Our trust is a vibrant, diverse and ambitious group of five academies in the west of Peterborough. Formed in 2018, we are a trust which emerged from a strong but loose alliance of primary schools working with our large secondary school. I joined the trust as its first full-time CEO in September 2022 and have led work to improve how our schools work together, and in harmony with an experienced and ambitious central support team.

Our schools serve communities which have many similarities, but also significant differences due to the cultural and economic diversity of the city. We embrace and celebrate these differences through our key Trust value of inclusiveness. Whilst our schools work closely together, we ensure that each school retains a distinct identity within the trust.

Growing as a multi-academy trust has allowed us to use the expertise across our schools to meet our common goals and to give our pupils and students an inclusive, innovative learning community that respects and benefits everyone and has aspirational plans for the future. Our vision is to unlock potential and create strong life chances for all the children we educate.

Our iLearn Project is an important pillar in our educational provision both in the classroom and at home. Through the supply of personal iPads to staff and to children across the age range, we can leverage the significant enhancement to teaching and learning afforded by technology.

To ensure the transition from Primary to Secondary school we are proud of our Year 7 ‘My World’ curriculum. This has been carefully planned to support the best outcomes for students and encourage independent and reflective learners, through the development of exhibition standard project work.

The PKAT Young Explorers programme replicates the Duke of Edinburgh scheme for all Year 5 pupils across the Trust and forms part of the Year 5 curriculum. Our rich offer for all the children in our Trust also includes a wide range of sporting activities and undertaking sports leadership courses; University visits in both Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 5; day trips, educational visits and residentials; theatre groups in school and educational visits to theatre productions; and a wide of competitions where pupils and students can showcase their talents.

All in our trust have high aspirations for, and high expectations of, every single pupil and student. We want them to be well-rounded, confident, caring young people with leadership skills who are motivated to achieve their best in lessons and beyond the classroom. We want them to be involved in school, local and global communities and leave us as life-long learners, equipped to build on their success and contribute positively to our future.

Dr Ian Young, CEO, Peterborough Keys Academies Trust.