All Catholic schools in Liverpool to join multi-academy trusts

Every Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Liverpool is being invited to join a multi-academy trust under a new plan for education. Titled “A Family in Christ: Our Future Together”, the plan includes the launch of the new Our Lady of Lourdes North West Catholic Academy Trust.

Schools may join one of Liverpool’s two existing trusts, St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust or the Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust, or else the new one. Schools belonging to a religious order may reach their own decision about joining a trust.

Details of the plan emerged during a two-day meeting to discuss Archbishop of Liverpool John Sherrington’s vision for Catholic education. Every headteacher and chair of governors in the archdiocese was invited to the meeting. 

The aim of the new plan is to develop families of schools that work in partnership to secure the future of Catholic education in the archdiocese. Archbishop Sherrington said: “Our Catholic schools are vital to the educational mission of the Church. They bring the Gospel alive to young people, staff and parents with Catholic Social Teaching at the heart.”

He continued: “The proposal to build the academy framework is a means of protecting our schools for the future to ensure that we can continue to offer excellent Catholic education to the future generations. I believe we are better together, working together to serve the mission, having greater support for staff and keeping control of our educational system for the future generations of Catholic children and others.

“Together,” he concluded, “We are a constellation of stars offering hope in our Archdiocese.”

Joan McCarthy, director of education at the Archdiocese of Liverpool, added: “This strategy has been developed to help our schools support one another and flourish together, ensuring that every child across the archdiocese has access to a high-quality Catholic education.

“It ensures all our schools can benefit from excellent resources and outstanding learning opportunities for both pupils and staff, while building on the archdiocese’s long-established tradition of educational excellence.”

She continued. “Our approach is firmly rooted in preserving the local identity of schools within their Catholic communities. A hub-based leadership model will allow us to achieve this balance.”

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