Happy New Year to all the readers of this newspaper.
It is of course time to look forward and think about goals and aspirations for the year ahead.
What do we want to see from 2025? As a multi-academy trust now in its 12th year, Unity Schools Partnership is both strong in experience but also still relatively young.
We are proud of our many achievements and proud of the education we offer to the 16,000 children in our family of primary, secondary and special schools. This is a result of hard work and everyone pulling together on a daily basis.
As we approach 40 schools in our trust, a milestone we will reach in September when a new primary school opens in Norfolk, we have seen considerable change – both within Unity and across the educational landscape.
Staying close to our values of integrity, inclusion and kindness, our resolution for the coming year is to do all we can to be as good as the best academy trusts nationally.
A few years ago, we committed to ‘Making Remarkable Happen’ and outlined plans for our children to match the best across the country. We can see huge improvements in many schools and we are in a position to continue working towards this ambition.
This has been supported by a central trust team which has strong expertise across many fields and we are lucky to have them.
Within our trust, and over the last 12 years, we have been joined by schools who sometimes have needed some extra support and we have been delighted to work with them to ensure they move forward and receive well deserved positive Ofsted reports.
In addition, we have had the privilege of opening brand new schools – including four special schools, with two more planned to open in 2027. Increasing this provision will remain a priority for Unity Schools Partnership this year and in coming years.
More broadly, we are committed to being part of an increased emphasis on collaboration, as outlined by the new Government.
From teacher development to curriculum partnerships, we already work with many schools and partners beyond our trust – including contributing nationally to policy on improving attainment of children from disadvantaged families.
We also work with 700 schools beyond our trust through our CUSP curriculum as well as supporting governance and leadership in other schools.
It is also a time of year to welcome new staff and new appointments – in our schools, supporting our sixth form provision and across school governance.
We welcome them all and look forward to a positive and productive 2025 ahead.
Tim Coulson, Chief Executive, Unity Schools Partnership