The Archdiocese of Liverpool has launched its new academisation strategy for schools across the archdiocese – including the launch of a new Catholic Multi Academy Trust (CMAT).

Over two days, the Archbishop of Liverpool, Archbishop John Sherrington, together with members of the archdiocesan education department, invited all headteachers and chairs of governors from across the archdiocese to an event to discuss the Archbishop’s Vision for Catholic Education.

Under the strapline: “A Family in Christ: Our Future Together” the vision sets out plans to develop families of schools that work collaboratively to secure and enhance future Catholic education in the archdiocese.

The vision outlines that all Catholic schools in the archdiocese will be invited to join three Catholic Multi Academy Trusts (CMATs) joining either the two existing CMATs of St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust and Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust or a new CMAT which will be established- Our Lady of Lourdes North West Catholic Academy Trust.

Schools belonging to a religious order will make their own decision about joining a CMAT.

The education model will reflect the emerging structures of parish life, after families of parishes were introduced across the archdiocese and are now flourishing.

Archbishop of Liverpool, Archbishop John Sherrington, said: “Our Catholic schools are vital to the educational mission of the Church. They bring the Gospel alive to young people, staff and parents with Catholic Social Teaching at the heart.

“The proposal to build the academy framework is a means of protecting our schools for the future to ensure that we can continue to offer excellent Catholic education to the future generations. I believe we are better together, working together to serve the mission, having greater support for staff and keeping control of our educational system for the future generations of Catholic children and others.

“Together, we are a constellation of stars offering hope in our Archdiocese.”

Joan McCarthy, director of education at the Archdiocese of Liverpool, added: ““This strategy has been developed to help our schools support one another and flourish together, ensuring that every child across the archdiocese has access to a high-quality Catholic education.

“It ensures all our schools can benefit from excellent resources and outstanding learning opportunities for both pupils and staff, while building on the archdiocese’s long-established tradition of educational excellence.

“Our approach is firmly rooted in preserving the local identity of schools within their Catholic communities. A hub-based leadership model will allow us to achieve this balance.

“We are also committed to maintaining our excellent relationships with key stakeholders and partners, particularly local authorities. At the heart of this process is working in collaboration with others.

“This is a significant and ambitious project for the archdiocese, and we are extremely grateful to our trustees for their ongoing support.”

The strategy is inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s words in his drawing new maps of hope Apostolic Letter.

“In every renewal of educational structures, the Church is called not to preserve buildings but to animate hearts; not to defend systems but to open paths where communion, formation, and mission meet. The school, in all its forms, must remain a living sign of the Church’s maternal wisdom- able to reform itself so that the Gospel may reach every generation.”

The Archbishop’s vision also aligns with the government’s Every Child Achieving and Thriving white paper launched in February, reaffirming the shared commitment to high quality education for all children.