FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is a multi-academy trust (MAT)?
A multi-academy trust (MAT) is a charitable company established to be responsible for several academies. Each academy remains a separate school with its own local governing body, but governors are responsible to a Board of Trustees established for the Trust as a whole.
Trustees are accountable to the Secretary of State for Education for the educational and financial performance of all the Trust’s schools and maintain a central team of staff to ensure that schools improve and meet the government’s expectations.
What are the benefits of becoming part of a multi-academy trust?
There are lots of views and opinions about multi-academy trusts. Supporters say that multi-academy trusts allow schools some additional freedoms, for example, helping stronger collaborations to form between groups of like-minded schools, as well as providing enhanced access to professional development opportunities. This family approach helps each school to get stronger.
What will this mean for my child’s education?
Being part of a multi-academy trust will provide greater opportunities for school staff to work together to share and develop best practices so that we can continue to improve teaching and learning in all schools - but you and your child are unlikely to see any visible difference day-to-day.
Schools will still have the same name, the same uniform, the same admissions arrangements, the same leaders and staff – and, most importantly, the same pupils.
Who will appoint local governing bodies?
Local governing bodies will continue to reflect the character of the school. They will include elected parents and the Headteacher. Other governors will be appointed by the Trustees in partnership with each local governing body. They will continue to involve members of the local community as much as possible, whilst ensuring an appropriate range of skills.
When would this happen?
If this were to proceed, then it is likely to take most/all of the academic year to complete all the paperwork. We would still work with the Trust throughout all of this, but it is not a quick process.
Will admissions arrangements change?
In short, no.
What will all this cost – and how is it paid for?
There will be some costs to support the school through this proposed change, but there is potentially a grant from the Government to help cover those costs. For example, if we go ahead, we will need to appoint lawyers to deal with changing the agreements with the Secretary of State and the land and contract transfers.
Is Infinity a good home for our school?
We think so! All Infinity Academies Trust schools have strong improvement outcomes.
They are in very good financial health and they have a team of people who can help us with all the things we need to improve our school even further.
Doesn’t this mean a major change to the way our school is run?
No! The Trust is committed to working with its schools and supporting them to improve. Staff will continue in the post on transfer and all pupils will remain on roll.
Term dates, school times, uniforms and admissions arrangements will not change. We recognise that information widely available on the internet and social media identifies a different approach in some other cases when schools have become academies.
Will joining a MAT make our school less accountable to our community?
This is something that we have considered in depth. Different Trusts operate in different ways, and we have been careful to ensure that we are working with a Trust that has:
A group of members and trustees who know our community well.
A Trust who has schools in our immediate area.
A commitment to retaining our governing body, and delegating appropriate levels of responsibility to them.
Full support of PTAs and ensures that funds for each individual PTA remain with their schools.
Will any staff leave if we are joining a Trust?
We hope not. A major drive is to provide better CPD (continuing professional development) and enhanced career opportunities for all of our staff. Moving into a MAT will also not mean any change to the staff’s terms and conditions. Staff would officially be employed by a multi-academy trust, but their existing employment rights would move across under the TUPE rules and thus be protected.
Additional FAQs
Here are answers to questions that have come up during the Listening Period.
I would like to know how the Trust structures each school - do they keep independent Heads rather than centralise this role?
Recognising and celebrating the individual identities of each school is very important to Infinity.
The Trust also recognises the pivotal role that school Headteachers play in leading schools at a local level. Over the last 13 years, (since the establishment of the Trust) this role hasn’t been centralised, and there are no plans to centralise it in the future.
What do parents at other village schools, like ours, say about their schools and being part of the Trust?
If you want to understand what parents think of their schools and the Trust, we recommend taking a look at information like their Ofsted and SIAMS reports.
For example, Gipsey Bridge Academy is a small village primary school that was one of Infinity’s founding schools in 2013. In their latest Ofsted inspection in 2024, it was quoted that: “Parents and carers are overwhelmingly positive about the school. They value what the school offers and the wider community events. This includes recently hosting a D-Day Anniversary remembrance service and tree planting by a veteran. A parent, typical of many, commented, ‘Gipsey Bridge is a wonderful little school.’”
As part of Pinchbeck East CE Primary Academy’s SIAMS inspection in 2025, it was reported that: “Parents describe the school as ‘life-changing’ and understand the very real difference that it has made to their child’s life… Pinchbeck continues to grow its distinctiveness within the trust but benefit from the collaboration and security it provides.” Pinchbeck East joined the Trust in 2021.
