Annual report 2020: Chair's introduction

On behalf of The Mead Academy Trust Board of Trustees, I am pleased to present our 2020 Annual Report.

No one could have foreseen the challenges that we all faced this year, and our collective response to COVID-19 to keep our schools open throughout should be acknowledged and celebrated from the outset.    

Our colleagues’ resilience and professionalism are the cornerstones of our underpinning principles across the Trust, and despite the obstacles presented, we have still sought to improve our teaching provision and business management.  Most notably we were awarded an Ofsted rating of ‘Good’ for The Mead School, and successfully appointed a new Headteacher to lead the school.  We continue to rely on the Resources Committee for our financial oversight and have maintained a balanced budget.  This year we have also established a complementary School Effectiveness Group (bolstered by the addition of a specialist expert Trustee) to maintain rigorous independent appraisal of our teaching.  And in looking forwards, we have connected with the Salisbury Diocesan Board of Education to explore how we might grow and improve the attainment and provision for more children across Wiltshire.

As well as having talented and exceptionally committed educational staff and leadership, the Trust is very fortunate to draw upon the expertise of a diverse and highly capable Board, comprising colleagues drawn from across education and business spanning both the public and private sectors.  In our response to COVID-19, we came together and drew heavily on this reserve of leadership talent and commitment, to plan for and maintain our teaching and safeguarding provision throughout Lockdown and subsequently.  As a Board, we thank and pay tribute to the dedication of all our colleagues across each of our schools who, on a daily basis, transform the lives of these children to help them reach their full potential.

Christian Checkley, 
Chair of the Board of Trustees