Yorkshire Learning Trust: Strategic Plan Summary (2025–2030) 

Yorkshire Learning Trust (YLT) was formed in 2025 through the merger of STAR and South York Multi-Academy Trusts. We exist to connect communities and shape futures - ensuring that every learner and every colleague knows they truly matter. 

Our vision is to deliver sustainable, inclusive excellence—where young people thrive in every aspect of life and staff are empowered to grow. Driven by our values of Aspiration, Inclusion, Collaboration and Integrity, we are building a Trust that stands for equity, ambition and care. 

Strategic Aims (2025–2030) 

• Unify and Ignite – Align our systems, culture and governance to enable excellence in every school, scaling safeguarding, clarifying roles, and streamlining systems while preserving local identity. 

• Strengthen Educational Excellence – Achieve outstanding outcomes through great teaching, a rich curriculum, adaptive practice, and high expectations supported by shared assessment and quality assurance approaches. 

• Develop a Thriving People Strategy – Become the employer of choice by investing in professional growth and staff wellbeing. 

• Embed a Culture of Belonging and Inclusion – Create schools where everyone feels safe, valued and able to succeed. 

Year 1 Focus: Doing the Basics Brilliantly 

In 2025–26, we will build a strong foundation of clarity, connection and consistency across all our schools. This includes key operational priorities and the early building blocks of our long-term ambition to become a high-performing, values-led Trust. 

Key priorities for Year 1 include: 

• Aligning safeguarding, HR, finance and appraisal policies 

• Launching internal communications platforms 

• Running staff, student and parent surveys to establish wellbeing and inclusion baselines 

• Convening the YLT Leadership Forum and strategy working groups 

• Delivering induction and CPD on Trust values, leadership and belonging 

• Publishing a common assessment calendar across all phases 

• Building KPI dashboards for Board monitoring and accountability 

• Delivering financial and procurement strategy, and commissioning external governance review 

• Embedding a shared culture, identity and purpose across our Trust 

While Year 1 is about doing the basics brilliantly, our eyes remain fixed on educational excellence.  

Our approach is intentionally ambitious. We are committed to ensuring that our schools deliver exceptional progress and attainment for all learners—with the majority of schools aiming to be in the top 20% nationally, and no child left behind. Through high-quality teaching, inclusive practice and strong leadership, we will raise aspirations and close gaps—making Yorkshire Learning Trust a place where futures are transformed. This includes a commitment to curriculum breadth, student wellbeing, and inclusive practice as core elements of educational excellence.