The GORSE Academies Trust

GORSE has a well-known reputation for changing the deal for children and young adults who come from some of the most impoverished parts of the country. Our central mission is to ensure that we play a significant role in removing the stubborn link between poverty and academic underperformance. Consequently, our students and our professionals are in the vanguard of the national drive which seeks to prove that where teaching is excellent, leadership inspiring and behaviour standards exemplary all children excel regardless of background.

ALL CHILDREN EXCEL REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND

Because of the trust’s reputation, we are also seeing the development of a new approach to academisation which is bringing already strong and successful schools forward to convert as new partners within GORSE. Those schools recognise the enormous advantage that comes from belonging to a network of excellence in both leadership and teaching, and we as a trust recognise that there is much to be gained when great organisations are brought together.

WE AS A TRUST RECOGNISE THAT THERE IS MUCH TO BE GAINED WHEN GREAT ORGANISATIONS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER

Our final aim is to challenge the underperformance of other schools and academies through the excellence of our own work. In particular, we have sought to do this through taking advantage of the free schools programme and our trust will continue to look to develop new schools and to sponsor already existing schools in areas of significant educational underperformance. We believe that all great organisations have a role to play in agitating the system.

OUR SCHOOLS ARE HAPPY PLACES WHERE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING HARD AND RECOGNISING THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS.

Our trust is also proud of its generosity in sharing ideas and approaches to the development of teaching and leadership with partners regionally and nationally. We are also humble, and take great enjoyment in learning from others including the very best practitioners nationally and internationally but also those struggling most in their work. This is because we believe that all schools contain areas of brilliance and it is for us as professionals to seek them out, understand their success and ensure that their magic is disseminated.

GORSE, of which GORSE SCITT is a central part, was awarded Teaching School Hub status in 2021. This saw the opening of Leeds Teaching School Hub in September of that year. We were delighted to learn in February 2024 that we have been designated to function as Leeds Teaching School Hub for a further 4 years. That renewed status now means that, as a trust, we have a great responsibility placed upon us to ensure that professionals at every stage in their career have the opportunity to enjoy expert support and training. The most important single quality that we hope to nurture in all professionals is a passion and love for education and a determination to inspire and support young people, regardless of background.

You can find out more about us, our values and people at www.tgat.org.uk.

Sir John Townsley - Chief Executive Officer.

Leanne Griffiths - Deputy Chief Executive Officer.