The Benefits of joining The Odyssey Collaborative Trust include:

• Ethos and values. The most important element of becoming part of the Trust. The ethos of the Trust is about putting the children first, protecting the individuality of schools and improving all schools in the Trust. All Members & Trustees selected and appointed on this basis, and do so on a voluntary basis

• Local solutions. Working with people who know and understand the school and its community 

• Scheme of Delegation. This gives high level of autonomy to an individual school, meaning that it can protect its individuality and strengths

• Financial Decisions. The Trust aims to ensure that the maximum possible finances are available at ‘ground level’, so that it is spent on pupils, rather than unnecessary bureaucracy

• Governance. Maintaining a structure that allows identity and autonomy. Odyssey believes that for most decisions at an individual school level, it should be the senior leaders and governors who make the decisions, because they are in the best place to do so. Each school still has a Headteacher and a Governing Body

• Professional Development. There are many developing networks to support senior and middle leaders to have an increasing impact on developing their areas of school improvement. The Trust is well supported by its Education Improvement Partner, who offers a menu of support to all schools

• Strengthened leadership. Being a school leader can be quite isolated. Headteacher Group meets fortnightly, giving support through the collaboration in all aspects of school leadership

• Specialist support. Across our Trust schools, there is expertise in many areas, that can be accessed to support schools. These include LLE's, SLE's, pupil premium champions, phonics champions, EYFS specialists, LA moderators, SEND reviewers and staff trained in Attachment and Trauma

• Economies of scale. Savings are made on purchasing things as a Trust, rather than individually as a school. Examples include Payroll, HR, Finance, MIS, to name but a few

• Shared accountability. One organisation, one staff. Support with inspection and issues affecting individual schools is available from the Headteacher Group, Executives and Trustees

• Funding streams. The Trust is able to access funding streams, particularly for Capital projects

• Bespoke Trust. Forming a new Trust enabled Leaders to create something that is right for the schools and communities where it is based, rather than choosing an existing model.

For further information email enquiries@odysseyct.org.uk