Strategic Plan

The strategic plan for the period 2022-25 heralds the start of a new phase for Pontefract Academies Trust. Whilst the Trust was formed back in 2013, it is now coming of age and moving well beyond its infancy. With nine schools serving nearly 4,000 pupils across our community and with over 600 talented and committed staff, the Trust is well-positioned to move to the next phase of its development. As the education landscape continues to change at pace, the Trust is securely positioned to meet the challenges of the landscape head-on.

Our work in recent years has brought successes, learning points, and a determination to make even more of a difference to the life chances of the young people and families in the communities we serve. The plan sets out our big priorities over the next three years so that we deliver on our mission of running high-achieving schools. Our last strategic plan saw us deliver improved educational outcomes across our schools. We are pushing ourselves to go further over the period of this plan. Whilst trying to achieve performance that is in the top 5% of schools nationally over the course of the time of the plan. This is ambitious but realistic given the strong outcomes we have achieved in 2023. We are the first to admit we can do more, and it simply must be that way for the good of the pupils and families we serve. This plan builds on that strong position.

Post-pandemic and a changing education landscape means that our most disadvantaged children, more than ever, need our schools to provide a first-class education. This will allow our young people to succeed and have greater opportunities and choices in life. However, whilst we cannot know what the future holds, we can be hugely ambitious for the children and young people in our schools. We must prepare them well; this means equipping them with the knowledge, skills, resilience, and personal development so that they can positively contribute to an increasingly complex world. The priorities in the plan are organisation wide. They are the “big things” we focus upon across all of our schools. It is our roadmap. Rather than having an extensive list of improvement priorities, we focus on the things that will make the most difference to the lives of our pupils. These priorities are delivered through a talented bunch of leaders, teachers, and support staff across our Trust who go above and beyond, day in and day out.

“The next phase for the Trust is an exciting one.”


I am confident that the Trust and its family of schools can achieve even bigger and better things for the communities we serve. The next phase for the Trust is an exciting one, and I feel proud and privileged to oversee the next chapter of our development.


Julian Appleyard OBE
CEO