At the end of the first term, we proudly hosted our fourth annual Matrix Academy Trust Day, bringing together more than 960 members of staff from across our family of schools. This was a particularly special milestone for Elmwood School, who joined us for their very first Trust Day. The event offered the perfect opportunity to reflect on another incredible year, celebrate achievements, and look ahead to the exciting projects to come.
The day opened with a powerful video featuring pupils from across the Trust performing "You Will Be Found" as part of our first-ever choir project. The performance set an inspiring tone for a day dedicated to community, connection, and celebration.
We were honoured to welcome Clare Balding, who delivered an engaging and heartfelt talk on building a stronger community. Clare also took time to sign copies of her latest book for staff, with all proceeds going to our newly announced 2026 charity partner, Papyrus—a charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide.
Another highlight was Mike Palmer from Three Dads Walking, who shared his moving story and reinforced the importance of working together to support mental health and wellbeing. His words left a lasting impact across the room.
As part of our reflections, we proudly revealed the final fundraising total for Birmingham Children's Hospital—an outstanding £47,000 raised through the dedication and generosity of staff and students across the Trust. Thank you to Will and Amanda from the hospital charity who joined us to celebrate this incredible achievement and thank everyone for their efforts.
Looking ahead, our new charity partnership with Papyrus marks the beginning of another year of important fundraising. We were also thrilled to announce our 2026 Charity Challenge: walking the length of Hadrian's Wall in four days. Staff across our schools are already signing up to take part in this ambitious event, showing the continued strength of our shared community spirit.
After a morning of inspiring speakers, the afternoon brought energy and creativity with Beat Goes On, who led an interactive music-making session that quite literally got everyone on their feet. Later, we showcased stunning collaborative art projects created by pupils from every school in the Trust—each piece representing what community means in their school. These artworks will now be proudly displayed in schools across the Trust as a symbol of unity and creativity.
The celebration continued with a special appearance from Mark Wingett, known for his role in The Bill, who helped present awards to staff. Mark has recently fronted our SMART Response project, and it was wonderful to have him join us to recognise outstanding contributions from our teams.
The generosity of our community shone through once again during our raffle, which raised over £6,000 thanks to the many individuals and organisations who donated prizes. A huge thanks to all suppliers who donated prizes (GM Coachworks, DataCat Network Solutions, Clifford Harris Ltd, RCK Building Ltd, Bank Restaurant Birmingham, Carmel Jane Photography, IMP Software, Dynamic Security, Medical Tracker, NCC Consultants, PHRP, Solutions for Accounting, West Midlands Electrical, Forward Products, New Hall Hotel & Spa and Attingham Travel). We also extend our gratitude to TNS Travel for providing breakfast items that helped everyone start the day with energy and enthusiasm.
As the day drew to a close, the event concluded perfectly with a performance from the Matrix Staff Band, featuring musicians from across our schools. Their performance brought everyone together one final time—an uplifting reminder of the shared creativity and camaraderie that defines our Trust.
Our fourth Matrix Academy Trust Day was not just a conference; it was a celebration of who we are—a connected, compassionate, and forward-looking community. We are immensely proud of our staff, inspired by our pupils, and excited for the year ahead as we continue to create opportunities, strengthen connections, and make a difference—together.
