Hello and welcome to The Challenge Academy Trust (TCAT).
The Trust was formed in 2017 by like-minded leaders of local primary and secondary schools in Warrington along with Priestley College.
Our intention was to work collaboratively to improve outcomes for children and young people in the Warrington area and this collective responsibility is one we maintain to this day.
Our mission is to serve, challenge and empower the educational community. We enact our mission by providing highly effective services to our academies, supporting strong leadership, investing in the workforce and inspiring our children and young people.
All of our work is underpinned by a set of core values, they are:
- Inclusivity and social justice
- Educational excellence
- Collaboration and interdependence
- Challenge and service
- Care and sustainability
- Celebrating difference
These values inform everything we do as a trust and all of our services and working practices are designed around these concepts.
TCAT is a unique trust, being the first in the country to include primary and secondary academies together with a sixth form college.
TCAT also includes a Church of England High School, Sir Thomas Boteler, whose faith foundation is assured through representation from the Dioceses of Chester and Liverpool.
As an inclusive MAT with a strong moral purpose we are committed to providing an environment and education where every young person is nurtured, challenged and inspired to achieve the very best for themselves and their communities. Young people are at the heart of everything we do.
There are currently 10 academies within the trust including four primary academies, three with nurseries, five secondary academies and a sixth form college.
We have close to 8,300 children and young people in our care along with around 1,200 staff.
This may seem like a huge number of people, however we pride ourselves on maintaining an intimacy within this which is built upon positive and professional relationships.
Our size also allows us to create significant financial efficiencies and to draw upon a huge range of experience and capacity. As Chief Executive Officer, my job is to ensure that all staff, children and young people within the organisation flourish and achieve their potential throughout their time with us. This is a responsibility I take incredibly seriously.
I am extremely proud to lead such a successful and exciting organisation.
I have more than 25 years experience working in education and I spent seven years as Principal at Beamont Collegiate Academy, an academy within the trust.
After all that time, I can honestly say that I have never been part of such a uniquely collaborative organisation in which all stakeholders work together for the collective benefit of our staff and young people.
Whatever your interest is around The Challenge Academy Trust, I hope you find what you are looking or on our website.
If you have any specific enquiries please contact admin@tcat.uk.com
Best wishes
Andy Moorcroft BA Hons, NPQEL
Chief Executive Officer