Keep close to the work

DEMAT believe our staff are key to providing our pupils with the very best education possible.


Staff should be enabled to teach without distraction. And leaders, at all levels, should develop their understanding of what is happening in the classroom.


This will help them to empathise and understand the challenges staff face and to develop strategies to assist them.

We know strong leadership is about valuing the incredible work our staff do and to support them every step of the way.


Why is this important?

It is critical leaders understand excellent educational practice, and the complexities of delivering it, to effectively support staff.


As a result, staff who feel valued and understand they contribute to the wider mission are more likely to stay.


DEMAT wants our staff to know they can develop their careers while receiving support from the leadership team.


We understand building staff capacity is important in maintaining our high education standards.


While we recognise teacher recruitment is challenging, we remain confident we can attract and retain high quality staff.


We will identify strategies to ensure staff direct their attention to have the greatest value in achieving our vision.


How shall we achieve this?

2.1 Subject expertise

2.2 Recruit, develop, retain

2.3 Employee engagement

2.4 Expert governance


  • 2.1 Subject Expertise

    Our Director of Education will establish subject communities which will be the driving force to improve the quality of teaching and learning. This will be done through identifying expertise within the Trust and developing subject-specialist curricula, resources and professional learning. As a result, this will enable the greatest impact across all of our schools.


    We shall develop this workforce ensuring that they are always exposed to high quality professional development. As the Trust grows, our subject communities will evolve within tighter geographical areas.


    Subject communities will provide a source of expertise and best practice for all staff to access. They will also provide career progression for teachers who wish to remain in the classroom but develop enhanced pedagogical skills.

  • 2.2 Recruit, develop, retrain

    We shall aim to develop strategic partnerships with Higher Educational establishments and ITT providers who share our vision and values. They must understand the needs of our diverse group of schools to support the recruitment of high quality teachers.


    We shall work collaboratively with partners including subject associations, local subject hubs and other schools to ensure our children are supported by experts. To this end, the Trust will aim to support those staff seeking to obtain further qualifications such as apprenticeships or doctorates. Supporting the very highest standards of education for our children and  staff is at the heart of our educational philosophy.

  • 2.3 Employee Engagement

    We pride ourselves on our staff retention rates and will continue to be a good employer.


    We will never take our workforce for granted and shall seek to ensure that our practice puts children at the heart of all we do. Maintaining a work/ home balance is key to ensure staff can have a successful professional career and happy healthy family life.


    To achieve this, we shall review our policies and practices to ensure our children obtain the best service from us first. And also to question the demands made upon our staff when policies are introduced or updated.


    We shall ensure all staff have access to career long, high-quality professional development. We will support those who wish to stay within their current role and those who wish to progress.

  • 2.4 Expert Governance

    Professional development of all aspects of our governance functions, LGBs and Board (executive and non-executive), will be a priority.


    We shall ensure all responsible bodies have the training, data and assistance to support them in their various functions. An important aspect of this will be active engagement with our schools by Trustees and governors alongside the monitoring of key metrics.


    Promoting the recognition of the role of governance at all levels and making sure that the nonexecutive and executive governance of a modern and forward looking multi-academy trust will remain at the heart of the leadership and management of our Trust.