Changes in MAT

[DevonshireDumpling1]

Hi all,

I’m currently a HoD in a school that I have worked at since my NQT year in 2013.

The school joined a MAT in 2018. In September 2024, a new CEO started in position following the departure of the previous role holder.

The MAT consists of 6 secondary schools and 4 primaries all within 30 mile radius.

The CEO has made proposals to make some changes which include the following:

• Re-shuffle of Headteachers to take effect from September 2025. Wants to freshen up schools.
• Re-structure SLTs across all schools just to have 2 x DHT and 2 x AHT. Some schools have 5 x AHTs so this will likely mean redundancies.
• Change the HoD role - instead of 1 x HoD for every department across each school, replace with a Head of Curriculum for each subject to cover all schools and then a newly created role as Curriculum Support Leader that will replace the HoD role essentially.. HoD’s would need to re-apply for these roles.

Seems like a lot of change considering they haven’t been in post long - thoughts?

This wouldn't be dmat per chance?

If so I think there's been enough change to date and some consolidation is required.

Consultations have already begun for HTs.

There will be no real change for Deputies, as schools all have 2 anyway.

There are 23 AHTs across the 6 x secondary schools and there will only be 12 x AHT roles going forward. There is speculation that 11 AHTs who are not appointed into the AHT role will be appointed into the Head of Curriculum roles instead - a larger role with wider responsibilities it appears to be.

HoD roles that are becoming Curriculum Support Leaders will have less autonomy than they do currently.

I’d have liked the opportunity to step up as have been a HoD for 7 years now but feel I’d need to leave the trust to achieve this..

I’m in a MAT myself - and partially what is proposed to be happening in yours, happened in mine this year.

I am a HT and was moved to a school in special measures /inadequate from a school I’d been at since 2003 and had planned to retire from.
They only moved me and one other HT and promoted a deputy to fill a HT vacancy.

I went through consultations and got the package/agreement suitable for me - also confirming that I’d only be in role for 2 years then retire.

In regard to the SLT structure changes - I can see why they’re doing it - it doesn’t seem like there will be any redundancies just changes in the roles.

Have they mentioned what the AHT and DHT responsibilities are - as you’d have 4 altogether plus a HT. It still seems a lot when you think that ‘curriculum’ will be covered by the new Heads of Curriculum- could they have gone one step further and completely replaced the AHT role with HoC?

I can see why AHTs would choose if they’d prefer a Head of Curriculum or a AHT role BUT why do HoDs need to apply for the Curriculum Support Leader roles? Seems like a pointless exercise unless there is a genuine vacancy.

more academy nonsense….