LEO Academy Trust is incredibly proud to announce that it has been honoured with three national accolades at the prestigious MAT Excellence Awards 2026.

At a celebratory ceremony hosted by Optimus Education, the Trust was named the winner of the SEND Award, the Staff Development Award, and the highly coveted Wellbeing Trust of the Year.

The MAT Excellence Awards celebrate exceptional impact, innovation, and strategic excellence among multi-academy trusts across the country. Bringing home three distinct awards highlights LEO Academy Trust's position as a forward-thinking leader in the UK primary education landscape.

A Validation of Our Strategic Vision

These specific awards mirror the core pillars that define LEO Academy Trust: inclusive education, innovative staff empowerment, and holistic community wellbeing. Rather than seeing these areas as separate initiatives, LEO integrates them to form a unified ecosystem where technology supports workload reduction, and sustainable working practices foster happier, more impactful classrooms.

“Winning these three awards is an incredible milestone for everyone at LEO Academy Trust on our ongoing mission to provide great learning communities, excellence for all, and endless opportunities,” said Shareen Wilkinson, Chief Education Officer at LEO Academy Trust. “These accolades directly reflect the hard work, passion, and collaborative spirit of our teachers, support staff, leaders, and pupils across all 12 of our schools. It proves that our unique operating model - which heavily invests in digital innovation and central inclusion support - is delivering life-changing results on the ground.”

What the Judges Handed Down: