Catholic education in the UK was founded on a simple conviction: that every child – especially the poor and vulnerable – deserves to learn, belong and thrive.

In 2026, our mission, 'The glory of God is a human being fully alive.', continues that work in a world that can feel fractured and divided. Pope Francis speaks of a society longing for direction and light – and our proud Catholic schools stand at the heart of that search. 

As a parent, I remember the love and responsibility I felt holding my own newborn boys. I know the hope and worry every parent feels, and how difficult it is to choose who to trust to help shape our children into the adults they will become. Families want excellent outcomes – but above all they long for a community where their children are known, loved and formed as whole people, learning to serve others and use their gifts for good. 

At St Thomas Catholic Academy Trust, this is what we mean by being ‘Fully Alive’: children who are known and loved, formed personally, spiritually and academically, and equipped to make the world better through the lives they lead. 

In New Maps of Hope, Pope Francis reminds us that we navigate not only by one bright star, but by constellations - patterns of light that guide us. This helps us understand our Trust: each school, and each person within it, shining with their own identity, and together forming a shared map of hope. 

Our Mission 

Our mission statement is both our identity and our direction. Being ‘Fully Alive’ means becoming the person God intends – developing gifts, growing in character, deepening in faith, and learning with joy and purpose. Through our One Hope project, which will culminate in our Trust conference, we have explored how our mission can be lived through Love, Faith and Hope. These values will guide our action this year and shape our priorities for the future. 

Love 

Love is the foundation stone of our schools. It is not a soft word; it is a serious responsibility. We believe it is not enough simply to love children – they must know that they are loved. When people feel safe, valued and included, they learn and thrive with confidence and joy. 

In 2026, we will deepen our commitment to belonging through inclusion, pastoral care and wellbeing, including our One Hope – Fully Alive conference for all staff. Every child– Catholic or non-Catholic, flourishing or struggling – should experience school as a place of welcome. 

Trust-wide operational support makes this possible. Our shared services – HR, safeguarding, compliance, estates, finance, school improvement and governance – exist to remove burdens from our schools and free our school leaders and staff to focus on loving our children. 

Faith 

Faith is the heart of who we are and how we serve. Inspired by a relationship with Jesus, our mission calls us to form young people who understand their dignity and are encouraged to use their gifts for others. Catholic education forms lives: helping children grow in wisdom, integrity, compassion and courage. 

Our Faith is visible and vibrant – not distant or exclusive, but warm and human. Faith is expressed through prayer and worship, and through daily choices: kindness, forgiveness, service, leadership and community. It is also seen when young people learn the importance of loving and serving others. 

My hope is that every adult across our Trust has the faith and courage to lead with purpose, so that our children carry that mission into their adult lives, improving our local communities and our world. 

Hope 

Hope is love reaching forward – —trusting that God’s goodness is greater than what we can see today. Our hope is in the potential of every child and adult across our Trust: that our staff and students can achieve excellence, and that their lives will be marked by purpose and joy. 

Hope enables excellence. Excellence is an expression of hope: every child deserves outstanding teaching and high expectations. Last year, we prioritised improving outcomes in the early stages of education and delivered significant impact. Our results show excellence in action: Early Years outcomes exceed the Government’s 2028 target, and our Year 1 Phonics reached 87% across our family of schools. This year, we are focused on improving outcomes for our most vulnerable pupils across every key stage. 

In 2026, we will strengthen school improvement, invest in staff development, and share best practice so pupils experience deep learning alongside formation. The Trust plays a vital role – helping schools recruit well, develop staff effectively, remain compliant and safe, and use resources wisely. We will continue to improve our estates and digital infrastructure, ensuring our schools are safe, inspiring environments for learning. As a Trust team, we are committed to improving our services so that staff in schools can focus on helping children be ‘Fully Alive.’ 

The Future 

This is our vision for 2026: a year where Love deepens belonging, Faith strengthens purpose, and Hope is fulfilled through excellence in every classroom and every community. Through our One Hope project – culminating in our One Hope – Fully Alive conference, where all 1,400 Trust staff will come together — we are strengthening our shared understanding of mission, what we can achieve together, and the future we are building for our Trust. This year is an invitation for us to work together - parents, children, staff and our parishes – to help shape that future. 

Mark McLaughlin, CEO – St Thomas Catholic Academy Trust (January 2026)