We are incredibly proud of pupils from Overdale Junior School and Overdale Infant School, who have contributed to a deeply meaningful mural unveiled at Leicester Central Library.
The project, developed in partnership with Leicester Libraries and the University of Leicester, was created in memory of Ayana, whose love of reading, stories and imagination has inspired this special installation. Her passion for books and creativity sits at the heart of the mural, which now forms a lasting tribute within a space dedicated to learning and community.
Over the past year, 40 pupils from both schools have taken part in a series of creative workshops led by writer and poet John Berkavitch. Through discussion, drawing and writing, pupils explored their favourite stories, characters and imagined worlds, bringing their own ideas and voices into the project.
These contributions were then brought to life by internationally recognised mural artist Peachzz, resulting in a large-scale artwork that winds around the central staircase of the library. Designed as a painted bookshelf, the mural is filled with objects, characters and moments inspired by the children’s ideas, reflecting both individual creativity and shared imagination. At the top of the staircase sits a portrait of Ayana, surrounded by the stories she loved.
The unveiling event brought together pupils, families and partners, alongside authors, artists and representatives from across the city. It was a special moment to recognise not only the finished artwork, but the care, thought and creativity that had gone into its creation.
We are especially proud that individual pupils were recognised for their contributions. A piece created by Din (Overdale Juniors) was selected for the Benjamin Zephaniah People’s Poet Art Award, with judges recognising its powerful expression and connection to voice and identity. Evelyn (Overdale Infants) was also recognised for her innovative design, selected by Two Queens Leicester.
A selection of the children’s work is now displayed within Leicester Central Library, allowing the wider community to see and celebrate their contributions.
This project is a powerful example of what can happen when schools, communities and creative partners come together with a shared purpose. It has given pupils the opportunity to express themselves, to contribute to something lasting, and to be part of a piece of work that holds real meaning.
We are incredibly proud of all the children involved and the care, creativity and respect they brought to this very special project.
We are delighted to share that OAK Multi Academy Trust has been shortlisted for Small MAT of the Year at the MAT Excellence Awards 2026.
We are also proud that Chief Financial Officer Sarah Davis has been shortlisted for CFO of the Year, recognising her outstanding leadership in strengthening the trust’s financial strategy and long-term sustainability.
The MAT Excellence Awards celebrate excellence across the academy trust sector, recognising organisations and individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation and impact in education.
OAK has been shortlisted in recognition of its values-driven approach to school improvement and its clear strategic vision: “Together we grow great schools.”
Across its five schools, the trust has focused on strengthening teaching, inclusion, digital innovation and operational excellence while building a strong culture of collaboration and shared responsibility.
A key part of this work has been the development of the BespOAK Instructional Playbook, providing a shared professional framework for teaching and learning across the trust. This approach focuses on effective modelling, feedback, retrieval and practice, bringing greater consistency and clarity to classrooms.
OAK has also delivered a significant digital transformation through its Frontiers 1:1 iPad programme, ensuring digital equity for pupils while enhancing teaching, feedback and accessibility across primary schools.
Stakeholders have recognised the impact of the trust’s improvement journey. Former Vice Chair of Trustees Kam Karaji reflected on the progress made, writing:
“You have transformed this Trust… something I am proud to be a small part of.”
The awards also recognise the contribution of Sarah Davis, whose leadership has helped reshape the trust’s financial culture. Her work has strengthened transparency, sustainability and strategic financial planning across the organisation.
Under Sarah’s leadership, OAK has built robust financial systems, delivered two consecutive external audits with no management points and successfully delivered major capital projects supporting pupils and communities.
Her collaborative approach ensures that financial decisions remain aligned with the trust’s core purpose: improving outcomes and opportunities for learners.
The winners of the MAT Excellence Awards 2026 will be announced at the awards ceremony in June.
Find out more about the awards here:
https://matexcellence.co.uk/
Students from Manor High School, part of OAK Multi Academy Trust, recently returned from an unforgettable geography trip to Iceland, giving them the opportunity to experience first-hand the landscapes and natural forces they study in the classroom.
