In England, there are currently more than 1,200 multi-academy trusts, running more than 10,000 academies - with some trusts controlling over 40 schools.

There are many reasons why growing your MAT could be a good idea - improved student outcomes, cost effectiveness and increased development opportunities to name a few.

But what is the one key to growing a MAT successfully?

With years of experience under the belt, our team here at Novatia can point to one significant factor - a successful data strategy.

From collating information into one centralised hub to the varying quality of data from individual schools, data management can seem daunting for MAT leaders. But there are many ways you can make the process easier.

Read on to discover all the data dos and don’ts of growing a MAT.

Don’t: proceed with a data strategy without a data-driven vision

The worst mistake you can make when expanding your MAT is blindly jumping into a data strategy without forming a vision of what you’d like to achieve first.

MATs need to set out a clear vision for not only how they’d like their data to be managed, but also how they want this data to be used to enhance performance across their schools. 

Questions you’ll need to ask include: 

  • Why do we care about data?
  • Which sets of data do we need access to?
  • How can we use this data to facilitate school improvement?
  • In what format do we wish to view this data?
  • What steps can we take to ensure our data management complies with GDPR and security policies?
  • How can we use this data to help grow our trust?
  • Can we use this data to future-proof our schools?

These factors will then be used to formulate a shared vision statement - e.g., ‘Our data vision is to use data responsibly to maximise academic achievement and encourage school success across our academies’.

Setting comprehensive goals and objectives can help MAT leaders determine their data strategy. They’ll be able to understand the specific data they will need to meet their targets, as well as the systems necessary to accommodate these requirements.

Do: conduct a data audit 

Growing your MAT will be difficult without taking a closer look at data use throughout your schools. Before actually carrying out any new data management initiatives to scale your MAT, you’ll need to conduct a comprehensive data audit to assess the current state of data practices across institutions. 

A data audit involves reviewing data sources for quality, accuracy and compliance with data protection regulations. By conducting a thorough audit, you’ll be able to identify areas of improvement, gaps in data collection and data inconsistencies that can hinder the growth of your MAT. Based on the audit findings, MATs can then develop a data management strategy that outlines goals, priorities and action plans to enhance data practices. This strategy should define roles and responsibilities, set clear objectives for data management improvements and establish monitoring mechanisms to track progress and measure success. 

A well-defined data audit and strategy can also be beneficial for trusts acquiring new schools, helping integrate their data systems into your centralised strategy and improving flow of information across the trust. Remember, as your MAT grows, the complexity of managing data across multiple schools increases significantly - which is why it’s important to stay on top of it. Consulting with ICT in education experts like Novatia will provide a knowledgeable pair of hands to assist you in achieving this. We’ve got plenty of experience working with MAT leaders who wish to scale their MAT, so we know exactly what you’ll need to assess when it comes to data.

Don’t: rely on multiple systems and databases

Expanding a MAT is not just about adding more schools; it’s about building a cohesive, high-performing network. And in many cases, multiple schools equates to multiple problems…

If a MAT has multiple systems and databases, it becomes difficult to integrate data from different sources. This can result in fragmented and inconsistent data, making analysis and interpretation more challenging. 

This problem also often scales as a MAT grows; a small problem with a small trust can develop into a big problem in a big trust. 

So what should MATs who wish to expand do instead?

Do: invest in a centralised data system

While it may seem obvious, a centralised data management system will save considerable time and help alleviate administrative pressure when it comes to growing your MAT.

In fact, one of the key advantages of MATs is the unique ability to centralise data systems across multiple schools. By implementing a unified data management system, MATs can streamline data collection, analysis and reporting processes. For example, integrating all schools into a single MIS can make it easier to track performance metrics across the MAT. Centralised systems ultimately serve as hubs that enable better collaboration between schools, standardise data practices and provide a holistic view of performance metrics across the trust. This unified approach to data will not only future-proof your trust as it grows but also ease scalability. 

Don’t: rely on outdated tech or inconsistent data

A common mistake you may encounter when expanding your MAT is relying on outdated tech or inconsistent data.

Whether it’s using spreadsheets on old software prone to human error or allowing schools to isolate themselves when it comes to their data practices, inaccurate data can end up causing big problems further down the road. 

It’s important to invest in modern data systems that automate updates and ensure consistency across schools - reliable cloud computing platforms that offer compatibility with your existing systems are a must-have when it comes to storing and accessing data safely.

Do: embrace automated technology

Growing a MAT successfully means making the most of modern tech to improve cohesion and efficiency in both the learning and administration process. 

AI in schools extends further than content generative software like ChatGPT - it’s used to track student performance, daily attendance and budgets. As automated technology continues to revolutionise the education sector, MATs must embrace emerging technologies - those who do not risk falling behind.

MATs can leverage technology to integrate data from various sources and automate data processes. By connecting disparate systems such as student information systems, assessment tools, and financial software, MATs can create a seamless flow of data - aiding the scalability process. 

Automation of routine tasks like data entry, reporting and analysis not only saves time but also reduces the risk of errors, ensuring data accuracy and consistency. Whether it’s integrating new schools into a MAT or syncing financial data, this is guaranteed to make administrative processes much more efficient.

With automated tech already being widely used across MATs to support and assist trusts in managing data from their financial management system, it’s important to consider the tech and tools that are fast becoming must-haves for multi-academy trusts. If you’re unsure where to start looking, a reliable ICT in education consultancy will put you on the right track.

Don't: neglect data analytics

Data analysis is crucial when it comes to growing your trust. On a micro level, using MIS allows educators to study individual student progression and monitor attainment or behaviour. On a wider scale, data insights are used to highlight overall school performance and can determine the position of a school or MAT in national league tables. 

This means that if you’d like to expand your MAT successfully, you’ll need to delve deep into the data. Supplying in-depth observations on academic performance, absence rates and budgeting details across schools, data analytics provide limitless opportunities to promote growth and maximise MAT success. With information such as economic deprivation levels, language barriers and special educational needs readily available, schools can help students who may need a little extra support.

By making the most of analytics tools and techniques, MATs can analyse trends, identify areas for improvement and measure the impact of interventions. Data-driven decision-making enables MAT leaders to allocate resources effectively, track performance outcomes and implement evidence-based strategies to support school improvement initiatives. 

At Novatia, we have a proven track record of delivering reliable solutions to help MATs scale successfully. With over 30 MAT partnerships, including supporting the growth journey of the likes of TKAT, OAT and ATT, we understand exactly what it takes to elevate your trust to the next level.

To discover more about what we can bring to your MAT, please get in touch with us today.
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