The Trust Board of Leading Edge Academies Partnership is committed to ensuring that the Trust is in the best position to deliver effective education and outcomes to children and young people in line with our Trust values and ethos. As part of this commitment, the Trust Board keeps under constant review the opportunities available to the Trust and its strategic priorities for change, improvement, growth and sustainability.

Since September 2022, Trustees and Executive leaders have considered Trust sustainability and this has featured heavily in our strategic planning. We have considered organic growth, with other schools joining the Trust, restructuring our central Trust team, changing our financial model and working more closely with other Multi Academy Trusts. In July 2024, Trustees met to formally consider the way forward for Leading Edge and an even more detailed and robust process began. After careful deliberation, and considering feedback from Trust leaders and Headteachers, the decision was made to explore joining a larger, local Trust. 

As a result of this work, and a detailed analysis of potential partners using ‘essential’ and ‘desirable’ criteria, there has been an agreement in principle to explore the potential for Leading Edge to join Truro and Penwith Multi-Academy Trust (TPAT). We believe that there is considerable synergy between our Trusts and are excited about the opportunities that this change could bring.

Our guiding principles whilst considering options and when attempting to identify a preferred partner have been ensuring the quality of provision for our children, maintaining the person-centred culture that is important to us and being sure that any decision made results in a Trust that is stronger, more sustainable and can remain innovative and forward thinking. We have always been proud to include a Church of England school within the Trust and to work closely with the Diocese of Truro to ensure our Christian distinctiveness is evident in every level of governance throughout the organisation. The need to preserve this collaborative work has also been a key consideration and a ‘non-negotiable’ during any discussions.  

We believe that being part of a larger Trust will present significant opportunities for staff and pupils in all schools as we join a larger team of like-minded and passionate professionals. 

Now that TPAT have been identified as a preferred partner we begin a formal process which includes consultation with our stakeholders. The consultation process will run from Thursday 14th November 2024 until Friday 13th December 2024. This will include face-to-face consultation sessions for staff, parents, carers and governors within each school which will be led by the CEOs of both Trusts. Any questions or comments can also be emailed to info@leadingedgeacademies.org with the title CONSULTATION QUESTION. We will then use these questions to inform the consultation sessions and to develop a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document.

Thank you again for your time and consideration around this proposal. You can find more information about Truro and Penwith Academy Trust and how the Trust and its schools work here:

https://www.tpacademytrust.org/

If you would like any additional information about the consultation events, please email info@leadingedgeacademies.org.

Best wishes

Kelley Butcher - CEO

Jackie Eason - Chair of the Trust Board