All schools within our trust share a common mission and work collaboratively to share best practice in pursuit of that goal.

Our work is shaped by three strategic anchors, which guide how our schools operate both individually and as a collective.

Our strategic anchors

A culture of excellence – systems defined by clarity, not control

We want our schools to innovate, develop and share best practice that meets the needs of their communities. To support this, we have created an Excellence Framework that sets out the key areas all schools should focus on.

The framework provides clarity and direction, while still giving schools the professional freedom to pursue excellence in ways that best fit their context. For certain operational and compliance functions, such as finance, estates, IT, and HR, we follow fully aligned policies and practices. This ensures safety, consistency and efficiency across our trust, and frees school leaders to concentrate on what matters most: providing an exceptional education for every pupil.

An academic focus – empowering all children through an exceptional curriculum

We are committed to ensuring every child has access to a high-quality curriculum that enables them to achieve, thrive, and succeed.

Our schools work together to develop and refine curriculum design, pedagogy, and assessment so that every pupil benefits from the collective expertise of our trust.

Working together means our pupils are impacted by the collective knowledge and experience of a group of staff can impact across multiple schools, instead of just the staff in their school.

Purposeful collaboration – relationships built on trust, reducing sub-optimisation, and driving collective success

Through everything we do, strong, trusting relationships across our trust enable our schools to collaborate meaningfully, share what works, and tackle challenges together.

By working as a team and aligning our efforts, we reduce isolated decision-making and strengthen outcomes for all pupils.

Our approach strikes a deliberate balance between a one-size-fits-all model and schools operating entirely independently.

This allows us to harness the strengths and efficiencies of being part of a larger organisation while preserving the unique character, identity, and community focus of each school.

Our people

Our staff are central to the success of our trust, just like our pupils. We are committed to recruiting, training, and supporting a highly skilled and dedicated team.

How we support schools

  • A focus on excellence – every child is entitled to a high-quality education, and we work hard to make sure every school delivers just that.
  • Support from experts – our central team provides specialist support in teaching, safeguarding, SEND and more, so school leaders and teachers can focus on teaching and learning.
  • Efficient operations – central services like finance, HR and IT are run by our trust, freeing up leaders’ time and resources for what matters most.
  • Strong professional development – we help staff grow their skills and careers, which means every child is taught by passionate, expert professionals.
  • A strong, values-led culture – we are committed to kindness, integrity and diligence, in every classroom, corridor, office and playground.
  • Investment in the future – we reinvest in buildings, technology, and learning environments to make sure children and staff have what they need to thrive.

Mercia Excellence Framework

At Mercia Learning Trust, everything we do is guided by our Mercia Excellence Framework. It sets out the shared beliefs, principles and ways of working that unite our schools and shape our culture.

The framework provides clarity rather than prescription. It ensures high standards across our trust, while respecting the identity and context of each school. Above all, it exists to secure the very best outcomes for children, especially the most disadvantaged.

The Mercia Excellence Framework in practice

The framework is brought to life through a number of interconnected areas that define what excellence looks like across our trust.

Leaders at all levels model our values, act with moral purpose and build strong, cohesive teams. Leadership is visible, reflective and focused on continuous improvement.

Teaching is the core business of our trust. We prioritise high-quality instruction, clear routines and ongoing professional development so that teaching is strong every day, for every child.

Calm, safe and well-ordered schools are the foundation for learning. Clear expectations, strong relationships and early intervention ensure pupils feel secure, supported and ready to learn.

Our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and carefully sequenced. Literacy is the foundation of all learning, with reading, writing and oracy embedded across subjects and phases.

We broaden horizons and build character through rich experiences, cultural opportunities and high-quality careers education. We want all pupils to leave our schools prepared for adult life and future success.

Our approach to SEND is central to our mission. We build school cultures around our most vulnerable children, ensuring all pupils access a broad and balanced curriculum and are supported to thrive.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Strong systems, training and professional curiosity ensure children are safe, supported and known.

Effective governance, finance, HR, estates, communications, IT and operational systems remove burden from schools, allowing leaders and teachers to focus on what matters most: children and learning.

What this means for schools in our trust

Schools within Mercia Learning Trust benefit from:

  • clear expectations aligned to a shared mission and values
  • high levels of professional trust and collaboration
  • access to expertise, support and strong central services
  • consistency where it matters, alongside professional autonomy
  • a relentless focus on improving outcomes for children

A shared commitment

The Mercia Excellence Framework is not a static document. It is a living model that evolves through reflection, collaboration and evidence. It provides a common language and shared direction, while remaining rooted in the needs of our communities.

Schools exploring joining Mercia Learning Trust are encouraged to speak with us to understand how our Mercia Excellence Framework works in practice and how it supports sustained improvement.