The five-day trip took pupils across some of Iceland’s most iconic and dramatic environments, often described as the “Land of Fire and Ice”. The itinerary included visits to volcanic landscapes, glaciers, waterfalls and geothermal sites around Reykjavik and the south-west of the country.
During the trip, students explored the Reykjanes Peninsula, where they were able to see the effects of tectonic movement between the North American and Eurasian plates. They also visited the famous Golden Circle, including the erupting Strokkur geyser and the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall.
Other highlights included hiking near the Sólheimajökull Glacier, visiting the black sand beaches near Vík, experiencing the unique Vík Lava Show, exploring a lava cave and learning about renewable energy at Iceland’s largest geothermal power station. The trip also included a visit to the world-famous Blue Lagoon.
In addition to the geography learning, the trip offered many students an opportunity to travel internationally for the first time. Among the group were 15 students with SEND, representing around 30% of participants, as well as five pupils eligible for pupil premium support.
For some students, the trip marked their first experience of travelling abroad, while others were building confidence through international travel after previous school trips.
Experiences like this are a powerful reminder of how educational visits can bring learning to life. Seeing landscapes shaped by volcanoes, glaciers and geothermal activity helped students deepen their understanding of geography in ways that simply cannot be replicated in the classroom.
The trip also provided opportunities for pupils to build independence, confidence and lasting memories while sharing the experience with friends and staff.
Manor High School continues to prioritise inclusive opportunities that allow as many pupils as possible to take part in enrichment experiences, ensuring that travel and cultural learning are accessible to all.
| After many years of dedicated service, we are saying a fond farewell to Paul, OAK Multi Academy Trust’s Estates Manager, as he prepares for retirement.
Paul’s journey with OAK began before the trust itself was formed. Prior to becoming Estates Manager, he was Site Manager at Manor High School, where he built his experience and worked as part of a strong, committed team. During that time, he played a key role in site improvements and carbon reduction work, laying foundations that would later support the trust’s wider estates development. When OAK Multi Academy Trust was established in 2018, Paul was involved in those early stages and stepped into the role of Estates Manager, supporting the trust as it began to grow and evolve. From that point on, he became a familiar and reassuring presence across all five schools, supporting projects large and small and helping to shape learning environments that children and staff use every day. One of the things Paul has spoken about most fondly is the time spent travelling between schools. “Cycling around our schools on fine sunny days was not like work at all.” Over the years, Paul has been closely involved in a number of complex, high-value projects across the OAK estate. These include major developments such as the sports hall at Manor High School and the Badger Building at Overdale, both of which have had a lasting impact on school communities and will continue to benefit pupils for years to come. While the projects themselves are significant, Paul has always been clear that it is the people he has worked with that matter most to him. He has consistently spoken with appreciation about colleagues across the trust and the understanding shown during essential but often disruptive works. “All of our staff are friendly and understanding, especially when it comes to intrusive construction projects like new heating installations, re-wiring, new roofs and windows. The list goes on, and I thank you all for your patience.” Reflecting on his time with OAK, Paul has seen the Central Team grow in knowledge, experience and capacity, strengthening the support offered to schools and enabling the trust to respond more effectively to changing needs. He leaves with a strong sense of pride in the journey he has been part of and confidence in the trust’s future. As he prepares to step into retirement, Paul’s message to colleagues and communities across OAK is simple, warm and characteristically understated. “Thank you, and of course I will miss you all. On rare occasions I can be found at the Navigation Inn at Kilby Bridge – please pop in for a sherbet.” Paul’s knowledge, commitment and good humour will be greatly missed across OAK Multi Academy Trust. We thank him sincerely for everything he has given over the years and wish him a long, happy and well-earned retirement. |
At OAK Multi Academy Trust, we believe that supporting the people who work in our schools is fundamental to providing the best possible education for children.
In the short film below, staff and leaders share how OAK’s approach to professional development, coaching and wellbeing supports them in their roles and helps them grow with confidence.
