Don't just take it from us... read Lee McCormack's journey to choosing the right Trust for her school as published in TES online...

 

 

 

5 little clues that told me we’d found the right trust
By Lee-Marie McCormack, Headteacher at Parkwood Primary School, part of The Primary First Trust

We often talk about the importance of values when choosing a multi-academy trust (MAT) to join. We are all looking for alignment, a shared belief in what matters most for children. But in truth, when a school needs support, the smaller details, the subtle clues, are equally as essential to look out for, as they show whether a trust really lives and breathes its ethos.

I have spent my whole career at Parkwood Primary in Gillingham. I came here as a trainee teacher and, 18 years later, I am proud to be the Headteacher. I stepped into the role formally in February 2024, after a period as acting head. It is a school I love deeply and a community I care about. However, in recent years, we have faced challenges. Like many schools we have experienced financial strain as well as some staffing turbulence and, in July 2023, we received a 'requires improvement' Ofsted judgement.

By that point, I was already exploring what joining a trust might mean for us. I had been cautious because trusts can vary. One I looked at had a kind and experienced CEO, but no central team. It was a small trust, and I realised that as a Headteacher, I would not just be leading education, I would still be trying to juggle finance, estates, and safeguarding compliance amongst others. Then I found the Primary First Trust, and the difference was immediate and telling.

Their values aligned with ours and they talked about children first. But more than that, they showed it. Here are the clues that told me this was a trust that really meant it, and the qualities to look out for when making this important decision.

They open the doors – literally

Before we were even officially part of the trust, they welcomed me into headteacher meetings. No fanfare, no performance, just business as usual. I saw their culture in action. Staff across their schools visited one another regularly and I could see there was transparency and trust. There were no stage-managed visits, I just saw the everyday rhythms of a trust that values collaboration over control.

Support isn’t sporadic, it is “little and often”

We weren’t overwhelmed with grand strategies or week-long visits. Instead, we had regular check-ins. The kind that helps you keep all the plates spinning. This was proactive, steady and focused and was not just about accountability, but accompaniment and genuine support.

Headship is respected

Primary First doesn’t have Heads of School, they have Headteachers. That may sound like semantics, but it isn’t. They believe in giving Headteachers headspace. By shouldering the operational load, they free us up to focus on what matters most: teaching and learning. I felt respected and trusted, not managed or directed. That subtle difference changed everything.

They invested before they had to

We didn’t officially join the trust until January 2025, but Primary First has been supporting us since the previous September, entirely for free. That level of commitment told me we weren’t just a number on a spreadsheet. We were a school they believed in and were willing to invest in.

The central team provides expertise

When it comes to safeguarding, health and safety, and SEND processes, Primary First rolled up their sleeves, and the impact has been instant. Since joining the trust, they have helped us secure a significant sum of money from the local authority for essential equipment for a child, making a direct difference to their quality of life and education. That money had always been there, but we had not had the time or expertise to secure it. With the trust’s support, we did. That has been life-changing for that child, and it tells you about the practical, meaningful support that the trust prioritises.

There are always big-picture reasons for joining a trust: shared values, strategic vision and financial stability, which are vital to consider. But what I have learned is that it is the little things, the everyday actions and attitudes, that tell you if you have found the right trust to become a part of.

So, if you are a headteacher weighing up the move, do not just listen to the pitch. Watch how they work. Notice how they treat your staff before you are technically ‘theirs.’ Those are the clues that count. And for us, they have made all the difference.