Are you going to be holding an in person meeting to discuss this and give stakeholders a chance to better understand both positives and negatives, as well as the opportunity to ask questions of the Trust and the School Representatives?
Our plan is that there will be a meeting for our stakeholders with Infinity, given that the process of conversion can take a significant number of months we are currently considering when it is best for this to happen.
Do parents actually have any influence over whether this happens, or is this listening period a legal tick box and it will all go ahead anyway?
The listening period forms part of the due diligence process and feedback is considered at length by the governors, Infinity Trustees and is also shared with the Department for Education.
Since conversion is irreversible, some Trusts offer a 'try before you buy' period before full commitment. Is this an option?
Governors feel that while schemes like ‘try before you buy’ may allow a school to experience some aspects of being part of a Trust, there are limitations to this because of things like contracts and legalities.
However, our school has been getting to know Infinity Academies Trust for a while now, and we have been finding out more about what being part of their family might look like. For example, attending training and accessing advice, as well as speaking with other schools within the Trust about their experiences.
From everything we have seen from Infinity Academies Trust, and all our other due diligence, we are confident that we will benefit from being part of their family of schools.
How much external research has been done into the results and practices of Infinity Trust beyond what they themselves have produced as well as extensive research into the performances of the schools both prior to and after takeover as well as academies in general?
Governors have carried out extensive research into the performance of schools within Infinity.
How is the trust almost £1,000,000 in debt despite £3,000,000 in profits last year?
Multi-academy trusts are unable to make profit as they are, at their core, a charity limited by guarantee. The figures you refer to are not profit, it is the amount that has been put into reserves, which is a legal requirement to best ensure stability and allow the opportunity for the Trust to invest in the schools and infrastructure in a pragmatic and structured way.
Has the proper due diligence been done and the effect it will have on the school’scharacter, reputation and history?
One of the reasons why governors believe that Infinity is an appropriate Trust for us to join is their commitment to respecting and celebrating the unique identity of each school.
Many trusts will favour schools over others and the financials are not in line with Christian values. Have you considered that this could put the school at higher risk of closure? Have you considered promoting Scampton C of E to bring pupils to the school rather than joining a trust
The reason for looking at academisation is more than just about pupil numbers, schools like ours are being asked to do more with less and that is why we are looking at ways of better collaborating with other schools and services.
As a Diocesan Trust, one of Infinity’s core aims is to support schools like ours to flourish.
Will joining Infinity Academies Trust change the family feel at the school?
No, respecting the ethos and identity of each school is very important to the Trust and is something that is celebrated across the family of schools.
Will pupils still be the main priority if the school was to join Infinity Academies Trust?
Absolutely. Infinity Academies Trust are dedicated to ensuring that children are at the centre of all that they do. They strive to add value to their schools to enable them to be even better places for children and young people to learn and grow.
Are there plans to merge our school with Pollyplatt Primary Academy?
There are no plans to merge with Pollyplatt Primary Academy and it is in no one’s interest to take on a school to then close it. For example, irrespective of whether our school is an LA maintained school or an academy, the building still belongs to the Diocese so there would also be no financial benefit for anyone involved.
Is Infinity Academies Trust a stable trust?
Infinity Academies Trust was established in 2013 and has a strong track record of ensuring stability in terms of Trust and school leadership, financial management, organisational support and most importantly the learning that children experience in their classrooms.
Will the Trust split staff and resources between multiple schools, therefore reducing the access pupils have to SEN resources?
At the point of conversion, all staff would TUPE over on their current terms and conditions. This means that a staff member could only work across multiple schools if they wanted to do that for their own career development. As a principle, however, Infinity do all that they can to ensure that staff remain in their schools.
What will you do to ensure pupils with EHCPs are not negatively affected by this change?
Inclusion is at the heart of Infinity Academies Trust and, irrespective of whether a school is an academy or an LA maintained school, it is a legal requirement to deliver what is outlined in an EHCP.
Furthermore, all of our experience of the Trust so far strongly indicates that our children with additional needs are likely to benefit from additional best practice and support.
Will the school still have the opportunity to fund raise for our own children? It wouldbe good if we can still have events to provide for our community.
Of course. The Trust values the role that PTAs play in supporting its schools. Funds raised by individual school PTAs will remain with their schools and popular annual events that bring the school community together are also encouraged.
