We are delighted to share a thinkpiece by Carla Whelan, Chief Executive Officer at Empower MAT. Empower Multi-Academy Trust has established a sector-leading model for inclusive education by prioritising collaboration, rights-respecting culture, and innovative practice across its Shropshire schools. Through targeted SEND interventions, strategic leadership, and staff development, the Trust has significantly reduced exclusions, secured over £1.2 million in additional SEND funding, and improved outcomes for disadvantaged and neurodivergent pupils. Read more below.
From Exclusions to Belonging: The Radical Shift Powering Empower Trust
Empower Multi-Academy Trust, serving a network of diverse church and community academies across Shropshire, has embedded inclusivity at the heart of its work. Through a strong commitment to collaboration, continuous improvement, innovative practice, and placing the child at the centre of everything they do, the Trust is setting a new benchmark for inclusive education.
A strong, rights-respecting school culture underpins Empower Trust’s inclusive ethos. The rollout of the Train the Trainer Rights Respecting Education (RRE) programme has enabled staff to embed the principles of respect and equity across classrooms. The adoption of a Positive Relationships Policy, shaped through collaboration with the Behaviour Hub and informed by Paul Dix’s research, has strengthened behaviour management approaches. A consistent focus on positive relationships has enhanced school climates, resulting in more supportive environments for both learners and staff and this can be seen by a 42.5% decrease in exclusions between 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Supporting pupils with additional needs has been prioritised through a range of targeted interventions. A consistent Person-Centred Plan (APDR PCP Template) has been introduced, ensuring that each learner’s personal information, aspirations, and needs are captured and addressed through structured, regular reviews – ensuring that we see the whole child, beyond the narrow metrics that they are so often judged in education. Additional tools such as the Graduated Response Document and the Curriculum Adaptations Guide have provided practical strategies to staff, helping to prevent suspensions and exclusions while promoting early intervention. A Monitoring and Compliance Spreadsheet tracks the progress of SEND assessments at each key stage, ensuring transparency and supporting targeted interventions. As a result, Empower Trust has secured over £1.2 million in additional SEND funding, standardised SEND processes across its academies, and improved coordination through the appointment of a Strategic Lead and Trust SENCO. A new resource provision for SEMH pupils is in development with the support of the local authority.
Innovation is a core driver of Empower Trust’s work with neurodivergent learners. Participation in the Partnership for Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) pilot, delivered in partnership with the NHS, has enhanced whole-school SEND provision and strengthened engagement with parent carers.Early intervention strategies have been further reinforced through participation in the Early Language Support for Every Child (ELSEC) Programme. Again, we are seeing real impact – outcomes data for 2024 shows that children are achieving a Good Level of Development (GLD) in line with national averages, with boys and Pupil Premium pupils recording particularly strong gains, including a 10-percentage-point increase from 2022.
Leadership and coordinated strategy have played a critical role in the Trust’s success. The collaboration between Strategic Leads for SEND, Inclusion, and Safeguarding ensures that initiatives are consistently embedded across all schools. Implementation is guided by the EEF implementation framework, with oversight from the Trust CEO. Professional development remains a central pillar of this work, with over 90% of teaching staff engaging in the NPQLT (National Professional Qualification for Leading Teaching). Emphasis on SEND and adaptive practice ensures that classrooms are inclusive and responsive to every learner’s needs.
“We are committed to ensuring every classroom, every day, is inspirational and excellent; enabling success, resilience, and continuous self-improvement; helping everyone in Empower flourish through enhanced learning experiences; fostering a strong sense of identity and belonging; and offering engaging pathways for all to achieve their goals.”
Carla Whelan, Empower Trust CEO