“People First at Oak Multi Academy Trust”
Investing in professional development
Across OAK, staff development is prioritised through structured coaching and ongoing professional learning. This approach supports teachers to reflect on their practice, build effective habits and continually improve in a supportive environment.
Strong professional development leads to stronger outcomes for children.
Creating a supportive working culture
Staff wellbeing is an important part of everyday life across Oak schools. Dedicated wellbeing support, thoughtful use of space and a culture of openness help staff feel supported, motivated and equipped to do their best work.
Growing together as a trust
As a family of schools, OAK Multi Academy Trust works collaboratively to support staff and leaders at every stage of their career. Schools joining Oak become part of an organisation that values people, learning and shared responsibility.
At OAK, putting people first helps everyone thrive — staff, leaders and, most importantly, the children in our care.
At OAK Multi Academy Trust, inclusion is not something that sits separately from everyday school life. It is part of who we are and how our schools support children and families.
In the short film below, parents and staff share what inclusive practice looks like in action across our schools — from specialist support within mainstream settings to the sense of belonging that comes from being part of a caring school community.
“Inclusion in Action at Oak Multi Academy Trust”]
Supporting individual needs within a mainstream community
Across OAK, specialist provision is embedded within mainstream schools. This allows children with additional or complex needs to receive tailored support while still accessing the wider school experience, building friendships and feeling part of everyday school life.
Every child is different, and our approach reflects that understanding.
Working closely with families
Strong relationships with families sit at the heart of inclusive practice. By listening, understanding and working together, our schools aim to create environments where children feel supported and parents feel confident in the care and education their child receives.
Parents in our film speak about the difference this has made — not just for their children, but for their whole family.
A genuine sense of belonging
Inclusion is about more than support structures. It is about belonging, community and feeling valued.
Across OAK Multi Academy Trust, our schools work hard to ensure every child is welcomed, understood and able to thrive as part of a wider school community.
At OAK Multi Academy Trust, we believe education should prepare young people not only for exams, but for life beyond school. In the short film below, staff and pupils share what this looks like in practice across our schools — from academic learning and leadership opportunities to confidence, aspiration and wider experiences.
“More Than Results: Preparing Young People for Life at Oak”
At OAK, our vision for young people is simple.
We want them to leave our schools with the best qualifications they can achieve, opening doors to future opportunities. Just as importantly, we want them to leave as confident, capable and kind individuals.
Across our family of schools, education is about more than exam results alone. It is about supporting young people to grow, develop and thrive — both in and beyond the classroom.
Learning that builds confidence and character
Our schools provide a wide range of opportunities for pupils to develop leadership skills, work with others and step outside their comfort zones. Through enrichment and extracurricular activities, young people are encouraged to discover their strengths, build confidence and develop as well-rounded individuals.
These experiences play a vital role in helping pupils grow as people, not just learners.
Supporting learning through technology
Technology plays an important role across OAK schools, but always as a tool to enhance great teaching, not replace it. Digital learning supports pupils to articulate their thinking more clearly, explore ideas in different ways and approach learning with confidence.
By reducing fear of failure and giving pupils more opportunities to demonstrate what they know, technology helps create positive, supportive learning environments.
Broadening horizons and building aspiration
A strong education should widen horizons. Across OAK, we focus on building cultural capital by ensuring pupils experience new things, explore different opportunities and feel inspired about what the future could hold.
By combining academic learning with enrichment, leadership and wider experiences, we aim to prepare young people not just for their next step in education, but for life beyond school.
Working together for every child
As a trust, our schools work closely together to share expertise, support one another and create the best possible experiences for children and families. This collaborative approach allows us to provide consistency, care and opportunity at every stage of a child’s journey.
At OAK Multi Academy Trust, we are proud to offer an education that is truly more than results — one that prepares young people for the future with confidence, ambition and choice.
Supporting Strong Governance and Meaningful Change Across OAK
Since joining OAK Multi Academy Trust in January 2021, Danielle Benyon-Payne has played a key role in strengthening governance, compliance and sustainability across the trust. Starting during a national lockdown, Danielle’s first weeks in post were unusual, but they marked the beginning of a role that has grown significantly in scope and impact.
