Governance

Trust Board Meetings

The Trust Board meets 5 times per academic year.

Dates of Trust Meetings for 2025-2026:
17 October 2025
12 December 2025
27 February 2026
1 May 2026
16 July 2026

Dates of Trust Meetings for 2024-2025:
25 October 2024
16 December 2024 (extraordinary meeting)
31 January 2025
28 March 2025
23 May 2025
18 July 2025
 

Stephenson MK Trust (SMKT) Strategic Aims 2025-2026

SMKT supports the most vulnerable and challenging children in Milton Keynes and local schools, ensuring every child has the opportunity to strive for success. 

We endeavour to create personalised, ambitious opportunities for all members of our Trust family, fostering a forward-thinking and aspirational community that contributes positively to the Milton Keynes area in which we live.

Each Academy within the Trust has their overarching Aim:   

• At Stephenson Academy we are ‘On Track to Success’  
• At Bridge Academy we are ‘Building Brighter Futures’  
• At Stephenson MK Trust Post-16 Centre we are ‘On Track to Brighter Futures’ 

At SMKT we strive to achieve this through our commitment to the “7 steps to Success” in all that we do: 

The 7 steps to Success: 

1. Support and care for each other 

2. Understanding and acceptance for all  

3. Character building 

4. Challenging and stretching 

5. Exploring possibilities and nurturing talent 

6. Safe environment to flourish 

7. Striving for success 

As Leaders within SMKT we demonstrate this in the following ways and agree to:  

Support and care for each other   

1. Respect each other.   
2. Be personal but professional at all times.   
3. Show genuine interest in others.   
4. Treat others how you wish to be treated.   

Understanding and acceptance for all   

• Be mindful of how others work.   
• Avoid gossip and always maintain confidentiality, respecting the privacy of sensitive information.   
• Understand your work environment and keep it clean, tidy, and safe.   

Character building   

• Encourage constructive feedback and address any conflicts or concerns in a respectful manner.   
• Be respectful when sharing feedback with each other.   
• Do the right thing instead of what's easier.  
• Adhere to the seven Nolan Principles of Public Life.  

Challenging and stretching   

• Provide autonomy for team members over their respective roles or tasks.   
• Encourage each other to step out of their comfort zones.  
• Be diverse in your job roles by understanding and supporting both areas of development in others and effectively using your strengths to upskill others.  

Exploring possibilities and nurturing talent   

• Seek opportunities to develop team members.  
• Model what you expect from others.  
• Be brave in informed decision-making.   

Safe environment to flourish   

• Communicate openly and respectfully.   
• Actively listen to others, seeking to understand their perspectives and ideas.   
• Allow others to share their thoughts, opinions and feelings safely.   

Striving for success   

• Come prepared to actively contribute to meetings and arrive on time.   
• Ensure that meeting actions are followed up in a timely manner.   
• Work collaboratively and share ideas for improvement.   

Adopted by Stephenson (MK) Trust on 22 September 2025