Star celebrates a decade of achievements on its 10th anniversary
Star Academies is celebrating a decade of exceptional achievement in education, as the trust looks ahead to a bright future.
Since the founding of its first free school ten years ago, the trust has developed and expanded to establish its position as one of the country’s leading multi-academy trusts (MAT). Today, Star is a growing family of 31 free schools and academies across five partnership areas, with over 3,500 employees and serving more than 21,000 pupils nationally.
Over the last decade, Star has achieved incredible milestones and has consistently ranked amongst the top-performing multi-academy trusts in national performance tables, with individual Star schools also routinely placing in the top 5 in the country for GCSE results.
The trust is rooted in educational excellence, which – alongside exceptional academic outcomes – has been recognised by 15 of its schools securing ‘outstanding’ Ofsted judgements and improved gradings for sponsored academies that have been inspected since joining the trust.
Star has celebrated exceptional accolades and been recognised by numerous prestigious awards, including being awarded MAT of the Year at the inaugural National Schools Awards, along with a coveted Pearson Lockdown Heroes Silver Award in 2021 in recognition of the trust’s Covid-19 response.
While the pandemic provided lots of challenges for schools, it also brought the philanthropic work of Star’s pupils and staff into sharp focus. Over the past 10 years, schools’ commitment to serving others has seen over £2 million raised for good causes, with hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people benefitting across the globe.
Star Family Hubs – established during the pandemic to support families, colleagues and neighbouring residents, charities and organisations – have become an integral part of their communities, supporting hundreds of vulnerable families every week. All Star schools are rooted in the STAR value of Service, and the Winter Gift Programme emphasises schools’ commitment to vulnerable people in their localities by tackling food poverty and spreading kindness.
Star has embarked on ground-breaking partnerships which have cemented its position at the forefront of system leadership and innovation. The partnership with Eton College, initially formed to create three high-status sixth forms in Dudley, Oldham and Middlesbrough, will build on a shared drive to boost the achievement and life chances of disadvantaged young people.
Along with three founding partner MATs, Star formed the School-Led Development Trust, which was appointed to establish the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT). Launched in September 2022, the country’s flagship teacher and leader development institute has seen Star open the North & West regional campus and welcome its first intake of participants to its programme of National Professional Qualifications (NPQ).
To coincide with celebrating the 10-year journey of the trust, Star has laid out its vision for the next five years in its ambitious new strategy.
Reflecting on the organisation’s remarkable journey, Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE, Chief Executive of Star Academies, said:
“Our achievements have far outshone the humble aims we set out at the start of our journey. Above all, I am proud that Star has extended access to high-quality education for thousands of young people in some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. We are honoured to have seen our schools consistently topping the national performance tables and of the strategic partnerships that Star has developed that place us at the forefront of national education strategy, policy and innovation.
“As we reflect on what we have achieved together and look forward to the exciting journey ahead, I would like to thank every member of the Star family for their contribution in nurturing today’s young people.
“I have no doubt that the Star family will continue to innovate, grow and flourish. By cultivating a culture of excellence, we will improve the life chances of many more young people in every community that we serve.”
Added By: Star Academies | Date Added: 11th Apr 2023 | Posted In: Latest News