Marches Academy Trust

Marches Academy Trust (MMAT) is a Multi-academy trust based in Shropshire, England. It operates a group of state‑funded primary, secondary and special schools across the county, and maintains central offices in Shrewsbury. The trust is incorporated as a charitable company limited by guarantee.

History

The trust was incorporated on 23 June 2011. The Marches School in Oswestrybecame the founding academy in 2011, with the network subsequently expanding to include additional primary and secondary schools in Shropshire.

Member schools

Secondary

  • The Marches School, Oswestry.
  • Sir John Talbot's School, Whitchurch.
  • Shrewsbury Academy, Shrewsbury.
  • Grove School, Market Drayton.
  • Idsall School, Shifnal.

Special

  • Woodlands School, Wem.

Primary

  • Cockshutt CofE Primary School and Nursery, Ellesmere.
  • Criftins CofE Primary School and Nursery, Ellesmere.
  • Grange Primary School, Shrewsbury.
  • Kinnerley Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Oswestry.
  • Longlands Primary School, Market Drayton.
  • Lower Heath CofE Primary School, Whitchurch.
  • Oakmeadow CofE Primary School, Bayston Hill.
  • Selattyn CofE Primary School, Oswestry.
  • St Andrew's Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Shrewsbury.
  • Tilstock CofE Primary and Nursery, Whitchurch.
  • West Felton Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Oswestry.
  • Weston Lullingfields Church of England Primary School and Nursery, Shrewsbury.

Governance

The trust is led by a board of trustees and a members’ body, with a chief executive officer and an executive leadership team. The trust also operates local governing bodies at school level under a published scheme of delegation.

Operations and performance

MAT‑level performance measures are published by the Department for Education. In the 2024 secondary results (published February 2025), the trust’s Progress 8 score was −0.30 and banded “below average”, with 38% of pupils entered for the EBacc and an EBacc average point score of 3.75. These figures are intended to provide context and are not direct judgements of individual schools.

The trust includes Church of England schools and works in partnership with the Diocese of Lichfield. In 2022 the trust founded the 4 All Foundation, which became an independent registered charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in June 2023; the charity runs community programmes across Shropshire and surrounding counties.

See also

  • Multi-academy trust