trends, shared challenges and opportunities, and enable purposeful connections between trusts with aligned priorities or practice that can inform improvement.
Learning Exchange Visits
Learning Exchange Visits offer opportunities to experience how trust culture, values and ethos shape policy and day to day practice across schools. Using an appreciative enquiry approach, visits create meaningful learning for both hosts and visitors. A minimum of five visits take place each year.
Our core in person events provide structure and continuity across the trust year. These include the MAT Enquiry and Learning Summit, Leadership Conference and Summer Conference. Together, they create space to engage with experts, reflect on leadership and learn collectively.
Core Events
Focused enquiry virtual meetings
Focused enquiry meetings support trusts to take an action learning approach to a priority area within their own context. With expert input and peer collaboration, trusts deepen thinking, test approaches and share learning across the wider network.
Virtual learning and collaboration
Additional virtual sessions are commissioned in response to the evolving needs of the network. These sessions connect trust leaders with peers and experts to explore shared priorities, respond to emerging challenges and strengthen collaboration across trusts.
“To be able to collaborate with like-minded peers, with inputs from brilliant thought leaders, was unbelievable. What is really different about Whole Education, and what I love, is the absolute focus on the personal and academic, which is unique”
“The Whole Ed Trust Network has been superb and worth every penny. It has changed my view of trust leadership. The best CPD I have had in a very long time, and certainly since I became a CEO.”
“Whole Education has done a really fantastic job. I’m amazed by the quality of your offer and your ability to adapt to the needs of our trust of schools.”
On January 15th 2025, Toby Greany and Eleanor from the University of Nottingham published their research report, A Constant Dance: A Study of Values-Based Leadership in Multi-Academy Trusts.
The research is based on studies of five trusts from our Trust Network:
• White Woods Primary Academy Trust.
These trusts were selected to provide insights into how values-based leadership and organisational development can support the delivery of a ‘whole education’ for students and staff.
