The John Taylor MAT was established in 2014 and serves schools across Staffordshire and South Derbyshire. “We believe in the power of education to improve lives – and the world.” We are driven to ensure our communities can realise their true potential through learning. This is our mission. We provide experiences, resources, structures, and systems to enable all to engage, all to progress, all to achieve. The John Taylor MAT was born in John Taylor High School - one of the first schools in Staffordshire to become an Academy. Since then, the Trust has steadily grown, and we are proud to serve 5 Secondary schools and 12 Infant/Primary Schools (as of November 2022.) Some growth has been from the Free School programme; John Taylor Free School opened in September 2018 and Fradley Park Primary & Nursery School opened in September 2022. Branston Locks Primary is due to open in September 2023, and the Trust has Department of Education approval to develop Staffordshire’s first all-through Primary and Secondary School on the site of the former Rugeley Power Station. In September 2021, the John Taylor Teaching School Hub replaced the National Forest Teaching School. It is one of 11 Teaching School Hubs in the West Midlands, serving schools in East Staffordshire, Tamworth, Lichfield, Cannock, North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth. The John Taylor Teaching School Hub has a strong reputation for high quality professional development and support for teachers and leaders. It offers ITE via the John Taylor SCITT, CPD provision and Appropriate Body Services, as well as an Early Career Framework and a suite of National Professional Qualifications (NPQs). John Taylor MAT schools have excellent facilities, a broad curriculum and high-quality leadership. The Central team does the “heavy lifting” by focusing on business and compliance elements, whilst schools “keep the main thing, the main thing” – prioritising people, time, energy and funding to improve the educational experience.