The Ted Wragg Trust has been shortlisted for a Tes Award in the category of ‘Trust Team of the Year (10 schools or more)'.

The Tes Awards, which have been dubbed the ‘Oscars of Education’, are an annual celebration showcasing the achievements of staff and schools. Since 2009, the awards have highlighted the outstanding efforts and achievements of schools and brought the sector together to celebrate excellence in an inclusive national event. The winners will be announced on the 20th of June at a ceremony in London.

The Trust has been shortlisted for the ‘Trust Team of the Year (10 schools or more)’ award in recognition of their success in improving student outcomes, making a positive impact on their local communities, and leading with innovation and civic duty at the heart of everything they do.

Their vision is that each child’s educational experience should be tailored to their individual needs, with leaders empowered to make decisions based on their local context. The Trust firmly believes in supporting schools in a way that reflects the unique challenges and opportunities within different regions, whether in Exeter, Plymouth, or Mid Devon. This approach allows them to nurture safe, connected, and successful learning environments for all students.

The Trust’s focus on student engagement—making school a place students want to be—has helped shift school culture from a focus on attendance to concentrating on emotional and academic success, helping to close the disadvantage gap and ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed.

The Ted Wragg Trust is committed to making a positive impact on the communities it serves, using a place-based approach and creating community hubs around schools, offering support from early years to career. Its school improvement strategy centres on developing a sense of belonging for each child and prioritising joy in education.

The Ted Wragg Trust has had a significant and positive impact on the schools it oversees. Since joining the Trust, all schools have been rated Good or better by Ofsted, with several primary schools specifically commended for their strong Disadvantaged Student (DS) results. Secondary schools within the Trust collectively outperform the national average for 5+ GCSEs in English and Maths.

The recently released Multi-Academy Trust level performance measures for Year 6 pupils show remarkable progress, with 74% of Year 6 pupils having reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths – a significant 13% higher than the national average and placing the Trust’s primary schools among the top 11% of all schools nationally.

Thanks to Fusion Services, set up by the Trust in 2021 to manage trading activities such as cleaning and lettings, the Trust has reinvested almost half a million pounds a year back into front line support in schools, helping to make the best use of facilities and create more opportunities to engage with the wider community.

Additionally, the Trust is dedicated to creating a supportive environment for its employees. The aim is to make the Trust the greatest place to work in the South West, focusing on high-quality development, employee satisfaction, and creating a positive, collaborative work culture.

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“I’m delighted that the Ted Wragg Trust has been shortlisted for this prestigious award which is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of everyone in our school community. I’m so proud of all our staff, students and families for making this possible. Our vision is that all children should be able to walk to their local school and receive an excellent education centred around ambition, inclusivity, and community strength.

“At the core of our approach is the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, no matter their background or circumstances. We are dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities through excellent education and are excited to continue this hard work to support every student to thrive.”

Jon Severs, Editor of Tes Magazine, said:

“We’ve seen some incredible entries nominated in this year’s awards. The Tes Schools Awards are a highlight of the year, and it’s important that we properly recognise the fantastic work that's been done in education across the academic year.”