End of year letter from Paul Skipp

As we draw to the close of an extraordinary academic year, we are delighted to reflect on the remarkable achievements and progress of EQUA Mead Learning Trust. It has been an exceptional year filled with growth, success, and exciting developments. We are thrilled to see each and every school in the Trust moving from strength to strength. This year has been marked by significant milestones, and it is a genuine pleasure to reflect on the collective successes we have accomplished together.

One of the most significant milestones was the successful merger between The Mead Trust and EQUA Multi Academy Trust, whilst also welcoming a number of other schools into the EQUA Mead Learning Trust. This growth has strengthened our community, uniting our shared values and goals, enabling even greater support and opportunities for our staff, children, and young people. Our united Trust is now stronger than ever, with a clear and aligned vision centred on providing every single child with every chance of success.

We are incredibly proud that many of our schools received fantastic Ofsted inspections this year, along with consistently positive SIAMS inspections for some of our church schools. These inspections are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff, the engagement of our children and young people, and the support of our parents and carers. Our children have excelled academically, with strong results across EYFS, KS1, and KS2 demonstrating their commitment and resilience. These achievements reflect the quality of teaching and the supportive, inclusive learning environments our schools provide. We now look forward to celebrating A-Level and GCSE results over the summer in our secondary schools.

Despite the challenges in education funding, we are pleased that through careful stewardship of finances, we have been able to invest in several capital projects in our schools. These projects have enhanced learning spaces for our children and young people, with further improvements planned for the next academic year to continue upgrading our schools' infrastructure. Other highlights include the merging of some nursery schools into our primary schools, the extension of some of our resource base provision, and the successful application to permanently establish a new Post 16 provision at Lavington School. This addition will offer our older students more opportunities to continue their education within our Trust, ensuring a seamless and supportive transition from nursery through to further education.

Our central team has grown, adding more capacity and expertise over the last few months. This strategic growth will provide even greater support to our schools through a robust school improvement program and enhanced operational capabilities. As we look forward to the new academic year, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the opportunities ahead. With our collective strength, shared vision, and unwavering commitment to our schools, I am confident that we will continue to achieve remarkable things together. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable summer break and look forward to welcoming your children and young people back in September.

Kind regards

Paul Skipp, Chief Executive Officer