We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for the 2026 MAT Excellence award for Staff Development (1-12 schools).
“Staff development at Pontefract Academies Trust has been transformed into a culture where learning, wellbeing and growth are woven into their every day. Through initiatives including their Everyday Development model, three development days, succession planning, and professional learning hub, they have created personalised development, strengthened retention, built leadership pipelines, and achieved high engagement and satisfaction.”
The MAT Excellence Awards celebrate excellence and impact across multi-academy trusts, and the Staff Development award highlights trusts that provide exceptional opportunities for colleagues to learn, grow, and thrive.
Being shortlisted for this award recognises all the amazing ways we support staff across our Trust, including:
- Everyday Development – helping staff to grow and thrive in their role.
- EDD Days – dedicated time away from the workplace to focus on learning and wellbeing.
- Succession Planning – nurturing talent and preparing staff for future leadership opportunities.
- Professional Learning Hub – 24/7 access to high-quality resources and training.
We’d like to thank all staff working across our Trust for being so open to learning and always looking for ways to be even better for the children and communities we serve.
We look forward to celebrating alongside other shortlisted trusts at the awards ceremony in June.