"I thought rather than sharing a case study about me, I'd share a bit more about our Trust and how we work together for the best of our children, families and communities we serve. The Trust was founded to bring together a family of Church of England schools within the Diocese of Southwark that wished to become academies. Since those early days, it has been inspiring to see how far we’ve come, driven by

“I enjoy my role because of the people I work with; people who are passionate, talented and deeply committed to their communities. I find energy in seeing what can be achieved when we bring people together behind a shared purpose. I look ahead with real optimism, believing that we can have full control of the narrative that we write. The opportunities we have to grow, reshape, improve, and lead a

"The combination of professional and personal development opportunities within the MAT has allowed me to go from strength to strength as a senior leader and head of school.  Every experience, challenge, and success has contributed to my growth, reinforcing my commitment to making a positive impact.  I can only define my experience within the MAT as ‘transformative’."

“Since joining the Trust, I’ve really felt the impact of working within a wider family of schools.  What stands out most is the spirit of Ubuntu, the sense that we’re stronger together, and that what happens in one school matters to all of use. There’s a real tangible feeling of mutual support and shared ambition.”

“I first started working as an Attendance Office in the school office in 2019 and was given the opportunity to do my School Business Managers Diploma. The MAT were so supportive and introduced me to an experience SBM who offered support and guidance through my course.”

"The way we teach early reading at St George’s has transformed and was a significant contributing factor to our positive Ofsted report this year."

“Over the past six years, I have been participating in an Open University Open Degree, focusing on marketing, finance, strategic planning, and leadership. Although I originally began this journey to strengthen my skills as a School Business Manager, I am now combining my new knowledge and previous experience in my new dream role as the Trust’s Business and Marketing Lead. The Trust has consisten

I know we are getting it right when new schools and specialist provisions join us and feel like they have always been part of the family. It shows in the way we share expertise and grow stronger together.

I feel that all of these opportunities provided by the SDBE MAT have led me to the role of Deputy Head that I hold today. Last year, I was fortunate enough to take up this position at St Luke’s Primary School. The training and networking opportunities that I have experienced over the last seven years have shaped me into the leader I am today. The experts I have worked with, the networks I have been part of, and

"At the heart of my leadership is a belief in the power of early years education to transform lives. Together with the incredible professionals across the MAT, I am committed to building a future where every child has the strongest possible start, supported by passionate and skilled staff who are empowered to lead with confidence and creativity."

"The support I have received from the Trust has really helped me to excel in my role. The approach to school support is not incidental but highly considered and strategic. I particularly value that the support given to our school is bespoke, tailored to our specific context and needs. Support from the Trust’s Education Partner and School Improvement Programme has made my first year of headship better than

"One of the Trust’s greatest strengths is the way it creates opportunities for leaders to develop and grow. Personally, I have found that taking on wider Trust responsibilities, particularly through group projects, has been both rewarding and invaluable for my own professional development and future career aspirations. My experience is that pathways are not blocked here, they are actively supported."