A Very Warm Welcome

Community First Academy Trust (CFAT) consists of like-minded individuals who focus relentlessly on their core purpose: to advance education for public benefit.

We believe in single governance structures that binds schools and collogues together in structured partnerships, with an obligation to work through challenges together rather than separate at times of difficulty.

Trust Values: Create Furnish Achieve Teamwork 'CFAT'

We believe that each school in a trust is unique; they serve distinct communities, and we believe they should retain their individual identities while striving to become part of a larger network of community schools.

We believe that each school in a trust is unique; as they serve distinct communities, and we believe they should retain their individual identities while striving to become part of a larger network of community schools. 

Our Charitable Trust is a diverse community school trust encompassing a Nursery, a Primary School, a Primary/Secondary phase Initial Teacher Education (ITE) facility, a reputable Institute of Learning with strong Research School links, an Apprenticeship Provider, and is a DfE sponsor. We also operate a successful facilities management company for our organisations, 'CFAT Facilities Ltd', together with an in-house catering service.

Our schools also benefit from in-hours wraparound and holiday childcare through our in-house wraparound company, 'CFAT Superheroes Limited'. Our mission is to ensure that every child in our community-led school trust develops as a confident and competent person with the highest aspirations to be the best they possibly can be.

We are passionate about ensuring that each school within our charitable trust retains its individuality while also contributing to and benefiting from the collective strength of a larger community school trust to achieve our aims.

In support of these aims, we recognise the value of our staff and are committed to the professional and personal development of our workforce, making a significant contribution to a self-improving school system within the communities we serve, led through our talent development program, including pathways into leadership, National Professional Qualifications (NPQs), and other Professional Qualifications.

Best wishes, 

Sue Darbyshire
Chief Executive Officer | National Leader of Education | Executive Headteacher | MA, NPQH, NLE | FCMI

 Tel: 01942 487999    Email: info@cfat.org.uk

Trust Prospectus

Our Prospectus and offer to improve education for young people across the North West of England is also available to download by clicking here

Website Compliance

Community First Academy Trust values the contribution that a website can make to the school. The purpose of our website is to:

  • Promote the trust and its schools and educational services.
  • Provide information to prospective parents, teachers and the wider community.
  • Act as the main communication channel between teachers, parents, pupils and school management.
  • Develop the level of pupil learning.
  • Continuously raise standards in teaching and learning.

The trust and its schools are required by law to publish certain information, such as the most recent Ofsted report, to comply with The School Information (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2018. This policy outlines the school’s terms of use regarding the creation, development and use of the school website.

To review our 2023-24 website compliance click here

Latest Calendar Events

Annual CFAT Governance Conference02Nov2024

This years annual Governance Conference will take place on Sat 2nd Nov 2024 for Trustees. Governors and Senior Leaders from across the Trust schools. We will have a wide-ranging programme of presentations from senior leaders and subject matter experts from across our Trust and I hope that you will find the event useful, interesting and stimulating.

Leadership Conference: Belonging21Nov2024

9:30 am - 3:30 pm @ Wrightington Hotel, Moss Lane, Wrightington, Wigan, WN6 9PB

Keynote: Chris Lubbe - Inspiring Hope & Courage Afternoon Speaker: Amjad Ali - SENDCO & Senior Leader at Aureus School

Calendars page(s): Calendar >>

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