Before joining OAK, Danielle spent 12 years at the University of Leicester, working within the Medical School as an events coordinator. During this time, she worked closely with staff, leaders and stakeholders to embed new ways of working and deliver successful events, developing strong experience in organisation, research and strategic thinking.
Alongside governance, Danielle’s role also includes arranging trust-wide events and competitions, allowing her to continue her interest in engagement and communication. A year ago, she also took on the role of Trust Sustainability Lead, working alongside colleagues to drive forward environmental priorities across the trust. With previous experience leading green impact awards, she is particularly passionate about the impact of well-planned, strategic change.
“This combination of strategic leadership and meaningful environmental purpose is exactly the type of work I’m passionate about.”
A Broad and Influential Role
Governance at trust level is wide-ranging, and Danielle’s role spans compliance, advice and strategic support. She works closely with trustees and local governing bodies to ensure statutory responsibilities are met, governance structures are effective, and communication between governance tiers is clear and consistent.
Her work includes governor training and development, policy guidance, GDPR and data protection, complaints and FOI processes, website compliance, and the coordination of trust board and local governing body activity. Within sustainability, she supports the development of Climate Action Plans for each school and ensures governors have the information and frameworks they need to provide effective oversight.
At the heart of this work is enabling governors and trustees to challenge and support effectively, always with pupils at the centre.
Why Governance Matters
Danielle is clear about the importance of governance in education.
“Good governance is fundamental to school improvement.”
Strong governance provides strategic oversight, ensures resources are used effectively, and supports safeguarding and inclusion. It helps schools meet the needs of all pupils, particularly those who are disadvantaged, have SEND, or face barriers to learning and wellbeing.
She also highlights that governance in a multi-academy trust operates across distinct layers, with trustees providing strategic leadership and accountability at trust level, and local governors offering valuable local insight into individual schools. Partnership working between governance, trust leaders and school leaders is essential to ensuring consistency, accountability and improvement.
Looking Ahead
This year, Danielle’s priorities include strengthening governor training and induction, widening skill sets through recruitment, developing succession planning, improving accountability processes, and increasing engagement between governing bodies and parents and carers. Across both governance and sustainability, her focus remains on bringing people together around shared goals.
“It’s rewarding to bring people together around a shared vision and watch sustainability become something that drives pride, innovation and meaningful change across the trust.”
Ultimately, Danielle sees governance as a shared responsibility that underpins everything the trust does.
Effective governance, she says, is about pupils and the communities they serve, and about creating the conditions in which schools, leaders and young people can succeed.
As Chief Executive Officer of OAK Multi Academy Trust, Andy Wilson leads a family of schools united by a shared vision: Together we grow great schools. Since joining OAK in January 2022, Andy has worked closely with colleagues across the trust to strengthen collaboration, leadership and strategic development.
A Passion for Education and Helping Others
Andy’s commitment to improving lives began early. As a school pupil, he travelled to The Gambia to support community projects, helping to improve irrigation through a well. Two years later, at 18, he returned to co-lead the next group of pupils, supporting further initiatives including the building of classrooms to enhance education in the village. These experiences shaped his desire to contribute positively to communities.
At the age of 30, Andy decided to pursue his long-held ambition to teach. He retrained as a secondary mathematics teacher and went on to spend 20 years teaching mathematics from Year 5 to Further Mathematics at Year 13. He led mathematics departments and served as assistant principal, vice principal and then principal, before moving into an Executive Principal role overseeing five secondary schools during the Covid period.
When the opportunity to lead OAK arose at the end of 2021, Andy recognised the potential to build strong governance and strategic leadership across the trust’s schools.
Collaboration at the Heart of OAK
For Andy, the most enjoyable part of his role is visiting schools and working directly with colleagues and pupils. As he explains:
“It is very important for me to receive feedback from the schools, as I firmly believe that our greatest resource is our colleagues, alongside the perceptive student voice that we are fortunate to hear from our young people. Working with schools in this collaborative way allows us to build relationships, support one another, and work towards our shared vision of ‘together we grow great schools.’”
