Working smarter together
Through years of growth and development, our trust has become a thriving institution where academic results are meeting and exceeding the national average and all schools are rated Good by Ofsted (some for the first time).
Recent accolades showcased the trust’s dedication to excellence, including:
★ Trust of the Year 2026 – nEdEx Awards 2026
★ Most Improved Trust of the Year – nEdEx Awards 2026
★ Transformation and Impact Award – MAT Excellence 2026 (Shortlisted)
★ Procurement Standard Excellence Awards – CIPS
By working together, we’re better able to share our skills and expertise, helping to fulfil our aims to support our local school and communities.
To read more about our aims and vision, please read our Astrea 2030 Strategy.
The next stage in our evolution
Hear Astrea Academy Trust CEO, Rowena Hackwood, as she talks about the development of the trust as a sector leading institution and its aims to continue to evolve.
Our expertise
Governance
Our Governance team works with all colleagues to provide strategic direction and operational support, whilst managing risk and accountabilities.
Catering
Our in-house catering leads are not only experts in the field of food and nutrition – they also closely manage school catering logistics and operations.
Curriculum
Our team lead on national curriculum developments and are often leading voices in sector developments.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is integral to how we support our communities. Our safeguarding leads are engaged in national conversations.
Operations
Operations at Astrea cover a wide range of expertise and are trained by the ISBL in Operational Excellence.
Governance
Our Governance team works with all colleagues to provide strategic direction and operational support, whilst managing risk and accountabilities.
Catering
Our in-house catering leads are not only experts in the field of food and nutrition – they also closely manage school catering logistics and operations.
Curriculum
Our team lead on national curriculum developments and are often leading voices in sector developments.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is integral to how we support our communities. Our safeguarding leads are engaged in national conversations.
Estates
Our Estates teams are experts in managing diverse portfolios and providing opportunities for return on investments.
Finance
Our Finance team manage complex budgets to ensure efficiency and are awarded the Procurement Excellence Standard Award (CIPS).
HR
Our expert team support with HR, recruitment and professional development.
Recruitment
Our Recruitment colleagues are nationally recognised for their skills in sourcing talent and reducing agency staffing costs.
Louise Stanton – Principal
“Being a principal in Astrea means I can lead my school the way I know our community needs me to, with a clear direction that we share across the trust and with lots of support, challenge and expertise when I need it.
“I have grown as a leader during my career at Astrea and I have been able to support my staff in their development as well. Having shared approaches means that principals can collaborate genuinely and deeply across schools, so I can put more resources and expertise at the service of my pupils than I could as just one school.”
Simon Merrywest – LGC Chair
“Being a local chair in Astrea means that I can focus on my school whilst knowing that we are part of a bigger effort across our city and the country. It is a really good balance of being big enough to matter and close enough to care and do what’s right for our community.
“We are supported by a professional clerking service and can call on advice and support from specialists throughout the year. As chairs, we can visit other schools with trustees and we meet the chair four times a year. We also have the opportunity to sit on the trust’s nominations committee, which means I have been involved in the appointment of new trustees.”
Learn more about our LGC groups below.
Graham Powell – Executive Chef
“Having worked at Byron Wood for two years, I was asked to support at Lower Meadow as well, becoming the catering manager for both schools. Then, the opportunity to take on the trust-wide executive chef role came up and it was the perfect next step for me.
“Now, I can champion our food beliefs across the whole trust and lead a service which is giving others the opportunity to develop as I have had the opportunity to do.”
Visit our school nutrition page to learn more about the work of our catering experts.
Working Smarter Together Seminar – 15th July
School and other trust colleagues are invited to join us on 15th July for a free regional seminar on aligning school support services.
Why Astrea
Our trust aims to build on community strengths to drive long-term social change. We empower principals to lead local engagement, fostering strong relationships with families and partners, and building confidence in our schools through clear communication and consistent approaches.
We also create opportunities for students to engage with and benefit from their communities, including civic projects and partnerships with local organisations. Schools are supported to use their facilities and expertise beyond the classroom, playing an active and visible role in community life.
The trust has a strong track record of school improvement, academic success and high standards, with all 26 schools now rated ‘Good’, some for the first time. Outcomes have risen significantly, including improved primary attainment, a 25% increase in Key Stage 2 results, and stronger GCSE performance, particularly in English and Maths.
This is supported by a holistic approach that strengthens attendance, behaviour, parental engagement and staff development, while prioritising disadvantaged pupils. Combined with strategic investment and a clear vision, this has created positive school environments where pupils and staff thrive, delivering sustained improvement and long-term impact.
Astrea’s leaders are recognised voices in the sector, contributing to national dialogue, sharing best practice and supporting wider system improvement. Through collaboration, events and partnerships, they bring credible, experience-led insights that help shape educational priorities.
Colleagues regularly feature in publications such as SchoolsWeek and TES, and contribute to national projects – such as Matt Carnaby’s work with sector leaders to help develop a new national curriculum for England.
The trust can support schools and other trusts in a wide variety of areas, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Governance
- Catering
- Curriculum
- Safeguarding
- Operations
- Finance
- Communication
- Estates
- HR
- Recruitment
- SEND
★ Trust of the Year 2026 ★
★ Most Improved Trust 2026 ★
The School and Trust Leadership Awards 2026
★ Transformation and Impact 2026 ★
MAT Excellent Awards 2026 (Shortlisted)
Get in touch
Contact us to find out more about how we can support your school or trust.
All enquiries with be handled with strict confidentiality and we’ll respond as soon as we can.
Alternatively, you can call the trust on 01144 783 830 or email our Director of Corporate Services Tomas Thurogood-Hyde at Tomas.Thurogood-Hyde@astreaacademytrust.org.