Keys Co-operative Academy Trust is an educational charity formed by a cooperative of specialist schools with a common legal and moral purpose.  In our schools, this means working together cooperatively to provide an appropriate, broad and balanced curriculum suitable to the varying needs of our young people and achieving our vision of enabling young people, regardless of their barriers, to achieve their full potential, enjoy positive life chances and make a positive contribution to their community.

 

Joining a Multi Academy Trust (MAT) is a big decision for headteachers and governing boards.  For this reason we feel it is very important for schools to fully understand both the ups and downs of becoming an academy and being part of a larger trust.  We would be more than happy to arrange an informal meeting or discussion with any schools that would like to find out more about us, MATs and/or co-operative trusts.

 

It is our plan to grow our co-operative of schools over the next few years and we prefer to do this through school choice, rather than through sponsorships or mergers. It is also equally as important for us to further develop our local partnerships, so in addition to growing our co-operative, we are also keen to explore alternative opportunities to work with local schools in developing partnership working.

 

By either joining our co-operative or by just working together more closely with us as a local partner we are able to provide schools support by sharing our expertise in curriculum, assessment, behaviour and SEND - which will help to improve opportunities for young people.  The business support that can be provided by our professional central team, who focus on all aspects of school business matters, will enable teachers and leaders to spend more of their time focused on the one thing that counts the most – the education of children.  

 

We can provide this level of professional support to any schools joining our co-operative or individually to any local partners preferring to purchase bespoke packages of services from us.

 

We can offer the following services either through bespoke local partnerships or by joining our co-operative:

 

• Support with academy conversion

• High-quality professional development for teachers and support staff in behaviour management including training in Essex-Steps and TPP.

• In-school education and behaviour consultancy support 

• School improvement

• Payroll

• Clerking and governance professional service

• ICT Support

• Finance Support and processing

• HR Management and Administration

• Facilities / H&S management / compliance

 

By joining our co-operative your staff would also benefit for the following:

 

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Laptops for all staff

• Salary Sacrifice Cycle to Work Scheme

• Salary Sacrifice ULEV Car Leasing Scheme

• Training and development

• Enhanced opportunities for career progression within the Trust

• Retail discount Scheme

• Annual Flu-Jab and Eye Tests

 

If you would like to find out more about joining our co-operative, closer partnership working or just for an informal discussion about the ups and downs of joining an academy trust, please contact Stephen Shaw Chief Operating and Financial Office on 01376 425955 or sshaw@kcat.co.uk

​

Recruitment Statement

​

Keys Co Operative Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. The Trust complies with the statutory legislative requirements and guidance that seeks to protect children including ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance’. In order to meet this responsibility, we follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. This includes the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting documents. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

 

Keys Co Operative Academy recognises the value of, and seeks to achieve, a diverse workforce which includes people from all backgrounds. We take positive steps to create an employment culture in which people feel confident of being treated with fairness, dignity and tolerance irrespective of their individual differences. This is embedded through our co-operative values.  This commitment extends beyond the relationship between and conduct of employees and potential employees, to the whole community. Keys Co Operative Academy Trust is committed to the elimination of unlawful discrimination and to the promotion of good relations between all.