Mercia Learning Trust is a partnership of primary and secondary schools in the south-west of Sheffield. We are proud of our strong reputation for school effectiveness and improvement.

Our mission and values are more than statements. They define why we exist, guide our decisions, shape our culture, and inspire us to make a difference in society.

Every member of our trust community – staff, pupils, and families – plays a vital role in achieving this mission.

Our approach to defining our mission and values is inspired by Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Advantage. Lencioni’s work challenges organisations to answer six critical questions, the first four being:

  1. Why do we exist?
  2. How do we behave?
  3. What do we do?
  4. How will we succeed?

These questions have helped us create clarity, align our efforts and ensure we remain true to our purpose.

Why do we exist?

Our mission is simple but profound.

To empower everyone in our communities, especially the most disadvantaged, to succeed.

We know that education is the key to a better future. It opens doors to employment, improves health and gives young people a sense of purpose. But for many pupils, there are barriers in their way.

Our job, alongside families, is to remove those barriers and provide the support, challenge, and guidance children need to achieve. If we get it right for our pupils, we help to improve our local and national community for everyone.

How do we behave?

Everything we do is guided by three core values.

We are kind – showing care and supporting each other.

We have integrity – doing the right thing and always putting children first.

We work with diligence – overcoming obstacles and having no excuses.

These values do not replace the individual values of each school within our trust. Those values are integral to the unique cultures we’ve nurtured. Instead, our trust values serve as a complement, uniting us under a shared ethos.

What do we do?

Our role as a trust is clear.

We run schools that focus on academic excellence, cultural capital and the development of character.

Broken down, this means we ensure pupils have the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. We provide experiences that broaden horizons and inspire ambition, and we support children to develop key character traits that help prepare them for life beyond school.

How will we succeed?

We have three strategic anchors that guide our success.

A culture of excellence

Making sure everything we do is of an exceptionally high standard, so our pupils get the very best education. We recognise excellence is not about perfection; it is about striving to be better every day, learning from our experiences and celebrating progress.

Academic focus

We will deliver an exceptional curriculum to provide every child with the knowledge, skills, character development and cultural capital they need to succeed. We want to create a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Purposeful collaboration

Providing opportunities for all staff to share best practice, solve problems and work together in creating a unified approach to achieving our mission.