St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Academy Trust – the family of 17 schools serving the central region of the diocese – has unveiled its new brand identity, website and vision to “bring joy, hope, opportunity and purpose for our children in an uncertain world.”

Chief executive officer Amy Rice said: “Our vision was crafted when we started a year ago, but it has never been more relevant. 

“Staff across the trust are determined to make a real and enduring difference to children’s lives and give them the strength and independence not only to face the challenges that are ahead, but to be the adults and young people who will reshape our future into a fairer and more loving world.

“In the current circumstances, we hope people can experience our vision virtually through our new, engaging website.”

The trust says it is determined to do things differently and focuses on its value of courage, which it hopes will see it break the mould to give new and exciting opportunities to all of its children and staff over the coming years.

“We firmly believe that each child has that spark, that gift within them,” said Ms Rice. “It’s our job to help them see it and to nurture it so that they can be a positive force for good in whatever they do in their future.

St Margaret Clitherow Catholic Academy Trust CEO Amy Rice

“We firmly believe that each child has that spark, that gift within them,” said Ms Rice. “It’s our job to help them see it and to nurture it so that they can be a positive force for good in whatever they do in their future.

“That requires an approach that looks at each child as a precious individual, unconstrained by mechanistic targets or the usual expectations. 

“We are hugely ambitious for our children academically, of course, but that is far from the whole story.

“We hope that people with the same ambition and the same hope for our children’s future will feel inspired to join and support us, in whatever way they can.”

The trust was formed in June 2019 and now consists of 17 schools – two secondaries and 15 primaries.

It was shortlisted for a Department of Education Sustainability Award in its first year of operation. For more details visit smccat.org.uk or email contact@smccat.org.uk