He highlights collaboration as a defining strength of OAK:
“This collaborative nature, where schools and leaders buy in and seek to support partner schools, makes us genuinely special.”
Andy also values the individual identities of each school, which he says are crucial to the trust’s collective voice and approach.
Driving Innovation and Inclusion
Andy’s priorities for the trust focus on a small number of strategic areas, including:
- Digital transformation, with the Frontiers iPad programme expanding to all OAK schools.
- Instructional coaching, ensuring Steplab is fully embedded and continually developing.
- SEND provision, including the opening of a new SEND unit at Overdale in January 2026.
- Investment in early years, particularly in outdoor spaces and facilities.
- Sustainability, to support future generations.
- Strengthening central team capacity, including finance, HR and people development.
He notes that the digital programme is a tool to enhance learning, not a strategy in itself, and emphasises the importance of high-quality teaching supported by thoughtful use of technology.
Looking to the Future
Andy’s leadership is rooted in the trust’s values of Opportunity, Achievement and Kindness and the guiding vision of growing great schools together. He approaches decision making by focusing on a small number of key improvement areas, conducting careful research and planning to minimise barriers.
He explains:
“My principles then focus on ensuring that we identify a small number of important improvement areas. We research carefully the opportunities and the potential obstacles and plan effectively to minimise barriers for improving and developing our schools and the opportunities and lives for colleagues and students within them.”
Looking ahead, Andy is proud of the direction the trust is taking:
“I am very proud of our colleagues, young people, communities, and a special mention goes to our incredible local governing bodies and trustees who have worked with us to ensure outstanding governance and a commitment to high-level, appropriate support and challenge. This strategic approach means we are at the beginning of an exciting next phase of our journey together as Oak.”
| We are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s OAK Multi Academy Trust Christmas Card Competition 2025. Pupils across our schools have once again embraced the festive spirit, producing an incredible range of creative, colourful and heartfelt designs.
The standard of entries was exceptionally high, and choosing our top three proved a real challenge. Each design showcased imagination, skill and a genuine sense of festive joy. Thank you to every pupil who took part. Your effort and creativity highlight the extraordinary talent we have across the trust. And the winners are …Runner up: Anastasia, Woodland Grange Primary School, Year 4 Anastasia used her iPad so creatively to design Christmas Trees of the Past, Present and Future. It is clear so much thought has gone into this complicated design.
🥉 3rd Place: Haris, Woodland Grange Primary School, Year 6 Haris impressed the judges with excellent use of texture, especially the striking swirly sky. The technique of colour drenching beautifully conveyed the intensity of a wintry blizzard, creating a vivid and atmospheric festive scene.
🥈 2nd Place: Sameer, Manor High School, Year 7 Sameer’s design stood out for its detail, texture and thoughtful use of mixed art materials. The accurate perspective and nostalgic imagery evoked warm feelings of Christmases past. The judges were particularly impressed by the craftsmanship and depth in the piece.
🥇 1st Place: Clara, Overdale Junior School, Year 4 A huge congratulations to Clara, whose design has been selected as the winner of the OAK Trust Christmas Card Competition 2025. Her artwork is wonderfully bright and colourful and carries a clear message of kindness, one of our core OAK Trust values and a perfect reflection of what Christmas is all about. The judges admired the beautiful glow around the tree and her creative use of the iPad to bring the design to life.
As this year’s winner, Clara’s design will be printed and shared as the official OAK Trust Christmas card. She will also receive copies to share with friends and family. Celebrating Creativity Across Our TrustAll three winners will receive prizes, and we extend a heartfelt thank you to every pupil who submitted an entry. The thought, care and imagination poured into each design made this year’s competition truly special. We are incredibly proud of the artistic talent shining across our schools and cannot wait to see what our pupils create next year. Well done to Clara, Sameer, Haris and Anastasia, and festive congratulations to all who took part. 🎄✨ |
